Essentials of Good Planning Part - II

This is in continuation to my earlier Blog Post on “Essentials of Good Planning”. Some of the remaining points are explained below:-

OPERATIONAL: Planning to be effective must be operational. A plan which can be drafted on paper and discussed in meetings is worthless if its functioning is questionable. In other words, plans should be designed in a manner which is practical and operational in real business world. 

STABLE: An effective planning should always be stable i.e. changes of minor nature arising from business opportunities or circumstances must not affect the overall basic plan. In order to be unwavering and established, the planning should always be done corresponding with the pre-determined objectives of the business, predictable future business environments, as well as considering the past facts and outcomes.

UNAMBIGUOUS: Planning to be effective and successful must always be easy and clear. A well-defined plan is easily understandable by the ones implementing it. Therefore, maximizing the outcome of the planning process, time and efforts contributed by the employees as well as the resources utilized in the process.

ALL INCLUSIVE: An effective planning is one which is comprehensive in nature i.e. planning which considers and takes all elements and aspects of the business and its environment into account. An effective planning must contemplate and integrate several aspects like long term objectives, short term goals, departmental goals, policies and procedures, time limit, business environment, routine activities powers and authorities delegated to the employees, responsibilities of the staffs, etc.

PARTICIPATION: As an organization runs successfully only when all its aspects work in integrated manner. Likewise, planning to be successful and effective must have participation from all employees, management and subordinates. All the employees authorized must contribute by deliberating and deciding on plans and procedures while the subordinates must contribute their efforts in the way they are supposed to be.

DISTINCTIVE PLAN FOR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT: A good planning process must always construct plan for the organization as a whole as well as plans for different departments depending upon the needs and activities of that department. As it is not possible for a single plan to be adopted and implemented in all the departments say for example ‘a plan for manufacturing department may not be successful in the marketing department’. Such type of distinct planning promotes timely completion of activities and unimpeded achievement of objectives.

NOTE: Few more points would be discussed on the topic “Essentials of Good Planning” in the next Blog post.