Planning and types of planning

Planning

the skills of anticipating, influencing and controlling the nature and direction of change.

Types of Planning:

The process of planning may be classified into different categories on the following basis:

(i) Nature of Planning:

a. Formal planning.

b. Informal planning.

(ii) Duration of planning:

a. Short term planning.

b. Long term planning.

(iii) Levels of Management:

a. Strategic planning.

b. Intermediate planning.

c. Operational planning.

(iv) Use:

a. Standing plans

b. Single-use plans.

(i) Nature of Planning:

a. Formal Planning:

Planning is formal when it is reduced to writing. When the numbers of actions are large it is good to have a formal plan since it will help adequate control.

Advantages:

1. Proper Cooperation among employees,

2. Unity of Action,

3. Economy,

4. Proper coordination and control,  

5. Choosing the right objectives, and 

6. Future plan.

b. Informal Planning:

An informal plan is one, which is not in writing, but it is conceived in the mind of the manager. Informal planning will be effective when the number of actions is less and actions have to be taken in short period.

(ii) Duration of Planning:

a. Short term Planning:

Short term planning is the planning which covers less than two years. It must be formulated in a manner consistent with long-term plans. It is considered as tactical planning. Short-term plans are concerned with immediate future; it takes into account the available resources only and is concerned with the current operations of the business.

These may include plans concerning inventory planning and control, employee training, work methods etc.

Advantages:

1. It can be easily adjustable.

2. Changes can be made and incorporated.

3. Easy to Gauge.

4. Only little resources required.

Disadvantages:

1. Very short period-left over things will be more.

2. Difficult to mobiles the resources.

3. Communication cycle will not be completed.

b. Long-Term Planning:

Long-term planning usually converse a period of more than five years, mostly between five and fifteen years. It deals with broader technological and competitive aspects of the organisation as well as allocation of resources over a relatively long time period. Long-term planning is considered as strategic planning.

Advantages:

1. Sufficient time to plan and implement.

2. Effective control.

3. Adjustment and changes may be made gradually.

4. Periodic evaluation is possible.

5. Thrust areas can be identified easily.

6. Weakness can be spotted and rectified then and there.

Disadvantages:

1. Prediction is difficult.

2. Full of uncertainties.

3. Objectives and Targets may not be achieved in full.

4. More resources required.

(iii) Levels of Management:

a. Strategic Planning:

The strategic planning is the process of determining overall objectives of the organisation and the policies and strategies adopted to achieve those objective. It is conducted by the top management, which include chief executive officer, president, vice-presidents, General Manger etc. It is a long range planning and may cover a time period of up to 10 years.

b. Intermediate Planning:

Intermediate planning cover time frames of about 6 months to 2 years and is contemplated by middle management, which includes functional managers, department heads and product line mangers. They also have the task of polishing the top managements strategic plans.

c. Operational Planning:

Operational planning deals with only current activities. It keeps the business running. These plans are the responsibility of the lower management and are conducted by unit supervisors, foremen etc. These are short-range plans covering a time span from one week to one year.

(iv) Use:

a. Standing Plan:

Standing plan is one, which is designed to be used over and over again. Objectives, policies procedures, methods, rules and strategies are included in standing plans. Its nature is mechanical. It helps executives to reduce their workload. Standing plan is also called routine plan. Standing or routine plan is generally long range.

b. Single Use Plan:

Single use plan is one, which sets a course of action for a particular set of circumstances and is used up once the particular goal is achieved. They may include programme, budgets, projects and schedules. It is also called specific planning. Single use plan is short range. 

Components of Planning/Planning Techniques:

Planning consists of several individual plans or components of planning, which are usually bound together.

(i) Forecasting.

(ii) Objectives.

(iii) Policies.

(iv) Programmes.

(v) Strategies.

(vi) Schedules.

(vii) Procedures.

(viii) Rules, and

(ix) Budgets.

i. Forecasting:

Forecasting becomes an integral part of the planning process. It is a prediction of future events and conditions. It, therefore, includes both the assessment of the future and the provision for it. It helps to reduce the uncertainties that surround management, decision making.

ii. Objectives:

Objectives are the ends toward which activity is aimed— they are the results to be achieved. They represent not only the end point of planning but also the end toward which organising, staffing, leading and controlling are aimed.

Organisation can grow without any difficulty if it has well-defined objectives. These objectives should be clearly defined and communicated throughout the organisation. Such objectives must be realistic.

iii. Policies:

Koonte and O’Donnell defines “policies are general statements or undertakings which guide or channel thinking in decision-making of subordinates.” So, policies act as guides to thinking and action of subordinates in the organisations. It should be clearly prescribed and understandable by all.

iv. Programmes:

It refers to the course of action of work to be carried out in proper sequence for the purpose of achieving specific objectives.

v. Strategies:

Konnoz and Heinz Weihrich defined strategies as “a general programme of action and deployment of resources to attain comprehensive objectives” or ” the determination of the basic long-term objectives of an enterprise “and the adoption of courses of action and allocation of resources necessary to achieve these goals. It is specific type of plan for achieving organisational goals.

vi. Schedules:

Fixing a time sequence for every operation is known as schedules. Normally it forms part of programming a part of action plan.

vii. Procedures:

Procedures are plans that establish a required method of handling future activities. They are guides to action, rather than to thinking and they detail the exact manner in which certain activities must be accomplished. They are chronological sequences of required actions.

viii. Rules:

Rules spell out specific required actions or non-actions, following no direction. They are usually the simplest type of plan.

ix. Budgets:

A budget is a statement of expected results expressed in numerical term. It may be referred to as a numberised programme. A budget may be expressed either in financial terms or in terms of labour-hours, units of product, machine hours, or any other numerically measurable term. It helps the organisation to control the action by comparing budgetary and actual results.