What is Planning ? and nature of Planning

PLANNING

  What is Planning ?

Planning is the management function of anticipating the future and the conscious determination of future course of action to achieve the desired results. Planning involves forecasting because in order to plan the future course of action, it is essential to anticipate the future. it consists of both problem solving and decision - making.

According to Fayol, "The plan of action is at one and the same time the result envisaged the line of action to be followed, the stages to go through and the methods to use".

In the words of Niles, "Planning is the conscious process of selecting and developing the best course of action to accomplish an objective. It is the basic from which future management decision spring".

According to Terry, "Planning is a method or technique of looking ahead. It is a deliberate conscious search used to formulate the design and orderly sequence of action through which it is expected to reach the objective." In brief, " planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do it , when to do it and who is to do it."

These definition indicates that planning involves the conscious determination of objectives and results, the selection of the best possible course of action to achieve the desired results, the time sequence of activities and the resources required to perform the activities.

Nature of Planning

Nature of Planning :-

1. Planning Contributes to Objectives :- Planning Starts with the Determination of Objectives. we cannot think of Planning in Absence of Objectives. 
2. Primacy of Planning :- Planning is the primary of first function to be performed by every manager.
3. Forward Looking :- Planning always means looking ahead or planning is a futuristic function. Planning is never done for the Past.
4. Pervasive:- Planning is required at all levels of the management.
5. Efficiency in Operation :- In Planning function managers decided in advance what is to be done.
6. Continuous Process :- Planning is never ending or continuous process.
7. Planning is an Intellectual Process :- It is a mental exercise. Planning is a mental process which requires higher thinking, so that it is kept separate from operational activities by Taylor.

Limitations of Planning

Limitations of Planning :- 

Planning is not a substitute for executive judgment but merely an aid to it. It does not guarantee success. It suffers from the following limitations :-

1. Planning is based on Forecasts which are never cent percent Accurate.
2. Planning is a Time-Consuming and Expensive Process.
3. Planning may Result in Internal Inflexibilities and Procedural Rigidities which Curb Initiative and Individual Freedom.
4. Planning often Requires some change in the Exercising up.
5. Planning may Create a false Sense of Security in the Organisation.
6. Powerful People and other Vested Interests may exert Pressure to Ensure that the Plans Serve their own Interests.
7. Some Managers may have a Negative Mental attitudes towards Planning.
8. The Effectiveness of Planning may be Affected by External forces which are beyond the control of those Responsible for Preparing Plans.

Elements of Planning

Elements of Planning :- The Elements of Planning are also known as the types of plans which are as follows :

1. Objectives :- Every organisation is established to achieve some purposes which are called its objectives.
2. Goals :- A goal means the measurable objective. When the objectives are expressed in quantities and values they become goals. Goal serve as the milestones on the organisation's journey towards it's objectives.