PLANNING

DEFINITION CHARACTERISTICS ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

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DEFINITION
HART
The determination in advance of a line of action by which certain results are to be achieved.

ALLEN A plan is a trap laid to capture the future. KOONTZ & ODONELL 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.

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CHARATERISTICS

Goal-oriented.

Planning is goal-oriented in the sense that plans are prepared and implemented to achieve certain object. A purpose, sound and effective planning process knows how and when to tackle a problem. This leads to success. Objective thus are easily achieved. Basic to all managerial functions.

Planning is a function that is foundation of management process. Planning logically precedes all other functions of management, such as organization, staffing, etc. Because without plan there is nothing to control. Every managerial action has to be properly planned.
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Pervasive

Planning is required at all levels of management as well as in all departments. It is not an exclusive function of top management nor of any particular department. But the scope of planning differs at different levels and among different departments. Future-oriented.

Planning is forward looking and it prepares an enterprise for future. The purpose of planning is to meet future events effectively. Continuous process.

Plans are prepared for a specific period of time. At the end of that period there is need for a new plan to drawn on the basis of 4/18/12

planning is an ongoing process. Intellectual process.

Planning is a process where a number of steps are to be taken to decide the future course of action to achieve the desired goal, for that he has to go in details about the pros and cons of every course of action and finally decide what course of action may suit them best. Planning and control are inseparable.

If planning is the beginning of the management process, controlling may be said to be the final stage. If planning is looking ahead, controlling is looking back. Control is not possible without planning and planning is meaningless without control.
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Choice Among Alternative Courses Of Action.

The need for planning arises due to several ways available for an action. If there is only one way out left there is no need for planning.

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ADVANTAGES
1.

Provide Direction. By stating in advance how work is to be done planning provides direction for action. If goals are well defined, employees are aware of what the organization has to do and what they must do to achieve those goal. Reduces The Risk Of Uncertainty. Planning is an activity which enable a manage to look ahead and anticipate changes. Changes or event cannot be eliminated but they can be anticipated.

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3. Reduces Overlapping And Wasteful Activities.

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work is carried on smoothly. Promotes Innovative Ideas. Since planning is the first function of management, new ideas should be taken. It is the most challenging activity for the management as it guides all future actions of the business. 5. Mental process. Planning is a process where a number of steps are to be taken to decide the future course of action to achieve the desired goal, for that he has to go in details about the pros and cons of every course of action and finally decide what course of action may suit them best.
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6.

Establishes Standards For Controlling. Planning involves setting of goals. The entire managerial process is concerned with accomplishing predetermined goals through planning, organizing etc. Planning provides the standards against which actual performance is measured. If there is any deviation it can be corrected. Therefore, we can say that planning is a prerequisite for controlling.

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DISADVANTAGES
1.

Lead to Rigidity. A well-defined plan is drawn up with specific goals. These plans may not be in a position to change. This kind of rigidity in plans may create difficulty. Probability in Planning. Planning is based on forecasts which are mere estimates about future. These estimates may prove to be inexact due to the uncertainty of future. Any change in the anticipated situation may render plans ineffective.

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3. Reduces Creativity. Planning is an activity which is done by the top 4/18/12 management. Usually the rest of the members just

implements these plans. Middle management and other decision makers are neither allowed to deviate from plans nor are they permitted to act on their own. Huge Cost. When plans are drawn up huge costs are involved in their formulation. These may be in terms of time and money. Time Consuming Process. Planning is a time consuming process because it involves collection of information, its analysis and interpretation thereof. This entire process takes a lot of time specially where there are a number of alternatives available. Therefore, planning is not suitable during emergency or crisis when quick decisions are required.

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6. Does Not Guarantee Success. The success of an enterprise is possible only when plans are properly drawn up and implemented. Managers have a tendency to rely on previously tried and tested successful plans. It is not always true that just because a plan has worked before it will work again. Besides, there are so many other unknown factors to be considered. This kind of false sense of security may actually lead to failure instead of success.

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It is rightly said that

WELL PLAN IS HALF DONE.

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