PLANNING PROCESS

DEFINITION
 Planning is a process of determining the
objectives of administrative effort and devising
the means calculated to achieve them.
-Millet
Planning is the thinking process, the organized
foresight, the vision based on fact and experience
that is required for intelligent action.
-Alford and Beatt
Planning is fundamentally choosing and a
planning problem arises when an alternative
course of action is discovered.

-Billly E Goetz
 NATURE OF PLANNING

1. Planning is goal -oriented

2. Planning is a primary function of
management
3. Planning is all-pervasive
4. Planning is an intellectual and rational
process
5. Planning is a continuous process
6. Planning is forward looking
 MISSION OF PLANNING

• The mission is a brief statement identifying

the reason that an organization exists as well
as its future aim or function.
• This statement identifies the organization’s
constituency and addresses its position
regarding ethics, principles and standard of
practice.
 OBJECTIVES OF PLANNING

To Set the Objectives

Planning actually starts with the formulation
of Objectives and planning action to achieve
those objectives. The objectives are defined in
a meaningful and technical terms so that
managerial actions could be possible. Action
plan is drafted keeping in mind all the
facilitating and constraining factors
 To Focus on Meaningful Activities
Effective planning lays down various courses of
action, which are useful to accomplish the
objectives. The chances of unproductive
activities are reduced to a great extent.
Planning makes it clear for the nursing
personnel working at different levels as to how
their operations can contribute to the
nursing organizational objectives that are in
consistent with the objectives of the hospital.
To Economizes the Time and Effort and Other
Resource
Planning at all levels keeps the whole process
in order. Money, men, machines and materials
are properly utilized and wastages are
minimized. Time and efforts of the staff
working is saved if they know ahead that what
is expected from them.
To Reduce Risk and Uncertainty
Proper planning is made considering various
environmental factors including the human
and other factors, since there is diversity in
these factors. There is always a scope of
flexibility or alternatives in good planning that
reduces the risk and uncertainty arising of
them.
To Ensure Proper Control
In planning there is a scope to lay down the
methods of performance evaluation, against
the laid down standards and targets. When
these are actually measured and compared
with standards, gives good control to assure
the accomplishment objectives as set by the
plans.
 NEEDS OF PLANNING

• Focuses attention on objectives and results

Every organization exists to achieve certain
objectives. Planning concentrates attention on
the dominant goals of the organization.
• Reduces uncertainty and risk
Uncertainty and change are inevitable and
planning cannot eliminate them. But planning
enables an organization to cope with
uncertainty and change. With the help of
planning, an enterprise can predict future
events and make due provision for them.
• Provides sense of direction

Planning saves an organization from drifting

and avoids aimless activities. It directs human

efforts into endeavours that contribute to the

accomplishment of goals.
• Encourages innovation and-creativity
Innovation and creativity are prerequisites to
continuous growth and steady prosperity of
business. Planning is forward looking and it
enables an enterprise to cope with
technological and other developments.
Planning requires continuous monitoring of
environment for new ideas and developments
• Helps in coordination
Planning is the best stage for the integration
of diverse forces at work. Planning seeks to
achieve a co-ordinated structure of
operations. It provides a unifying framework.
• Guides decision-making

Planned targets serve as the criteria for the

evaluation of different alternatives so that the

best course of action may be chosen. By

predicting future, planning helps in taking

future-oriented decisions.
• Facilitates control

Planning provides the basis for control. Plans

serve as standard for the evaluation of

performance.
• Planning is economical
Effective plans coordinate organisational work
and eliminate unproductive effort.
• Planning improves morale
When goals are properly defined, work
assignments can be fixed and everyone can
begin to contribute to the achievement of
these goals. This produces improvements in
morale
 PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING

Principle of contribution to objectives

Principle of efficiency of plans
Principle of primacy of planning
Principle of planning premises
Principle of policy framework
Principle of timing
Principle of alternatives
Principle of limiting factor
Principle of commitment
Principle of flexibility
Principle of navigational change
Principle of competitive strategies
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
PLANNING
• Primacy
Planning is an important element in the
administration that usually precedes other
elements or functions of administration.
Without setting the goals, to be reached and
lines of action to be followed, there is nothing
to organize ,to direct or to control in the
enterprises.
• Continuity
Planning is a continuous and never ending
activity of an administration or managers. one
plans begets another plan to be followed by a
series of other plans in quick secession.
• Flexibility
Planning leads to the adoption of a specific
course of action and the rejection of other
possibilities. when the future cannot be
modulated to conform to the course of action,
flexibility is to be in grained in planning for
adapting course of action to demands of
current situation
• Unity
Planning is made by different administrators or
managers at different times. maintenance of
consistency or unity of planning is one of the
essential requirements. Objectives provide the
common focuses or unifying
managerial/administrative action in planning.
• Precision
Planning must be precise as to its meaning,
scope and nature.
 FACTORS AFFECTING PLANNING

1. Competition
2. Economy
3. Managers
4. Information
• Pervasiveness
Planning is a pervasive activity covering the
entire enterprise with all its segments and
every level of management. planning is not
the exclusive responsibility of management
only ,but it extends to middle and lower
management as well. planning is of equal
necessity to every manager