What describes the outcome of a rational and structured top-down strategic plan?

The outcome of a rational and structured top-down strategic plan is termed as the intended strategy. This type of strategy reflects the plans and objectives that have been explicitly articulated by the leadership within an organization. When a top-down approach is effectively implemented, it systematically outlines the organization's goals and the steps necessary to achieve them, effectively guiding decision-making and resource allocation across various levels of operations.

Intended strategies are typically based on thorough analyses of the internal and external environments and are designed to align with the organization's vision and mission. This clarity allows teams within the organization to understand their roles in executing the overarching goals and ensures that there is a unified approach to achieving the company's strategic objectives.

In contrast, emergent strategies arise from reactions to unforeseen circumstances and are not part of the structured planning process. Realized strategies represent the actual strategies that are executed, which could differ from what was originally intended due to variations in implementation. Unrealized strategies refer to those strategies that were planned but never put into action. Thus, the intended strategy is specifically aligned with the structured and rational planning that characterizes top-down management processes.