Planning is a process which helps an individual or an organization to prepare goals and objectives and to decide how to reach those goals. The process of planning involves establishing the requirements of the situation, the goals and objectives to be met, the methods and strategies needed, the actions and tasks to be accomplished and the resources needed.
All of these must be done in order to produce the desired end results. In this article, we will discuss the six elements of planning in detail.
Objectives
The primary objective of any business or organization is to reach its desired end result. The objectives must be as specific as possible and must be achievable.
A well-defined objective helps the planner to make an organized plan and helps in dividing the resources efficiently between each goal. Objectives should be realistic, measurable, achievable and relevant to the organization.
Goals
Goals are the end results to which the organization aspires and wants to achieve. They are usually long term objectives and they require greater effort and dedication.
Goals can be tangible or intangible; they can either involve an organization’s internal operations or its interaction with customers. Goals are the main elements of any plan as they guide and direct the planner on what has to be done to achieve the desired end result.
Strategies
A strategy is a long-term, specific plan of action which helps an organization to achieve its objectives. An effective strategy is one which outlines the methods and techniques that should be used to reach the desired goal.
Strategies involve analyzing and understanding the current situation and conditions, predicting the future and accordingly formulating the plans which involve allocating resources, assessing the strengths and weaknesses and taking necessary actions.
Resources
Resources are the vital element of any planning. Resources include both physical and human resources like manpower, machinery, money, skills and knowledge.
A planner must identify and allocate the right resources, at the right place and at the right time to ensure that the desired end result is achieved.
Actions
Action plans are the microscopic elements of a plan which encompass the actual tasks that need to be completed. These actions are the activities which require to be done by the person or team who is responsible for executing the plan. Action plans involve scheduling and allotting responsibilities to individuals, monitoring the progress and making sure that all the necessary activities are completed.
Timeframes
Timeframes are the realistic deadlines against which the progress of the plan can be measured. Timeframes must collect the objective which has to be achieved and should be realistic. Unrealistic timeframes can be counterproductive as it leads to negative consequences like lack of motivation or increased stress levels.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be seen that the six elements of planning — objectives, goals, strategies, resources, actions and timeframes — are the core components of any planning process. A well-planned and organized plan with these elements can help an organization to reach its desired end result in an efficient and effective manner.