Planning

Planning is the Management function that is concerned with defining goals for future organizational performance and deciding on the tasks and resources needed to be used in order to attain the said goals. To meet the goals, managers will invest significant resources for training and incentives to motivate employees.

A lack of planning or poor planning can hurt an organization's performance.

Source - Richard L.Daft "Management"

Planning also refers to the practice and profession associated with land use planning, Urban planning or spatial planning. In the UK, the operation of the town and country planning system is often referred to as 'planning' and the professionals which operate the system are known as 'planners'.

Planning is a pervasive activity. It has universal applicability. Every manager plans. His effectiveness is judged by the plans he made and their relevancy with the organisational objectives.