Planning a Crucial Element in Organisation
As we know, planning, organising, staffing, directing, and controlling are the core functions of management out of the above functions in the organisation. Planning is a crucial function irrespective of the size, products manufactured, and the number of staff in an organisation.
“ AN HOUR OF PLANNING CAN SAVE YOU 10 HOURS OF DOING”
Every organisation has a set of objectives these are achieved through the proper planning process. There is a difference between plan & planning. The plan is a commitment to a particular course of action.
For example, a plan may be
- To achieve 20% growth in the financial year 2017-18
- Launching a new environmentally friendly car by 2020
This plan is just a promise to achieve an objective; on the other hand, planning is an activity that involves the determination of the future course of action. The process determines
- Why is an action to be taken?
- When to be taken
- By whom to be taken
- How to be taken
Thus, all questions are related to different planning process that contributes to the success of the organisational objective.
Definition
“ Planning may be defined as relating to facts & making the assumption regarding the future in the visualisation & formalisation of proposed activities believed necessary to achieve the desired result”
“ Planning is anticipating action, influencing & controlling the nature & direction of change in the environment to achieve desired objectives.
Thus, it involves collecting facts, analysing the environment, and visualising future changes by selecting appropriate alternatives
Features of Planning
1. Planning is a continuous process
It determines the future course of action, for eg, the Launching of the new handset in Nokia is a continuous process of technology, high-skill labour, R&D department supports finance. After making these efforts, they are successful in launching a new model in the handset industry
2. It is basically concerned with looking into the future
This requires forecasting the future situation & therefore, forecasting of the future should be correct.
3. Planning involves the selection of a suitable course of action
There are several alternatives to achieve objectives but out of these, one has to select the best alternative to achieve objectives but of these one has to select the best alternative
4. Is undertaken at all levels of an organisation.
The scope changes as per the labour. It takes place at various levels
5. It is flexible in nature
As future conditions are changing, so adjustment in planning is required for eg changes in technology, changes in rules & regulations of the government, changes in customer taste, competition, etc
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