Planning

Planning means looking ahead and chalking out future courses of action to be followed. It is a preparatory step. It is a systematic activity which determines when, how and who is going to perform a specific job. Planning is a detailed programme regarding future courses of action. It is rightly said “Well plan is half done”. Therefore planning takes into consideration available & prospective human and physical resources of the organization so as to get effective co-ordination, contribution & perfect adjustment. It is the basic management function which includes formulation of one or more detailed plans to achieve optimum balance of needs or demands with the available resources.According to Urwick, “Planning is a mental predisposition to do things in orderly way, to think before acting and to act in the light of facts rather than guesses”. Planning is deciding best alternative among others to perform different managerial functions in order to achieve predetermined goals. |
According to Koontz & O’Donell, “Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do and who is to do it. Planning bridges the gap between where we are to, where we want to go. It makes possible things to occur which would not otherwise occur”.
Steps in Planning Function
Establishment of objectives
Establishment of Planning Premises
Choice of alternative course of action
Formulation of derivative plans
Securing Co-operation
Follow up/Appraisal of plans
Planning Importance in Management
Planning may be broadly defined as a concept of executive action that embodies the skill of anticipating, influencing, and controlling the nature and direction of change. - McFarland
Importance of Planning
Planning increases the organization's ability to adapt to future eventualities
Planning helps crystallize objectives
Planning ensures a relatedness among decisions
Planning helps the company to remain more competitive in its industry
Adequate planning reduces unnecessary pressures of