Planning function, nature and meaning of planning and types of planning

1. Planning Function
A formal process in which the managers determine their objectives and also
identify the methods that how to acheive those objectives.
 Preperation today for tomorrow
 Not only planning provide unity and direction of purpose for the
organization but also answers six important questions.
1. What needs to be accomplished?
2. When is the deadline?
3. Where will this be done?
4. Who will be responsible for that?
5. How will it get done?
6. How much time,energy and resources will be required to accomlish this goal?
Nature and meaning of planning
 Contribution to objectives
 Primacy of planning
 Pervasiveness of planning
 Effeciency of planning
1: Contribution to objectives
Plans are means to achieve some goals. All other managerial functions are tuend
to the implementation of these plans and thus directed toward the achievement
of goals.
2: Primacy of planning
This principal of planning deals with the importance of planning for its central role
of linking all other managerial functions.
3: Pervasiveness of planning
This function of planning shows us that planning is the basic function for all
managerial levels.

2. 4: Effeciency of planning
This principal is related with the controlling function in the sense that it measure.
The extent to which the objective of a plan is realized and it also provide a
standard for controlling function.
Types of Planning
 Strategic Plan
 Tactical Plan
 Operational Plan
 Contingency Plan/alternative Plan
1: Strategic Plan
A Strategic plan is an outline of the steps designed with the overall goal of the
organization rather than with the specific goal of a division.
Strategic plan begin with the mission of the organization.
Strategic plan look ahead over the next two, three,five or even more years to
move the organization from where it currently is to where it will be.
Top management set the strategic plan for the organization which provide a
framework and set dimension for the lower level Plans.
2: Tactical Plan
A tactical plan is concern with what the lower level unit with an each division
must do it. And who is incharge of each division.
Tactics are the means needed to active a strategy and make it work.
Deals with the determination of specific utilization of resources of the
organization in achieving their strategic goals.
The reliance of these plans is on past performance and practices as to how the
organization allocate its resources.

3. 3: Operational Plan
An operation plan is one that a manager use to to accomplish his/her
responsibility. Supervisors, team leader and facilation develop operational plan to
support tactical plan, which leads to fulfil strategic plan.
Operational Plan can be
1: Single use plan
Apply activity that do not repeat. A one time occurance, such as special sale
program, budget.etc
2: Ongoing/ Continous Plan
Ongoing plans are made once but can be implemented and modified time to time,
must be for doing term.
Example:
Policy:
A policy provides a broad guideline for the managers , to follow when dealing
with important decision of the organization.
Procedure:
It is a set of step-by-step directions that explains how activities/tasks are to be
carry out.
Rules:
Set of different explict statement that tells an employee what to do and what not
to do.