Which step in the strategic marketing planning process is typically considered part of the control phase?

The control phase of the strategic marketing planning process is primarily focused on monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of marketing strategies and tactics after they have been implemented. One critical component of this phase involves the implementation of the marketing mix, which encompasses the various elements that a business uses to engage customers and deliver value, including product, price, promotion, and place.

When comparing this to the other options, implementing the marketing mix is the action that directly ties into measuring performance and making adjustments based on market feedback and results. This execution serves as a tangible benchmark for assessing how well the strategies are performing against the defined objectives.

In contrast, market research is generally conducted prior to implementation, serving as a foundation for understanding customer needs and market conditions to inform strategy development. Resource allocation is primarily about determining how to distribute resources effectively during the planning phase rather than assessing their ongoing effectiveness post-implementation. Competitive analysis involves examining the competitive landscape, which is also a prerequisite activity that informs the initial strategic decisions but does not directly contribute to the control phase after strategies are in place.