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Foundation of Planning

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Foundation of Planning
UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA

Foundations of Planning

Assessment 4 - Essay

This essay will discuss the topic on foundations of planning. It will identify and define some of the factors that motivate an organisation to use formal planning processes (FPP). It will also look specifically into the four main outcomes managers are seeking when they are engaging in a formal planning process. The risks associated with an over-reliance on formal planning processes will also be identified and discussed in this essay. Throughout this essay, examples from academic journal articles will be used to exemplify the discussion.

Planning is arguably the most important process in an organisation. Ahlstrom and Bruton (2012) states that planning is the overall master plan that decides the destiny for a firm. Besides, planning is used to gather information systematically in a firm and then sets its mission, performance objectives and ultimately its strategy (Ahlstrom & Bruton 2010, p.105). Robbins et al. (2012) also states that planning is the primary management function because it establishes the basis for all the other things that managers do. The planning process can be done informally and also formally. Informal planning process is a plan that is without written document whereas formal planning is a plan that is written down with identification of goals and specific action plan established to achieve goal (Robbins et al. 2012). The Formal Planning Process (FPP) will be the main idea discussed in this essay. FPP is complicated and comprehensive involving many elements or stages that are coincidental and interrelated, including strategic, tactical, and operational planning (DuBrin 2012, p. 118). Armstrong (1982) suggests that formal planning is an explicit process for determining the long-range objectives in an organisation, the production procedure and evaluating alternative strategies, and a structured system for monitoring the results when implementing a plan.
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