Planning is a key managerial activity that involves defining goals, establishing strategies, and developing coordinated plans. Managers plan to provide direction, reduce uncertainty, minimize waste, and set performance standards. Studies show formal planning is associated with higher profits when properly implemented over several years. Planning elements include goals that provide direction and evaluation criteria, and plans that allocate resources and schedules. Approaches to planning involve setting goals traditionally from the top-down or through participative methods like management by objectives. Effective planning in dynamic environments requires specific but flexible plans that are ongoing and can be changed when needed.