Features of Planning

The planning function of the management has certain special features. These features throw light on its nature and scope.

(i)  Planning focuses on achieving objectives:

• Organizations are set up with a general purpose in view.
• Specific goals are set out in the plans along with the activities to be undertaken to achieve the goals.
•     Thus, planning is purposeful. Planning has no meaning unless it contributes to the achievement of predetermined organizational goals.
•     Hence, planning starts with determination of objectives. So, it is not possible to think about planning in absence of objectives. 
• After setting up of objectives, planning decides the methods, procedure and steps to be taken for achievement of set objectives.

    (ii) Planning is a primary function of management:

• Planning lays down the base for other functions of management. Hence, it is the first function performed by every manager.
• All other managerial functions are performed within the framework of the plans drawn. So, no other functions can be executed by the manager without performing planning function. Since objectives are set up in planning and other functions are dependent on objectives only.
• Thus, planning precedes other functions. This is also referred to as the primacy of planning.
• The various functions of management are interrelated and equally important.
• However, planning provides the basis of all other functions.

(iii) Planning is pervasive:

• Planning is required at all levels of management as well as in all departments of the organization.
• It is not an exclusive function of top management nor of any particular department. But the scope of planning differs at different levels and among different departments.
• It is not a function restricted to top level managers only but planning is done by managers at every levels.
• For example, the top management undertakes planning for the organization as a whole. Middle management does the departmental planning. At the lowest level, day-to-day operational planning is done by supervisors.

(iv) Planning is continuous:

• Plans are prepared for a specific period of time, may be for a month, a quarter, or a year.
• At the end of that period there is need for a new plan to be drawn on the basis of new requirements and future conditions.
• Hence, planning is a continuous process.
• Continuity of planning is related with the planning cycle. It means that a plan is framed; it is implemented, and is followed by another plan, and so on.

(iv) Planning is futuristic:

• Planning essentially involves looking ahead and preparing for the future. Therefore, planning cannot be done for past.
• The purpose of planning is to meet future events effectively to the best advantage of an organisation.
• It implies peeping into the future, analysing it and predicting it.
• Planning is regarded as a forward looking function based on forecasting. Through forecasting, future events and conditions are anticipated and plans are drawn accordingly.
• Thus, for example, sales forecasting is the basis on which a business firm prepares its annual plan for production and sales.

 (v)  Planning involves decision making:

• Planning essentially involves choice from among various alternatives and activities.
• If there is only one possible goal or a possible course of action, there is no need for planning because there is no choice.
• The need for planning arises only when alternatives are available.
• In actual practice, planning presupposes the existence of alternatives.
• Planning, thus, involves thorough examination and evaluation of each alternative and choosing the most appropriate one.

  (vi) Planning is a mental exercise:

• Planning requires application of the mind involving foresight, intelligent imagination and sound judgment.
• Planning is a mental process which requires higher thinking. This is why it is kept separated from operational activities by Taylor.
• It is basically an intellectual activity of thinking rather than doing, because planning determines the action to be taken.
• However, planning requires logical and systematic thinking rather than guess work or wishful thinking.
• In other words, thinking for planning must be orderly and based on the analysis of facts and forecasts.