Planning as a Management Function - Coursework Example

Planning as a Management Function Affiliation: What are the different types of plans that organizations can use? There are three major types of planning: strategic, tactical and operational. Strategic planning is the set of procedures and goals formulated by the organization that discuss the long term future goals of the organization and especially in relation to external orientation of the company. Tactical planning is coming up with a plan to break down the major strategic goals formulated to smaller more specific goals that address smaller aspects of the organization such as advertising, marketing, human resource among others which are more attainable and manageable.

Lastly is the operational planning. This unlike the other two that focus and deal with higher levels of management deal with the lower level of the organization that is usually handled by frontline managers such as delivery schedules among others (Gover, 2005). What types of plans does your organization use, and why do they use these plans? I have a relatively smaller organization and hence they do not have much to worry about external factors such as competition. The best plan for the organization is therefore the operational planning which deals with low level management.

This is also best since decision making is mainly bottom-top and hence planning at the lowest level where majority of the decisions makers are in is the best move for the organization. This may however change with advancement and expansion of the organization in the near future. What are the steps in the planning process? Which step is the most crucial? Why? There are six steps: situational analysis that deals with in depth analysis of information in relation to the current conditions and future trends.

There is also alternative goals and plans which should have been generated from the first step and which are contingency measures in case the initials ones fails to work without incurring time wastage or disheartening the stakeholders. The third step is goal and plan evaluation. This involves identification of the effects, advantages and disadvantages so far of the goals and plans discussed before making any major final decision. This is a careful process that involves the managers to avoid making mistakes.

Selection of the goal and plan is the next things where the ones that have been positive from the evaluation push forward in selection of the most effective and feasible. Nest is the implementation stage where the chosen goals are properly implemented and motivated to do so with the anticipated outcome. Lastly, there is monitoring and evaluation which is done to find out whether the goals and plans are succeeding or not and what can be done about it (Gover, 2005). What role does organizational responsibility and ethics play in the planning process in your organization?

Explain Planning demands discipline in following the schedule of the plan and the goals and avoiding being swayed. This is not possible without personal ethics as well as the responsibility the organization has given to the employees and concerned planning parties. Each personal has their own specific roles and responsibilities in as far as planning are concerned. The completion of this role will be possible if people value what is right in the society, maintain honesty about the planning progress as well as trust each other to do a good job.

What the ethics have done is ensured that the planning process moves swiftly without any hitches other problem encounter mainly caused by communication problem between employees and managers as well as failure to perform one’s roles. References Gover, S. L. (May, 2005). “The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth: The Causes and Management of Workplace Lying.” Academy of Management Executive vol. 19, pp. 148-157.