PLANNING: Characteristics of Planning Part - II

PLANNING: Nature / Characteristics of Planning Part - II

This is in continuation to the earlier Blog on characteristics or nature of Planning. Few remaining points are discussed below:-

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PLANNING: Characteristics of Planning Part - I

PLANNING: Nature / Characteristics of Planning Part - I

Planning is a management process and has some significant characteristics or nature which are described as given;-

Planning is a Continuous Process:

The planning is a continuous process or we may say that it is never ending process. First leading job is to do systematic planning prior to establishment of any unit. So it is the beginning and at times ending process.

In the daily activity, different levels of management are in a process of continuous decisions making, all are active according to the present & future requirements, not only this, as per the needs, changes are made according to the changing environment.

Different strategies are taken in account due to varied conditions.  Immediate or future implementation to the new arising condition is carried out. Hence, management never ends planning but keeps changing the plan as per its requirement or shifting conditions.

Planning Contributes to Objectives:

Planning in any business or industrial unit begins with the establishment of objectives. Without any specific objectives planning is irrelevant. Hereafter, it makes a decision for methods, procedures and steps needed for the accomplishment of respective objectives. 

Planning as Primary Function of Management:

In an industrial or business unit planning is the primary function. Planning precedes all other functions of management.

As it is known, first we have to prepare a plan, only then, the steps like, organizing, coordinating, directing, controlling, staffing, and motivating, etc do take place.

Prior to all other functions in management, it is the planning function that initiates the whole process. Pre planned goals are the prerequisite of other managerial function.

Planning is Forward Looking:

Planning is always looking towards the future or we may say that it never discusses regarding the past. 

Management utilizes its past experience to plan for future, anticipating the situational condition and environment.

Planning is Target Based:

Targets are planned and decided in the organization and all the concerned departments and their activities are synchronized to achieve this.

It should be kept in mind that fundamental targets should be within the perspective of fundamental objectives of the organization.

Planning is Pervasive:

Planning is not only for top levels of management, but it is for all the different levels of management.

Top levels of managers basically form most important plans and policies while middle level of managers or departmental manager devise as per the respective departmental requirement. On the other hand lower level of managers has to widely support the overall pre determined objectives and work on daily activities.

NOTE:

Few more points regarding the characteristics or nature of Planning would be dealt in future Blog’s.

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PLANNING: Objectives of Planning

In today’s ever changing world, for the success of any business or industrial unit Management and Administration should lay a strong foundation, and this is achieved by Planning.

Planning initiates the intellectual process as deciding the objectives, drafting the plans and programmes, defining the policies for optimum utilization of the accessible human and material resources. So that pre defined objectives may be achieved in any organization.

Planning facilitates Managers and Administrators of any business or industrial unit to make progress as per the needs of the desired objectives. Below given are some of the Objectives of Planning:-

Forecast’s the Course:

The most important ingredient of planning is forecasting. This is basically plan development as per policies and requirement of the organization.

Forward Bearing:

Planning provides specific forward momentum to all the activities in the organization by chalking out the future working procedure.

Assured Activities:

Planning drafts the policies, working procedure and decides controlling process for the activities in an organization so that confidence level increases in employees & management regarding the accomplishment of predefined goals.

Forecast’s the Risk:

Planning forecasts the future threats, therefore technical strategies are most often planned and decided in advance to overcome the inconsistency or tackle the problems successfully.

Helps in Establishing Co-ordination:

Planning is the forefront initiator in any organization regarding coordination. This coordinates all the departments and also policies, procedures, objectives, etc. in business or industrial unit.

Develops in Facing Competition:

Assists and develops the organization to face competitions of all sorts and in all aspects. This strategic process is part of the objectives of planning.

Managing Budgetary Targets:

Budgetary Targets are executed & achieved as per the planning. It is a helping hand in planned budget utilization.

Present Important Information’s:

Planning makes available adequate information and communicates it to the employees in the organization as well as presents a positive picture of organization, its policies, functioning and results to the outside world.

Economy in Management:

Having better coordination in an organization between employees & management the pre decided goals proceed as per the requirement, all types of  wastage's is brought to the minimum. This helps in achieving the efficiency in the overall economy of management.

Supports in Maintaining Healthy Competition:

The employees in an organization are in continuous competition among the fellow employees of any specific department because actual job performance & achievement is the base criteria for any future incentive or promotion. This may bring jealousy or utilization of unfair job hindering techniques in performing different activities to the fellow employees, which ultimately slows the overall goals of any business or industrial unit. Hence, an ethical attitude with unbiased planning is maintained for the actual growth of the unit.

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