DISCUSS THE CONTINGENCY FACTORS THAT AFFECT PLANNING

2. Discuss the contingency factors that affect planning : The contingency factors that affectplanning include a manager’s level in the organization; the degree of environmentaluncertainty; and the length of future commitments. The two main approaches to planninginclude the traditional approach, which uses a formal planning department and has plansdeveloped by top managers that flow down through other organizational levels. The otherapproach is to involve more organizational members in the planning processContemporary Issues in Planning  Explain the criticisms of planning and whether they’re valid. Describe how managers can effectively plan in today’s dynamic environment. The main criticisms of planning are:

(1)

planning may create rigidity; (2) plans can’t be developed for a dynamic environment; (3)formal plans can’t replace intuition and creativity; (4) planning focuses managers’attention on today’s competition, not tomorrow’s; (5) formal planning reinforces success,which may lead to failure; and (6) just planning isn’t enough. These criticisms are valid ifplanning is rigid and inflexibleManagers can effectively plan in today’s dynamic environment using plans that arespecific but flexible. It’s also important to “shove” responsibility for establishing goalsand developing plans to lower organizational levels