Nature of planning

Planning is the formal process whereby specific objectives,targets are set,and detailed resources alongside the methods and ways of accomplishing the objectives established.it involves an advanced,consideration,organisaion and arrangement of what is to be done and how to do it.planning is therefore future oriented.so therefore the plans must be flexible so as to anticipate changes and permit adjustment with minimum disruption.

Characteristics of planning
Planning is a scientific way of considering various proposals in order to choose the best alternative.

It is the function of setting objectives, determining strategies and selecting alternative courses of action.

Planning concerns what is to be done, how it should be done and when it should be done.

It facilitates the attainment of corporate objectives

It bridges the gap between the present and future state of an organization.



The hierarchy of plans:
Mission: The primary reason for the existence of organization

Objectives: The goals, ends, or taget of an activity

Strategies: The general action programmes

Policies: General statements that guide the thinking and actions of managers in decision making

Procedure and rules: The plans that establish a customary method of handling future activities.

Programmes: A list of goals, policies, procedures, rules, tasks assignments =, steps etc in a course of action.

Budget: Statement of expected results expressed in numerical terms.



Planning Techniques:
1. Assess future opportunities and threats

2. Establish your objectives or define your goals

3. Make realistic assumptions about the planning environment; Internal and external eh by forecasting the impact of environment changes on planning

4. Determine alternative courses of action

5. Evaluate each alternative course of action

6. Choose the best or most suitable alternative

7. Formulate derivative plans to support the basic plan

8. Convert plans to budget by expressing them in numerical terms

9. Implement the plans.

10. Review performance


Advantages of planning:
1.  Effort is focused on organizational goals.

2. Staff morale is boosted

3. It corrects underemployment of human resources.

4. It helps in personnel development

5. It facilitates effective control

6. It aids consistent and integrated efforts.

7. It identifies bottlenecks or critical paths.

8. It prevents costly mistakes.

9. It aids delegation
 
                                        
Benefits of planning:
some of the benefits of planning include:

1. it makes mature and useful decisions against anticipated events instead of waiting until they occur before thinking about them

2.With planning,there is a clearer definition of objectives and policies

3. it helps in forestalling and overcoming risk and uncertainties and therefore contributes to organisations success.


Disadvantages or problems involved in planning:
1. It may be expensive if not accurate

2. It involves uncertainty- i.e dealing with future which is uncertain

3. It takes a great deal of time (eg the time consumed during collection and analysis of data)

4. It may kill initiatives and reduce enthusiasm.


 The principles of planning:
1. Planning must be for the right length of time.
2. It must be done at an appropriate time
3. It should be detailed appropriately
4. All possible courses of action must be considered
5. It should be based on facts
6. It should be done by the right person
7. It should be based on clearly defined objectives
8. It should conform with laid down policies.
9. It should be flexible
10.It should be feasible, precise and easy to operate
11.It should consider the ability of the people to implement it.