Planning is the first and foremost function of management. It focuses on the future course of action. It decides in advance as to what is to be done, how is to be done, when is to be done, where is to be done, who will do it and how results are to be evaluate. Planning directs effort of individual and groups as we as resources of an organization towards the common objectives. Planning is the inter-actual process. It includes thinking before doing. So it is initial for management. According to Marry Cashing Willos, "Planning is the continuous process of selecting, developing the based course of action to objectives." According to Koontz and O'Donell, "Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do it, when to do it and who is to do it. Planning bridges the gap from where we are to and where we want to go." Hence, planning is predetermination of objectives and inter-actual course of action to be taken to achieve specific goal efficiently and on time.
Learning Materials for Management Students