Planning in Management Essay

This paper explains that, to begin its planning, an organization needs (1) to evaluate its readiness and goals by using an analytical study of their recent history, their strengths and weaknesses, (2) to establish a planning committee and (3) to recognize specific issues to be addressed in the planning process. The author points out that some of the most important factors, which serve as barriers to any effective planning, are communication, overall poor skill levels of employees and resistance to change. The paper relates that some of the major external influences in business management, over which an organization has less or no control but nonetheless must be included in the planning process, are the political-legal, economic, natural, socio-cultural, demographic and technological environments.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Steps in the Planning Process
Barriers to Effective Planning
Ways to Overcome these Barriers
External or Macro-Environment Influences
Internal or Micro-Environment Influences