At which stage of the strategic marketing planning process are ethical policies typically integrated into organization's mission statements?

The inclusion of ethical policies into an organization's mission statement occurs during the planning phase of the strategic marketing planning process. This is because the planning phase is when fundamental decisions about the organization's goals, overarching vision, and core values are established. During this stage, marketers and organizational leaders define what the organization stands for, including its commitment to ethical practices and social responsibility.

By integrating ethical policies in the mission statement at the planning phase, the organization sets a clear expectation for behavior that will guide all future actions and decisions. This foundational aspect helps to steer company culture and influences the strategic direction of all marketing activities.

In contrast, the control phase focuses on monitoring outcomes and performance against the established plans. The implementation phase is where strategies and plans are put into action, while the evaluation phase involves assessing the effectiveness of those implemented strategies and making adjustments if necessary. Thus, ethical considerations are best established during the planning phase before any actions are taken or results are assessed.