Planning and its Features

What is Planning ?

People making and discussing plan.

Planning refers to think in advance what is to be done when is to be done how is to be done and who is going to do.

Planning is basically the gap between where we are and where we want to be.

All the work in process between what we are and what we will become is called planning.

It is the first function and one of  the most important function of management.

• Features or Characteristics of planning

Planning is a primary function of management

Planning is a primary function of management because with the help of planning objective is determined and without objective no other activities or functions can be performed. So, planning is the first function of management and it is the base for all the other functions of Management.

Planning is pervasive in nature

Planning is not a function of top level of management only it is a function of all the levels of Management top level of management requires planning to make strategic plans, middle level of management required planning to manage different departments and lower level of management are involved in operational planning. So, planning is pervasive in nature.

Planning is a continuous process

Planning is a continuous process or never ending process as after implementation of plans whether the plan are moving towards the right direction or not these are regularly maintained and measured. If it is required the plans are changed according to the requirements or situations

Planning involves decision making 

With the help of planning objective is determined and to achieve that objective various plans or alternatives are created and from that plans or alternatives the best alternative is selected to achieve objective but in case there is only one alternative than there is no need  for planning.

Planning is forward looking or futuristic

Planning is done for future course of action it is not done for past assumption and predictions are made on the basis of forecasting in short planning and walls thinking about the future for doing action in present.

Planning focuses on achieving objectives

With the help of planning objective is determine to achieve these objectives various plans and alternative are created and all these plans as alternative focuses on achieving objective of the organisation. So planning is goal oriented process.

Planning is a mental exercise

Planning is a intellectual process which involves high order of thinking and imagination. So always there is a possibility of finding better ideas planning requires logical and systematic thinking instead of guessing work.