Planning

Planning can be defined as “thinking in advance what is to be done, when it is to be done, how it is to be done and by whom it should be done.” It bridges the gap between where we are and where we want to reach in future.

Features of Planning
1. Primacy of planning: Planning is the primary or first function of management. No other function can be performed without planning. It provides the basis for other functions like organizing, staffing directing and controlling.
2. Forward looking: planning is looking ahead and is a futuristic function. It is never done for the past. Managers try to make predictions for the future according to their past experiences.
3. Pervasive: Planning is required at all levels and in all organizations. At the top level, major plans are framed, departmental heads make plans for their respective departments, and lower level managers make plans for the day to day activities.
4. Continuous: Planning is an on going, never ending process. After making plans, planners keep changing them according to the changing environment needs.
5. Planning is a mental exercise: Planning means looking ahead, anticipating opportunities and threats, evaluating alternatives, and choosing the best alternative. All this requires intelligent imagination, sound judgment and foresight. So it is called an intellectual process.
6. Planning involves choice/ decision making: Planning is required only when different alternatives are available and we have to select the most suitable one. If there is only one way of doing a job, then there is no need of planning. For example, if we have to import technology and the license is only with STC, then companies have no choice but to import from them only.
7. Planning focuses on achieving objectives: while planning, specific goals are set out along with the activities required to achieve the goals. After setting the targets, planning decides the method, procedure, and steps to be taken to achieve them.