What term describes the incremental steps taken to achieve long-term objectives?

The term that best describes the incremental steps taken to achieve long-term objectives is "Strategic Planning." Strategic planning involves defining an organization's direction and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. This typically includes setting goals and outlining the necessary steps, actions, or tactics to achieve those goals effectively over time.

While "Planning Goals" may refer to the objectives themselves, it does not encompass the comprehensive nature of the planning process that involves detailed steps and strategies. "Operational Tactics" focus more on short-term actions needed to support strategic goals rather than the incrementality of the long-term plan. "Contingency Planning" involves preparing for unexpected events or changes, rather than the structured approach of setting up incremental steps towards long-term objectives. Therefore, strategic planning is the most appropriate term for describing the process of taking incremental steps toward achieving overarching goals.