PLANNING

PLANNING

Meaning & Definition

Planning is future anticipation of what has to be done to achieve the organizational goals. This is a process of forecasting the future and making systematic arrangements in all direction to accomplish the pre determined objectives of the business or industrial unit irrespective of size and location.

This is basically thinking in advance or we may say finding answers to these given and also more similar questions, as:-

Ø    What is to be done?

Ø    Why it is to be done?

Ø    What will be the outcome?

Ø    When it is to be done?

Ø    Where it is to be done?

Ø    Who has to do it?

Ø    How it has to be done?

Ø    When the results would be evaluated?

Ø    Where and by whom the results would be evaluated?

 

Planning is a management process which decides in advance regarding the best and appropriate alternatives from the multitude number of options which are available for the successful achievement of the pre defined objectives, within the required frame of time. In other words trying to make future certain and definite.

Few definitions from the eminent economist & professor’s are given below:-

“Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do and who is to do it. Planning bridges the gap where we are to where we want to go. It makes it possible for things to happen.”  by ……  Koontz & O’Donnell

“Planning is the function that determines in advance what should be done. It consists of selecting the enterprise objectives, policies, programmes, procedures and other means of achieving those objectives. In his planning the manager must decide which of the alternative plans are to be followed and executed. Planning is intellectual in nature, it is mental work. It is looking ahead and preparing for the future.”  by ……. Theo Haimann

“Planning is the function of a Manager which involves the selection from among alternatives of objectives, policies, procedures and programmes. It is thus, decision making affecting the few course of an enterprise or department.”  by ……..  Koontz & O’Donnell

The below given definitions are very simple and easy to follow & learn.

“Planning is the thinking process, the organized foresight, the vision based on the facts and experience that is required for intelligent action.”  by ……. Alfred & Beatty

“Planning means the determination of what is to be done, how and where it is to be done, who is to do it, when and how the results are to be evaluated.”  by ……. James. L. Lundy

Hence, Planning is making decision for future actions or is a process of determining and decision making. It is based on definite specific objectives having balanced and flexible approach.