EXPLANATION OF PLANNING AND ITS FEATURES

EXPLANATION OF PLANNING AND ITS FEATURES

Planning, therefore, is the process of pre -deciding about what is to be done and how it can be organized and arriving at a decision on how best to do it so that certain goals or objectives can be achieved. It is the course of actions taken toward the future by considering alternatives and then making a determination on the best course of action to realize the desired end result. Basically, it involves designing a roadmap that can act to manage and direct actions and decisions toward success.

Planning is a crucial process in both personal and professional contexts, involving the formulation of a detailed strategy or plan to achieve specific goals or objectives. Here’s an overview of the key aspects of planning:

Definition

Planning is the process of thinking about the activities required to achieve a desired goal. It involves the identification of resources, setting objectives, and determining the steps necessary to reach those objectives.

concept of planning

FEATURES OF PLANNING

The important features of planning are as follows:

1. Goal-Oriented

Purpose: Planning is directed towards the attainment of some goals or objectives.

Focus: All planning activities are directed toward these goals; hence, attention is focused on the channeling of efforts towards the realization of such goals or objectives.

2. Futuristic

Forward-Looking: Planning deals with conditions, trends, and events that are 'future'.

Preparation: It enables individuals or organizations to get ready for challenges and opportunities lying ahead.

3. Plan involves Decision-Making

Choices: Planning involves decisions to select one among various alternative courses of action, the availability of resources, and methods to be adopted.

Alternatives: Normally, planning requires the preparation and analysis of a number of alternative courses of action until the appropriate one is selected.

4. Continual Process

Ongoing: Planning is not a one-time affair but an ongoing process where plans and programs keep changing periodically with the change in the environment.

Dynamic: Periodic updates in plans are required upon fresh information being made available or changes in the environment.

5. Comprehensive

Holistic: Planning takes into account all the relevant factors, that includes resources and also the time, people and external conditions.

Integration: It ensures that diverse parts of an organization or a project work in harmony.

6. Flexibility

Adaptability: Planning is something which can be easily adaptable. plan can be easily adapted according to the changes in the business environment.

Contingency Planning: It generally provides for alternative plans to face risks or difficulties that might arise

7. Coordination

Alignment: It ensures that different activities and efforts are oriented and aligned to the same goal.

Collaboration: It mostly needs to coordinate among the diversify departments or teams in the implementation of the goals.

8. Resource Allocation

Efficiency: The planning helps define the most efficient way of resource allocation, amongst the resources, be it time or money or people, available towards the achievement of the present goals.

Prioritization: It requires the prioritization of work and allocation of the resources in that area where such allocation is needed.

9. Risk Management

Identification: Planning identifies the prospective risks that are to be evolved while achieving the aims.

Mitigation: It contains those measures to combat and reduce such risks.

10. Guidance and Direction

Roadmap: It provides a clear roadmap or blueprint of action.

Clarity: It gives clear directions to all concerned, hence confusion can be avoided, and all can come on the same platform that is.

It is from these features that planning becomes an essential function towards the attainment of success in individual and organizational tasks.

PROCESS OF PLANNING

There are many well-structured steps that makeup the planning process, which have the effect of guiding decision-making towards meeting set objectives. The outline of a typical planning process is as follows:

1. Setting Objectives

Define Goals: State clearly what you want to achieve.

Purpose: Objectives provide direction and a basis for measuring progress.

2. Analyzing the Current Situation

Assess Environment: Evaluate factors in both the internal and external environment that may impact your plans; examples include the available resources, market conditions, and potential risks that you run.

SWOT Analysis: Consider the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to understand the current position.

3. Identification of Resources

Inventory of Resources: Identify the resources in terms of time, money, personnel, technology that are at your disposal.

Resource Constraints: Consider any limitations or constraints on resources.

4. Generation of Alternatives

Options Brainstorming: Come up with several strategies or methods to achieve the objectives.

Alternatives Evaluation: Weigh the pros and cons of each option, looking at cost, time, and any risks which could be involved in each.

5. Choosing the Best Alternative

Decision Making: Choose the most feasible and potent alternative that aligns with your objectives and resources.

Justification: Test if the selected plan is justified based on your minute observation, which corroborates the top objectives set for yourself.

6. Detailed Plan Formulation

Action Steps: The chosen strategy has to be broken into specific action steps.

Timeline: Specify a time frame for each step, with deadlines and milestones.

Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly defining tasks, assigning them to various people or teams, and stipulating accountability.

7. Implementation

Execution: Plan implementation by mobilizing resources, coordination of efforts, and initiation of tasks.

Communication: Clearly communicate what is being done with all parties involved in the implementation.

8. Monitoring and Controlling

Tracking Progress: Monitor plan progress against set objectives regularly on the timeline.

Measure Performance: Success will be measured by key performance indicators.

Control Mechanisms: Controls should be instituted to ensure that the plan remains on track, but with adjustments wherever necessary.

9. Evaluating the Results

Review Outcomes: The results of the plan should be reviewed against objectives.

Learn from Experience: Determine what worked well and what didn't, and then apply those lessons to improve subsequent planning activities.

10. Revising and Updating the Plan

Improvement: On the basis of evaluation, the plan has to be revised either to make good the shortcomings or to avail new opportunities or to meet challenges. Adaptation: Is the need to update the plan as and when necessary, in view of the changes in the environment or objectives. This cyclic process makes sure that planning is not a mere static document, but a dynamic, continuing process adjusting itself with the changing circumstances and striving continuously for betterment.