11 important Characteristics of Planning in an organisation

The inbuilt characteristics of planning are:

1. Planning means forecasting as it always deals with the future. Assumptions are to be made regarding future happenings; failing when there can be not planning. Without the quality of futurity, no plan can work and it has little value as a basis of action.

2. Planning in an enterprise is closely linked to the objectives of the enterprise. It shows in advance a definite purpose and goals to reach.

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3. Planning involves selection of particular courses of action and, the rejection of some alternatives. Every business problem has more than one solution. Each alternative must be given thorough and detailed examination, so that the evaluation could lead to the selection of the most advantageous course of action.

4. Planning is pervasive. It operates at every level and each part of the organisation.

5. Inter-dependability, consistency and coordination are characteristics of planning process. Programmes of different departments of an organisation go to constitute an integrated plan.

This is best exemplified by the relation between the sales department and production department of an enterprise. The sales department estimates the sales on the basis of which the production department plans its output and maintains stocks.

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6. Planning has to be flexible so that it could be adjusted without difficulty as changing conditions demand. Also, it needs to be sufficiently broad – based to permit such adjustments.

7. Planning is a continuous process. It is a never ending activity of the manager. What was a planed yesterday becomes today’s operational work, and what is to be executed tomorrow has to be planned today.

Moreover there are plans that may have to be abandoned in favour of a new plan. Therefore, there should be a regular procedure for periodical check up and review of results.

8. Stability of business and organisation is not to be affected in planning.

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9. Plans should be comprehensive and yet as simple as possible. They should adequately cover all actions required for the satisfactory fulfillment or the objectives.

10. Plans should be reasonably economical in as much as its very aim is to obviate unproductive expenditure.

11. No ambiguities in a good plan.