At which organizational level is information required for operational planning and control?

Operational planning and control primarily take place at the supervisory level. Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities and operations of their teams. They need specific information about processes, resource availability, and employee performance to effectively manage operations, ensure efficiency, and meet production or service goals.

This level of management is focused on implementing the plans made by higher management and requires detailed operational data to make decisions that will affect immediate tasks and workflows. Thus, they need clear insights into operational factors to allocate resources appropriately and resolve any issues that may arise during the execution of operational plans.

Top management typically focuses on strategic planning and long-term objectives, while middle management bridges the gap between the top and supervisory levels, often dealing with tactical planning. Operators are the frontline employees executing the tasks but do not engage in the planning and controlling process, which emphasizes the need for information at the supervisory level for effective operational management.