Arrange the following core stages of the Rational Managerial Decision-Making / Planning Process in their correct chronological sequence:
A. Identifying alternative courses of action
B. Selecting and choosing the optimal alternative
C. Evaluating alternatives in terms of goals, feasibility, and consequences
D. Establishing planning premises (assumptions about the internal and external environment) Choose the correct sequence from the options below:

According to classic management principles (Koontz & O'Donnell), the rational decision-making and planning process follows a systematic, step-by-step progression: Developing/Establishing Planning Premises (D): Before generating or assessing choices, management must set the foundational premises (e.g., economic forecasts, market trends, resource constraints, and operational assumptions) within which decisions will be executed. Identifying Alternatives (A): Once premises are established, managers search for and list various potential courses of action to achieve the desired objectives. Evaluating Alternatives (C): Each identified alternative is critically examined and weighed against organizational goals, cost-benefit profiles, risks, and feasibility based on the established premises. Choosing an Alternative (B): After evaluation, the manager selects the best course of action (or combination of actions) for implementation. Thus, the logical sequence is D → A → C → B.