Mgt Assignment

• Question # 1

If planning is so crucial, why do some managers choose not to do it?

What would you tell these managers?

Answer:

• Definition of Planning

Planning is as a process of defining the organization’s goals, establishing an

overall strategy for achieving those goals, and developing plans for
organizational work activities. It is concerned with both ends (what’s to be
done) and means (how it’s to be done).

• Purpose of Planning

There are at least four reasons why managers need to plan. These are:

 It provides direction to the managers.

 Reduces uncertainty.

 Minimizes waste and redundancy.

 Establishes the goals and standards used in controlling.

There is a positive relationship between planning and performance. Planning

produces higher productivity, higher profits, higher returns on assets, etc.

• Why some managers do not plan?

Though planning is considered to be essential requirement for management,

yet it has also some criticisms. Some of the criticisms are:

 It creates rigidity.

 Can’t be developed for dynamic environment.

 Focuses on today and not tomorrow.

 Planning isn’t enough.

Due to the above mentioned reasons some of the managers do not like to
adopt a formal planning. They would rather work on spontaneity based
intuition and judgments. They prefer to manage according to the situation

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demands and not go by a formal plan, which would block their ingenuity and
freedom of action.

My advice to those managers would be that they should follow a middle

path. They should have a plan, but it should be flexible, and may be modified
if needed. Rigidity of planning may not be very suitable in the dynamic
nature of management today.

• Question # 2

What types of planning do you do in your personal life? Describe

these plans in terms of being (a) strategic or operational, (b) short
or long term, (c) specific or directional.

Answer:

Planning is essential in personal life too. It helps an individual to achieve

short or long term objectives of life.

I also do planning in my personal life. Some of my plans are strategic or

operational, few of them are short or long term and most of them are specific
or directional.

• My Strategic or Operational Plans

My strategic plan is to be a very successful person all through my life.

Whereas, my operational plans specify the details how this strategic plan
can be achieved. In my case, having a good education, a good job, a
harmonious family life, etc are some of the operational plan.

• My Short or Long Term Plans

My short term plans are done for a year or less. For example, I want to do
well in the term end exams in this semester can be regarded as one of
the short term plan. On the other hand, I want to maintain my A+ grades
in the AIUB all through can be considered as my long term plan.

• Specific or Directional Plans

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Plans that are clearly defined and that leave no room for interpretation
are known as specific plans. On the other hand, directional plans are
flexible and that set out general guideline. In my case, I want to develop
my computer skills further and learn driving in the near future at any cost
are some of my specific plans. One of my directional plans includes
pursuing further study abroad after my MBA. This plan is however flexible.