Action planning involves specifying objectives that are necessary to achieve the larger goals identified in the previous stage, defining tactics (methods) to achieve each objective, specifying responsibilities and timelines for each objective, and establishing methods for monitoring and evaluating the plan. MAP's Basic Description of Strategic Planning  and Basics of Action Planning provide excellent step-by-step descriptions of the action planning process.

In the action planning process, organizations may develop an "annual" or "operational" plan that includes the goals, strategies, objectives, responsibilities (who does what) and timelines (when will they do it) for the coming year, as well as "work plans" for each department, detailing that department's area of responsibility within the annual plan.

Each of these plans—the strategic, annual and work plans—should include a budget that details the resources needed to implement the plan. While the plans help the organization articulate where it is going and how it will get there, the budget sets out how the organization will support itself in getting to where it is going. Finally, the strategic plan objectives and responsibilities should be translated into job descriptions and staff performance review criteria.

MAP's Basics of Writing and Communicating a Strategic Plan recommends including in the strategic plan the following sections: executive summary, authorizations (the necessary signatures), organizational description, mission/vision/values statements, goals and strategies, and appendices. In the appendices, MAP recommends including the action plan, a description of the strategic planning process (including lessons learned), the information generated through the SWOT analysis, goals of the board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (which can form the basis for later board or CEO performance review), the budget, the operating plan, financial reports (previous and current year's budgets and statements of financial position and financial activities), criteria for monitoring and evaluation (including who is responsible), and plans for communicating the plan internally and externally.