A two$-$day offsite retreat was held for a team of executives of a major hospital including the hospital's CEO, President, and Vice$-$Presidents. Over the course of the two$-$days, the executives engaged in brainstorming sessions and worked together to articulate the direction the hospital should take and specific objectives that should be achieved over the next $5$ years. The team focused considerable attention to objectives related to the Affordable Care Act and rising numbers of patients eligible for Medicare. The executives were engaged in

a$.$ strategic planning

b$.$ tactical planning

c$.$ defensive planning

d$.$ operational planning