Planning

About this unit

Planning is the first and most basic function of management. It means deciding in advance what to do, how to do it, when to do it and who will do it. This unit covers the meaning, features, importance and limitations of planning, the steps in the planning process, and the different types of plans used by organisations, from broad objectives and strategies to detailed rules and budgets.

Key ideas

• Planning bridges the gap between where we are and where we want to be.
• It is a primary, pervasive, continuous, futuristic and mental exercise involving decision-making.
• It reduces uncertainty and sets standards for controlling, but can make an organisation rigid.
• The planning process runs from setting objectives to follow-up action.
• Plans may be single-use (programmes, budgets) or standing (policies, procedures, methods, rules).

How to prepare

• Learn the features, importance and limitations as three separate lists with an example of each.
• Memorise the seven steps of the planning process in order.
• Practise distinguishing policy, procedure, method and rule in short cases, since these are often confused.