The Planning Functions of Management
Leaders are proactive. They make change happen instead of reacting to change. (Lateiner
2004) The future requires all levels of management to have the skills and ability to
combine many unanticipated and diverse events into its planning. Planning is the
conscious, systematic process of making decisions about goals and activities that an
individual, group, work unit, or organization will pursue in the future. (Bateman, T. 2004)
In order for an organization to reach its goal, they must plan for change and use effective
planning which will help identify opportunities, avoid problems, set the direction for the
other functions of management, and improve decision-making.
There are several steps in the process of a basic planning structure. They are situational
analysis, alternatives, evaluation, selection, implementation, and monitor and control.
Situational analysis is the internal and external reviewing of past events, current
conditions, and attempts to forecast future trends. Which is also known to be a SWOT
analysis. Followed by an alternative in which management selects alternative targets and
actions to achieve goals. Evaluation is the process in which the decision-maker evaluates
the advantages, disadvantages, and potential effects of each alternative. Next in selection,
the planner has to decide which goals and plans are appropriate and feasible, thereafter, the
managers implement the plans designed to achieve the organizational goal. Finally,
monitoring and controlling, an essential part of the process, since planning is an ongoing,
repetitive process, managers need to monitor the progress and then controlling, in case a
action is initiated incorrectly or when situations change.
My Organization
The tax season is the busiest time of the year for our company, so during the last quarter of
the year we start to prepare. The tax season is an essential part of the company income.
During those three and a half months, we have more revenue sales than any other quarter
during the year.
Analysis
We start by analyzing the previous year process and what changes have risen for this
coming tax season. We prepare by ordering the updates for the tax program, Intuits
ProSeries, research any new tax laws that are developing for the new tax year, and
purchase the necessary supplies needed such a paper, folders, and computer ink cartridges.
As the analysis has been completed, our company has to take into consideration several
changes that have risen in this past year. In this coming 2005 tax season, it ismandatory to
inform our clients that the elevator is broken, meaning our elderly and wheelchair bond
