Planning
What the domain tests
Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how, when and by whom. RBSE tests features, process, importance and limitations, and the types of plans: objectives, strategy, policy, procedure, rule, method, programme, budget. It often asks you to classify a statement correctly.
Core rules
- Planning is goal-oriented, primary, pervasive, continuous, futuristic, and involves choice.
- Process: setting objectives, developing premises, identifying alternatives, evaluating alternatives, selecting an alternative, implementing, and follow-up.
- A policy is a general guideline; a procedure is a step-by-step sequence; a rule is a specific do/don’t; a method is the prescribed way to perform one step.
- A programme combines objectives, policies, procedures, rules and budgets for a project. A budget is a statement of expected results in numerical terms.
- Limitations: rigidity, huge cost/time, may not work in dynamic environments, reduces creativity, and does not guarantee success.
Worked example
A company decides to launch a new fan model. “Increase market share by 5%” is an objective. “Use only authorised dealers” is a policy. “Receive dealer order, verify credit, dispatch within 48 hours” is a procedure. “No dispatch without full payment” is a rule. The launch schedule with activities and funds is a programme; its sales and cost figures form budgets. Classify by scope and specificity, not by length.
Traps
Planning is not forecasting; forecasting is one input. A strategy is a comprehensive plan for an uncertain competitive situation, not a one-line goal. Do not call every plan a policy. Planning does not eliminate risk; it only reduces uncertainty.