The Planning Process
The planning process is an integral part of management. It enables managers with relevant and up-to-date information and background on their decision-making. The main tools of planning are clarification and specification of the objectives, coordination, encouragement of innovations and creativity, the establishment of control and provision of mid-course corrections. The final resource of planning enables managers with the ability to change the general aim of the project during its functioning. It is a very handy tool that is required to prevent possible losses and ensure achievement of tasks and objectives.In the book of William A. Cohen, author emphasizes the priority of planning during the process of creating the prosperous future (Cohen, 2008). First of all, it is necessary to set the goals and objectives. However, the managers may face the grave mistake on this step. It is crucial to understand that it is wrong to consider today’s trends and features in the future prediction. Modern environment and conditions change with us.
It is impossible to succeed in today’s business ambiance without focusing on the latest tendencies and features. The example that is presented by William A. Cohen illustrates this issue in a great way. The astronauts, which calculated the course to the Moon at the beginning of the journey, are less likely to reach the Moon, while those astronauts, who made corrections of the course during their flight, will certainly reach their point of destination. The Cohen’s words are true. The planner should not assume that the past or present would continue in the future. Our universe is dynamic, everything is moving towards certain aim and we cannot focus on the future, while we are waiting for the past to repeat.Unplanned actions cannot be controlled (Importance of planning in management). The common rule of the planning as a part of the management is that everything has to have its predetermined course. It is crucial rectifying all the deviations from this course in order to sustain the straight route towards the certain aim.
What if the aim changes during the course? What if the course, which leads to the aim, is no longer reachable by the chosen method?
Here the statement of William A. Cohen comes in handy once more. If managers hold to initial changes, stay on course and avoid any changes, they will never succeed. From the mathematical point of view, they will be right: a straight line is the best way to reach the target. However, the world is not as straightforward as it seems. That is the main difference between mathematics and management. Good managers are able to predict the changes, to adopt and use them for their purposes.The most common variation of the abovementioned mistake, which is often undertaken by managers, is the usage of past performance as a benchmark to evaluate current or future performance (Management planning and control). Planning and control would be effective …
