University of Mindanao

Matina, Davao City

Characteristics of Planning

ChE 537 – Engineering Management

Submitted by:

Raye Anne B. Rebosura

BS ChE – 4

Submitted to:

Engr. Jay Carlo S. Aguilar

Instructor

September 10, 2018

OBJECTIVE:

 To know and understand the characteristics of planning.

INTRODUCTION:

Planning, as discussed by the previous reporter, is the fundamental management

function. It involves deciding beforehand, what is to be done, when is it to be done,

how is it to be done and who is going to do it. We can say that planning is nothing but

thinking before the action takes place. It helps us to take a glimpse into the future and

decide in advance the way to deal with the situations.

In the words of Alford and Beatty (1951), "Planning is the thinking process, the

organized foresight, the vision based on fact and experience that is required for

intelligent action." For Koontz and O’ Donnell (1968), “Planning is an intellectual

process, conscious determination of course of action, the basing of decision on purpose,

facts and considered estimates.” And lastly, according to Terry and Franklin (1994),

"Planning is the selecting and relating of facts and making and using of assumptions

regarding the future in the visualization and formulation of proposed activities believed

necessary to achieve the desired results." By analyzing carefully the definitions stated

by the authors above, these reveals the nature or characteristics of planning which are

as follows.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANNING:

1. Planning is goal-oriented. Juneja (n.d.) stated that planning is done to achieve

the desired objectives of a business. It focuses on defining the goals of the

organization, identifying alternative courses of action and deciding the

appropriate action plan, which is to be undertaken to reach the desired goals

quickly and economically (Business Jargons, n.d.). The goals established should
 be accepted by everyone otherwise individual efforts will be misguided and

misdirected. It also provides sense of direction to various activities.

2. Planning is looking ahead. In the process of planning, we take a sneak peek of

the future. It encompasses looking into the future, analyzing it and predicting it,

so that the organization can face the future challenges effectively (Juneja, n.d.).

Planning largely depends upon the accurate business of forecasting. The

scientific techniques of forecasting helps in projecting the present trends into

future. ‘It is a kind of future picture wherein proximate events are outlined with

some distinctness while remote events appear progressively less distinct.”

(Chand, n.d.)

3. Planning is an intellectual process. According to Koontz and O'Donnell (1968),

planning is an intellectual process involving mental exercise, foreseeing future

developments, making forecasts and the determination of the best course of

action. Planning is a mental exercise involving creative thinking, sound

judgement, imagination and innovation (Juneja, n.d.). Whenever planning is

done, all activities are orderly undertaken as per plans rather than on the basis

of guess work (Chand, n.d.) Planning is also always based on goals, facts and

considered estimates.

4. Planning involves choice & decision making. Decision making is an integral

part of planning. It will occur at many points in the planning process. Planning

essentially involves decisions made regarding the choice of alternative courses

of action that can be undertaken to reach the goal. The alternative action chosen

should be the best among all, with the least number of negative and the highest

number of positive outcomes (Business Jargons, n.d.). Therefore, if there is only

 one possible course of action, there is no need to plan because there is no other

choice.

5. Planning is the primary function of management / Primacy of Planning.

According to Juneja (n.d.) planning lays foundation for other functions of

management. It serves as a guide for organizing, staffing, directing and

controlling. Planning is considered as the primary requisite but all functions are

inter-connected. Without planning, other functions become meaningless

activities, producing nothing, but chaos. And since planning is involved at all

managerial functions, it can be rightly called as an essence of management.

Terry and Franklin (1994) has aptly stated that "planning is the foundation of

the most successful action of an enterprise."

6. Planning is a Continuous Process. Juneja (n.d.) asserted that planning is a never

ending function due to the dynamic business environment. Plans are also

prepared for specific period of time and at the end of that period, plans are

subjected to reevaluation and review in the light of new requirements and

changing conditions. Planning never comes into end until the issues still

persists, problems may keep cropping up and they have to be tackled by

planning effectively. Therefore, it is an ongoing process, as the plans are

framed, executed and followed by another plan. Koontz and O’Donnell (1968)

rightly observe that like a navigator constantly checking where his/her ship is

going in the vast ocean, a manager should constantly watch the progress of

his/her plans. He/she must constantly monitor the conditions, both within and

outside the organization, to determine if changes are required in his/her plans.

7. Planning is all Pervasive. It is required at all levels of management and in all

departments of the company. The scope of planning may, of course, differ from
 one level to another. The top level may be more concerned about planning the

organization as a whole like strategical planning whereas the middle level may

be more specific in departmental plans like administrative planning and the

lower level does the operational planning (Juneja, n.d.).

8. Planning is designed for efficiency. A pre- requisite of planning is that it should

lead to the accomplishment of the objectives at the least possible cost. It should

avoid wastage of resources and should ensure adequate and optimum utilization

of available human and physical resources. A plan is worthless or useless if it

does not value the cost incurred on it. Therefore, planning must lead to proper

utilization of men, saving of time, effort, money, materials, methods and

machines. The guiding principles of a good plan is the maximum output and

profit at the minimum cost. (Ebrary.net, n.d.)

9. Planning is Flexible. Planning is done for the future. Since future is

unpredictable, planning must provide enough room to cope with the changes in

the customers’ demand, competition, government policies, etc. Under changed

circumstances, the original plan of action must be modified and updated to make

it more practical. If modifications cannot be included in plans it is said to be bad

planning (Chand, n.d.). Koontz and O'Donnell (1968) also emphasized that

effective planning requires continual checking on events and forecasts and the

redrawing of plans to maintain a course towards a designed goal.

REFERENCES:

Alford, L. P., & Beatty, H. R. (1951). Principles of Industrial Management. New

York: Ronald Press Company.
Chand, S. (n.d.). 10 Nature or Characteristics of Planning - Discussed! Retrieved
from Your Article Library: http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/planning/10-
nature-or-characteristics-of-planning-discussed/25648
Juneja, P. (n.d.). Characteristics of Planning. Retrieved from Management Study
Guide: https://www.managementstudyguide.com/planning_characteristics.htm
Koontz, H., & O'Donnell, C. (1968). Principles of Management: An Analysis of
Managerial Function. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Nature and Characteristics of Planning. (n.d.). Retrieved from TyroCity.com:
https://notes.tyrocity.com/nature-and-characteristics-of-planning/
Planning. (n.d.). Retrieved from Business Jargons:
https://businessjargons.com/planning.html
Planning. (n.d.). Retrieved from Ebrary.net:
https://ebrary.net/7755/management/planning
Terry, G. R., & Franklin, S. G. (1994). Principles of Management. A.I.T.B.S.
Publishers.