Poor _________ and inadequate ____________ are overriding factors in business failure.

The choice of planning and management as the correct answer highlights critical components that are essential for a business's success. Effective planning involves setting clear goals, determining the resources required, and creating structured strategies to meet those goals. Management encompasses the processes involved in organizing, leading, and controlling the operations of the organization to ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.

When either planning or management is poor, a business may face issues such as misallocation of resources, lack of direction, and failure to adapt to market changes. These deficiencies can lead to operational chaos, financial loss, and ultimately business failure. In contrast, the other pairings, while also important areas of concern, do not encapsulate the fundamental need for planning and management that drives organizational performance and sustainability. Leadership and marketing, finance and production, or strategy and sales may influence a business's success, but without solid planning and effective management, even the best ideas can falter.