Good Plan = Great Success: Planning Technical Activities

For a plain and simple language, planning is thinking ahead. Planning is a tool not only for organization but also for every individual to know what to do, how to do it, when to do it and what to expect in the future. A plan serves as a useful guide in the implementation of every activity. The nature of planning  is to have a plan that provides a methodical way of achieving desired results. Without the plan, some minor tasks may be afforded major attention that may, hinder the accomplishment of objectives. Planning defined by Nickels and others: refers to “the management function that involves anticipating future trends and determining the best strategies and tactics to achieve organizational objectives.” For Aldag and Stearns, planning is the “the selection and sequential ordering of tasks required to achieve an organizational goal.” Cole and Hamilton gave a definition of planning as “deciding what will be done, who will do it, where, when and how it will be done, and the standards to which it will be done.”  To give you another idea of what is planning, you may watch this video.

Planning is expected into various management level, and have a corresponding output for each level: Top management level (Strategic planning); Middle management level (Intermediate planning); Lower management level (Operational planning). Strategic Planning refers to the process of determining the major goals of the organization and the policies and strategies for obtaining and using resources to achieve those goals. The whole company is considered its objectives and current resources. Output: Strategic plan, the decision about long-range goals and the course of action to achieve these goals. Intermediate Planning refers to process of determining the contributions that subunits can make with allocated resources, undertaken by middle management. The goals of a subunit are determined and a plan is prepared to provide a guide to the realization of the goals and designed to support the strategic plan. Operational Planning refers to the process of determining how specific tasks can best be accomplished on time with available resources. It must be performed in support of the strategic plan and the intermediate plan. The planning process generally, involves the following: 1.Setting organizational, divisional, or unit goals. 2. Developing strategies or tactics to reach those goals. 3. Determining resources needed. 4.Setting standards. 

Goals defined as the “precise statement of results sought, quantified in time and magnitude, where possible.”

There are different types of plans: 1. Functional Area Plans under this are:Marketing Plan,Production Plan,Financial Plan,Human Resource Management Plan;2. Plans With Time Horizon: Short-Range Plan andLong-Range Plan;3. Plans According to Frequency of Use are: Standing Plan andSingle-Use Plans

In making planning effective the barriers should be recognized and the used of aids are recommended. According to Plunkett and Attner the planning barriers are as follows: 1. Managers inability to plan; 2. Improper planning process; 3. Lack of commitment to the planning process; 4. Improper information; 5. Focusing on the present at the expense of the future; 6. Too much reliance on the planning department; 7. Concentrating on only the controllable variables. Among the aids to planning that may be used are: 1. Gather as much information as possible; 2. Develop multiple sources of information; 3. Involve others in the planning process.

Planning is done so that some desired results may be achieved. Plan and have goals, don't just wish and dream.

About  the author :

Robbie Christine R. Bathan. She is currently taking up her masteral degree MSEE major in Industrial Engineering at Rizal Technological University, Mandaluyong. She is a faculty member in Industrial Engineering Department at Batangas State University.

Reference:

Roberto G. Medina, Engineering Management

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