Week 6 Notes
February 15, 2023 11:34 AM
Chapter 9
Planning work activities
What is planning?
• A management function that involves defining goals, establishing a strategy for achieving those
goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate work activities
What and why of planning
Relationship between planning and performance
• Formal planning is associated with
○ Higher profit and returns on assets
○ Other positive financial results
• The quality of planning and implementation affects performance more than the extent of planning
• The external environment can reduce the impact of planning on performance
• Formal planning must be used for several years before planning begin to affect performance
Goals and plans
Goals and planning
• Goals (also objectives)
○ Desired outcomes or targets
○ Provide direction and performance evaluation criteria
Types of goals
• State goals
○ Official statements of what an organization says and what it wants its stakeholders to
believe its goals are
• Real goals
○ Goals that an organization actually pursues, as defined by the actions of its members
• Plans
, ○ Documents that outline how goals will be met
○ Describe how resources are to be allocated and establish activity schedules
Types of plans
• Strategic plans
○ Plans that apply to the entire organization and establish the organizations overall goals
• Operational plans
○ Plans that encompass a particular operational area of the organization
• Long term plans
○ Plans with a time frame beyond three years
• Short term plans
○ Plans covering one year or less
• Specific plans
○ Plans that are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation
• Directional plans
○ Plans that are flexible and set out general guidelines
• Single use plan
○ A one time plan specifically designed to meet the need of a unique situation standing plans
• Ongoing plans
○ Provide guidance for activities performed repeatedly
Setting goals and developing plans
Approaches to setting goals
• Traditional goal setting
○ An approach to setting goals in which top managers set goals that then flow down through
the organization and become subgoals for each organizational areas
• Goals are intended to direct, guide and constrain from above
• Goals lose clarity and focus as lower level managers attempt to interpret and define the goals for
their areas of responsibility
February 15, 2023 11:34 AM
Chapter 9
Planning work activities
What is planning?
• A management function that involves defining goals, establishing a strategy for achieving those
goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate work activities
What and why of planning
Relationship between planning and performance
• Formal planning is associated with
○ Higher profit and returns on assets
○ Other positive financial results
• The quality of planning and implementation affects performance more than the extent of planning
• The external environment can reduce the impact of planning on performance
• Formal planning must be used for several years before planning begin to affect performance
Goals and plans
Goals and planning
• Goals (also objectives)
○ Desired outcomes or targets
○ Provide direction and performance evaluation criteria
Types of goals
• State goals
○ Official statements of what an organization says and what it wants its stakeholders to
believe its goals are
• Real goals
○ Goals that an organization actually pursues, as defined by the actions of its members
• Plans
, ○ Documents that outline how goals will be met
○ Describe how resources are to be allocated and establish activity schedules
Types of plans
• Strategic plans
○ Plans that apply to the entire organization and establish the organizations overall goals
• Operational plans
○ Plans that encompass a particular operational area of the organization
• Long term plans
○ Plans with a time frame beyond three years
• Short term plans
○ Plans covering one year or less
• Specific plans
○ Plans that are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation
• Directional plans
○ Plans that are flexible and set out general guidelines
• Single use plan
○ A one time plan specifically designed to meet the need of a unique situation standing plans
• Ongoing plans
○ Provide guidance for activities performed repeatedly
Setting goals and developing plans
Approaches to setting goals
• Traditional goal setting
○ An approach to setting goals in which top managers set goals that then flow down through
the organization and become subgoals for each organizational areas
• Goals are intended to direct, guide and constrain from above
• Goals lose clarity and focus as lower level managers attempt to interpret and define the goals for
their areas of responsibility
