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The six basic inputs in management process, focusing on henry fayol and mary parker follett's contributions to management theory. It also covers decision making, formal and informal organization, and the importance of effective communication in organizations. Follett's influence on modern management theory is highlighted, with her ideas on employee motivation, power, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
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Unit I Evolution of Management Science The concept of management has acquired special significance in the present competitive and complex business world. Efficient and purposeful management is absolutely essential for the survival of a business unit. Management concept is comprehensive and covers all aspects of business. In simple words, management means utilising available resources in the best possible manner and also for achieving well defined objectives. It is a distinct and dynamic process involving use of different resources for achieving well defined objectives. The resources are: men, money, materials, machines, methods and markets. These are the six basic inputs in management process (six M's of management) and the output is in the form of achievement of objectives. It is the end result of inputs and is available through efficient management process. Management is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. Management comprises planning, organizing, staffing, leading, coordinating and controlling an organization (a group of one or more people or entities) or effort for the purpose of accomplishing a goal. Resourcing encompasses the development and manipulation of human resources, financial resources, technological resources and natural resources. Management is essential for the conduct of business activity in an orderly manner. It is a vital function concerned with all aspects of working of an enterprise. Definition According to Harold Koontz, "Management is the art of getting things done through and with people in formally organized groups". According to Henry Fayol, "To manage is to forecast and to plan, to organise, to command, to coordinate and to control". According to Peter Drucker, "Management is a multi-purpose organ that manages business and manages managers and manages workers and work". Management is needed for planning business activities, for guiding employees in the right direction and finally for coordinating their efforts for achieving best/most favorable results. Efficient management is needed in order to achieve the objectives of business activity in an orderly and quick manner. Planning, Organising, Coordinating and Controlling are the basic functions of management. Management is needed as these functions are performed through the management process. Management is needed for effective communication within and outside the Organisation. Management is needed for motivating employees and also for coordinating their efforts so as to achieve business objectives quickly. Efficient management is needed for success, stability and prosperity of a business enterprise. Modem business is highly competitive and needs efficient and capable management for survival and growth.
Management is needed as it occupies a unique position in the smooth functioning of a business unit. This suggests the need of efficient management of business enterprises. Profitable/successful business may not be possible without efficient management. Survival of a business unit in the present competitive world is possible only through efficient and competent management. Management as both Science and Art Management is both an art and a science. The above mentioned points clearly reveals that management combines features of both science as well as art. It is considered as a science because it has an organized body of knowledge which contains certain universal truth. It is called an art because managing requires certain skills which are personal possessions of managers. Science provides the knowledge & art deals with the application of knowledge and skills. Features of Management Management is Goal-Oriented Management integrates Human, Physical and Financial Resources Management is Continuous Management is all Pervasive Management is a Group Activity Management Functions According to Henry Fayol, “To manage is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, & to control”. Whereas Luther Gullick has given a keyword ’ POSDCORB ’ where P stands for Planning, O for Organizing, S for Staffing, D for Directing, Co for Co-ordination, R for reporting & B for Budgeting. But the most widely accepted are functions of management given by KOONTZ and O’DONNEL i.e. Planning , Organizing , Staffing , Directing and Controlling. Planning It is the basic function of management. Planning is determination of courses of action to achieve desired goals. Thus, planning is a systematic thinking about ways & means for accomplishment of pre- determined goals. Planning is necessary to ensure proper utilization of human & non-human resources. It is all pervasive, it is an intellectual activity and it also helps in avoiding confusion, uncertainties, risks, wastages etc. Organising
It is the process of bringing together physical, financial and human resources and developing productive relationship amongst them for achievement of organizational goals. According to Henry Fayol, “To organize a business is to provide it with everything useful or its functioning i.e. raw material, tools, capital and personnel’s”. To organize a business involves determining & providing human and non- human resources to the organizational structure. Organizing as a process involves: Identification of activities. Classification of grouping of activities. Assignment of duties. Delegation of authority and creation of responsibility. Coordinating authority and responsibility relationships. Staffing The main purpose of staffing is to put right man on right job. According to Kootz & O’Donell, “Managerial function of staffing involves manning the organization structure through proper and effective selection, appraisal & development of personnel to fill the roles designed un the structure”. Staffing involves: Manpower Planning (estimating man power in terms of searching, choose the person and giving the right place). Recruitment, Selection & Placement. Training & Development. Remuneration. Performance Appraisal. Promotions & Transfer. Directing It is that part of managerial function which actuates the organizational methods to work efficiently for achievement of organizational purposes. Direction is that inert-personnel aspect of management which deals directly with influencing, guiding, supervising, motivating sub-ordinate for the achievement of organizational goals. Direction has following elements: Supervision Motivation Leadership Communication Controlling It implies measurement of accomplishment against the standards and correction of deviation if any to ensure achievement of organizational goals. The purpose of controlling is to ensure that everything occurs in conformities with the standards. An efficient system of control helps to predict deviations before they actually occur. According to Koontz & O’Donell “Controlling is the measurement & correction of performance activities of subordinates in order to make sure that the enterprise objectives and plans desired to obtain them as being accomplished”. Therefore controlling has following steps: a. Establishment of standard performance.
b. Measurement of actual performance. c. Comparison of actual performance with the standards and finding out deviation if any. d. Corrective action. Levels of Management The term Levels of Management refers to a line of demarcation between various managerial positions in an organization. The number of levels in management increases when the size of the business and work force increases and vice versa. The level of management determines a chain of command, the amount of authority & status enjoyed by any managerial position. The levels of management can be classified in three broad categories:
c. They participate in employment & training of lower level management. d. They interpret and explain policies from top level management to lower level. e. They are responsible for coordinating the activities within the division or department. f. It also sends important reports and other important data to top level management. g. They evaluate performance of junior managers. h. They are also responsible for inspiring lower level managers towards better performance.
3. Lower Level of Management Lower level is also known as supervisory / operative level of management. It consists of supervisors, foreman, section officers, superintendent etc. According to R.C. Davis , “Supervisory management refers to those executives whose work has to be largely with personal oversight and direction of operative employees”. In other words, they are concerned with direction and controlling function of management. Their activities include - a. Assigning of jobs and tasks to various workers. b. They guide and instruct workers for day to day activities. c. They are responsible for the quality as well as quantity of production. d. They are also entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining good relation in the organization. e. They communicate workers problems, suggestions, and recommendatory appeals etc to the higher level and higher level goals and objectives to the workers. f. They help to solve the grievances of the workers. g. They supervise & guide the sub-ordinates. h. They are responsible for providing training to the workers. i. They arrange necessary materials, machines, tools etc for getting the things done. j. They prepare periodical reports about the performance of the workers. k. They ensure discipline in the enterprise. l. They motivate workers. m. They are the image builders of the enterprise because they are in direct contact with the workers. ROLES OF MANAGER Henry Mintzberg identified ten different roles, separated into three categories. The categories he defined are as follows a) Interpersonal Roles The ones that, like the name suggests, involve people and other ceremonial duties. It can be further classified as follows Leader – Responsible for staffing, training, and associated duties. Figurehead – The symbolic head of the organization. Liaison – Maintains the communication between all contacts and informers that compose the organizational network. b) Informational Roles Related to collecting, receiving, and disseminating information.
Monitor – Personally seek and receive information, to be able to understand the organization. Disseminator – Transmits all import information received from outsiders to the members of the organization. Spokesperson – On the contrary to the above role, here the manager transmits the organization’s plans, policies and actions to outsiders. c) Decisional Roles Roles that revolve around making choices. Entrepreneur – Seeks opportunities. Basically they search for change, respond to it, and exploit it. Negotiator – Represents the organization at major negotiations. Resource Allocator – Makes or approves all significant decisions related to the allocation of resources. Disturbance Handler – Responsible for corrective action when the organization faces disturbances. Managerial Skills: There are four skills of managers are expected to have ability of: Technical skills: Technical skills that reflect both an understanding of and a proficiency in a specialized field. For example, a manager may have technical skills in accounting, finance, engineering, manufacturing, or computer science. Human Skills: Human skills are skills associated with manager’s ability to work well with others, both as a member of a group and as a leader who gets things done through other. Concept Skills: Conceptual skills related to the ability to visualize the organization as a whole, discern interrelationships among organizational parts, and understand how the organization fits into the wider context of the industry, community, and world. Conceptual skills, coupled with technical skills, human skills and knowledge base, are important ingredients in organizational performance. Design Skills: It is the ability to solve the problems in ways that will benefit the enterprise. Managers must be able to solve the problems. The Skills vary at different levels: Top management Concept and design Skills. Middle Human Skills. Supervisor’s Technical skills. Skills of management at different levels. Management and Administration The difference between Management and Administration can be summarized under 2 categories: -
On the Basis of Functions: - Basis Management Administration Meaning Management is an art of getting things done through others by directing their efforts towards achievement of pre-determined goals. It is concerned with formulation of broad objectives, plans & policies. Nature Management is an executing function. Administration is a decision-making function. Process Management decides who should it & how should he do it. Administration decides what is to be done & when it is to be done. Function Management is a doing function because managers get work done under their supervision. Administration is a thinking function because plans & policies are determined under it. Skills Technical and Human skills Conceptual and Human skills Level Middle & lower level function Top level function On the Basis of Usage: - Basis Management Administration Applicability It is applicable to business concerns i.e. profit-making organization. It is applicable to non-business concerns i.e. clubs, schools, hospitals etc. Influence The management decisions are influenced by the values, opinions, beliefs & decisions of the managers. The administration is influenced by public opinion, govt. policies, religious organizations, customs etc. Status Management constitutes the employees of the organization who are paid remuneration (in the form of salaries & wages). Administration represents owners of the enterprise who earn return on their capital invested & profits in the form of dividend. Management theories Management theories are the set of general rules that guide the managers to manage an organization. Management theories (also known as "Transactional theories") focus on the role of supervision, organization, and group performance. Theories are an explanation to assist employees to effectively relate to the business goals and implement effective means to achieve the same. Early management theories base leadership on a system of reward and punishment. Managerial theories are often used in
business; when employees are successful, they are rewarded; when they fail, they are reprimanded or punished. 1.The Classical theory of management a) Scientific Management b) Bureaucratic Management c) Administrative Management 2.Neo-Classical Theory a) Behavioral Science Approach 3.The Modern Management Theories a) Quantitative Approach b) System Approach c) Contingency Approach Difference between Classical and Neoclassical Theory The Classical theory of management Contribution of F.W.Taylor to Management thought
These are the two key aspects of management. Authority facilitates the management to work efficiently, and responsibility makes them responsible for the work done under their guidance or leadership.
3. Discipline- Without discipline, nothing can be accomplished. It is the core value for any project or any management. Good performance and sensible interrelation make the management job easy and comprehensive. Employees good behaviour also helps them smoothly build and progress in their professional careers. 4. Unity of Command- This means an employee should have only one boss and follow his command. If an employee has to follow more than one boss, there begins a conflict of interest and can create confusion. 5. Unity of Direction- Whoever is engaged in the same activity should have a unified goal. This means all the person working in a company should have one goal and motive which will make the work easier and achieve the set goal easily. 6. Subordination of Individual Interest- This indicates a company should work unitedly towards the interest of a company rather than personal interest. Be subordinate to the purposes of an organization. This refers to the whole chain of command in a company. 7. Remuneration- This plays an important role in motivating the workers of a company. Remuneration can be monetary or non-monetary. However, it should be according to an individual’s efforts they have made. 8. Centralization- In any company, the management or any authority responsible for the decision-making process should be neutral. However, this depends on the size of an organization. Henri Fayol stressed on the point that there should be a balance between the hierarchy and division of power. 9. Scalar Chain- Fayol on this principle highlights that the hierarchy steps should be from the top to the lowest. This is necessary so that every employee knows their immediate senior also they should be able to contact any, if needed. 10. Order- A company should maintain a well-defined work order to have a favourable work culture. The positive atmosphere in the workplace will boost more positive productivity. 11. Equity- All employees should be treated equally and respectfully. It’s the responsibility of a manager that no employees face discrimination. 12. Stability- An employee delivers the best if they feel secure in their job. It is the duty of the management to offer job security to their employees. 13. Initiative- The management should support and encourage the employees to take initiatives in an organization. It will help them to increase their interest and make then worth. 14. Esprit de Corps-
It is the responsibility of the management to motivate their employees and be supportive of each other regularly. Developing trust and mutual understanding will lead to a positive outcome and work environment. Limitations of Bureaucratic & Administrative Management
It had been believed that – improper job design, fatigue and other conditions of work mainly block efficiency. So to establish the relationship between man and the structure of formal organization, Hawthorne Studies conducted. The studies were conducted in the following four phases.
This experiment was done to observe and analyse the group behaviour, workers performing a task in a natural setting. For the experiment, a number of employees consisting of three groups of workmen whose work was inter-related were chosen. Their job was to solder, fix the terminals and finish the wiring. It was known as ‘The Bank Wiring Experiment’. Wages were paid on the basis of a group incentive plan and each member got his share on the basis of the total output of the group. It was found that workers had a fixed clear-cut standard of output, which was lower than management target, however they were capable of increasing their output. It was also found that the group did not allow its members to increase or decrease the output. They were highly integrated with their social structure, and informal pressure was used to set right the erring members. The following code of conduct was maintained for group solidarity: One should not turn out too much work. If one does, he is a ‘rat buster’. One should not turn out too little work. If one does, he is a ‘chesler’. One should not tell a supervisor anything detrimental to an associate. If one does, he is a ‘squealer’. One should not attempt to maintain social distance or act officious. If one is an inspector, for example, he should not act like one. Conclusions:- Mayo and the researchers concluded that:-
Maslow's hierarchy of needs Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. The original hierarchy of needs five-stage model includes: Maslow (1943, 1954) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs and that some needs take precedence over others. Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this will be the first thing that motivates our behavior. Once that level is fulfilled the next level up is what motivates us, and so on.
describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be. McGregor Theory X and Theory Y McGregor believed that managers' basic beliefs have a dominant influence on the way that organisations are run. Managers' assumptions about the behaviour of people are central to this. McGregor argued that these assumptions fall into two broad categories - Theory X and Theory Y. These findings were detailed in The Human Side of Enterprise, first published in 1960. Theory X and Theory Y describe two views of people at work and may be used to describe two opposing management styles. Theory X : the traditional view of direction and control Theory X is based on the assumptions that:
The exponents of this school believe that all the phases of management can be expressed in quantitative terms for analysis. However, it is to be noted that mathematical models do help in the systematic analysis of problems, but models are no substitute for sound judgement. Moreover, mathematics quantitative techniques provide tools for analysis but they cannot be treated an independent system of management thought. A lot of mathematics is used in the field of physical sciences and engineering but mathematics has never been considered as separate school even in these fields. The contributions of mathematicians in the field of management are significant. This has contributed impressively in developing orderly thinking amongst managers. It has given exactness to the management discipline. Its contributions and usefulness could hardly be over-emphasized. However, it can only be treated as a tool in managerial practice. Limitations: There is no doubt that this approach helps in defining and solving complex problems resulting in orderly thinking. But the critics of this approach regard it as too narrow since it is concerned merely with the development of mathematical models and solutions for certain managerial problems. This approach suffers from the following drawbacks: (i) This approach does not give any weight age to human element which plays a dominant role in all organisations. (ii) In actual life executives have to take decisions quickly without waiting for full information to develop models. (iii) The various mathematical tools help in decision making. But decision making is one part of managerial activities. Management has many other functions than decision-making. (iv) This approach supposes that all variables to decision-making are measurable and inter-dependent. This assumption is not realistic. (v) Sometimes, the information available in the business for developing mathematical models are not upto date and may lead to wrong decision-making. Harold Knootz. Also observes that “it is too hard to see mathematics as a separate approach to management theory. Mathematics is a tool rather than a school.” (ii) Systems Approach: In the 1960, an approach to management appeared which tried to unify the prior schools of thought. This approach is commonly known as ‘Systems Approach’. Its early contributors include Ludwing Von Bertalanffy, Lawrence J. Henderson, W.G. Scott, Deniel Katz, Robert L. Kahn, W. Buckley and J.D. Thompson. They viewed organization as an organic and open system, which is composed of interacting and interdependent parts, called subsystems. The system approach is to look upon management as a system or as “an organised whole” made up of subsystems integrated into a unity or orderly totality. System approach is based on the generalization that everything is inter-related and inter-dependent. A system is composed of related and dependent element which, when in interaction, forms a unitary whole. A system is simply an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex whole. One of its most important characteristic is that it is composed of hierarchy of sub-systems. That is the parts forming the major systems and so on. For example, the world can be considered to be a system in which various national economies are sub-systems.
In turn, each national economy is composed of its various industries, each industry is composed of firms; and of course, a firm can be considered a system composed of sub-systems such as production, marketing, finance, accounting and so on. The basic features of systems approach are as under: (i) A system consists of interacting elements. It is set of inter related and interdependent parts arranged in a manner that produces a unified whole. (ii) The various sub-systems should be studied in their inter- relationships rather, than in isolation from each other. (iii) An organisational system has a boundary that determines which parts are internal and which are external. (iv) A system does not exist in a vaccum. It receives information, material and energy from other systems as inputs. These inputs undergo a transformation process within the system and leave the system as output to other systems. (v) An organisation is a dynamic system as it is responsive to its environment. It is vulnerable to change in its environment. In the systems approach, attention is paid towards the overall effectiveness of the system rather than the effectiveness of the sub-systems. The interdependence of the sub-systems is taken into account. The idea of systems can be applied at an organizational level. In applying system concepts, organizations are taken into account and not only the objectives and performances of different departments (sub- systems). The systems approach is considered both general and specialized systems. The general systems approach to management is mainly concerned with formal organizations and the concepts are relating to technique of sociology, psychology and philosophy. The specific management system includes the analysis of organisational structure, information, planning and control mechanism and job design, etc. As discussed earlier, system approach has immense possibilities, “A system view point may provide the impetus to unify management theory. By definitions, it could treat the various approaches such as the process of quantitative and behavioural ones as sub-systems in an overall theory of management. Thus, the systems approach may succeed where the process approach has failed to lead management out of the theory of jungle. ” Systems theory is useful to management because it aims at achieving the objectives and it views organization as an open system. Chester Barnard was the first person to utilise the systems approach in the field of management. He feels that the executive must steer through by keeping a balance between conflicting forces and events. A high order of responsible leadership makes the executives effective. H. Simon viewed organization as a complex system of decision making process. Evaluation of System Approach: The systems approach assists in studying the functions of complex organisations and has been utilised as the base for the new kinds of organisations like project management organisation. It is possible to bring out the inter-relations in various functions like planning, organising, directing and controlling. This approach has an edge over the other approaches because it is very close to reality. This approach is
called abstract and vague. It cannot be easily applied to large and complex organisations. Moreover, it does not provide any tool and technique for managers. (iii) Contingency or Situational Approach: The contingency approach is the latest approach to the existing management approaches. During the 1970’s, contingency theory was developed by J.W. Lorsch and P.R. Lawrence, who were critical of other approaches presupposing one best way to manage. Management problems are different under different situations and require to be tackled as per the demand of the situation. One best way of doing may be useful for repetitive things but not for managerial problems. The contingency theory aims at integrating theory with practice in systems framework. The behaviour of an organisation is said to be contingent on forces of environment. “Hence, a contingency approach is an approach, where behaviour of one sub-unit is dependent on its environment and relationship to other units or sub-units that have some control over the sequences desired by that sub- unit.” Thus behaviour within an organisation is contingent on environment, and if a manager wants to change the behaviour of any part of the organization, he must try to change the situation influencing it. Tosi and Hammer tell that organization system is not a matter of managerial choice, but contingent upon its external environment. Contingency approach is an improvement over the systems approach. The interactions between the sub-systems of an organisation have long been recognised by the systems approach. Contingency approach also recognises that organisational system is the product of the interaction of the sub systems and the environment. Besides, it seeks to identify exact nature of inter-actions and inter-relationships. This approach calls for an identification of the internal and external variables that critically influence managerial revolution and organisational performance. According to this, internal and external environment of the organisation is made up of the organisational sub-systems. Thus, the contingency approach provides a pragmatic method of analysing organisational sub-systems and tries to integrate these with the environment. Contingency views are ultimately directed towards suggesting organisational designs situations. Therefore, this approach is also called situational approach. This approach helps us to evolve practical answers to the problems remanding solutions. Kast and Rosenzweig give a broader view of the contingency approach. They say, “The contingency view seeks to understand the inter-relationships within and among sub-systems as well as between the organization and its environment and to define patterns of relationships or configurations of variables contingency views are ultimately directed toward suggesting organization designs and managerial actions most appropriate for specific situations. Features of Contingency Approach: Firstly, the contingency approach does not accept the universality of management theory. It stresses that there is no one best way of doing things. Management is situation, and managers should explain objectives, design organisations and prepare strategies, policies and plans according to prevailing circumstances. Secondly, managerial policies and practices to be effective, must adjust to changes in environment. Thirdly, it should improve diagnostic skills so as to anticipate and ready for environmental changes. Fourthly, managers should have sufficient human relations skill to accommodate and stabilise change.
Finally, it should apply the contingency model in designing the organization, developing its information and communication system, following proper leadership styles and preparing suitable objectives, policies, strategies, programmes and practices. Thus, contingency approach looks to hold a great deal of promise for the future development of management theory and practice. Evaluation: This approach takes a realistic view in management and organisation. It discards the universal validity of principles. Executives are advised to be situation oriented and not stereo-typed. So executives become innovative and creative. On the other hands, this approach does not have theoretical base. An executive is expected to know all the alternative courses of action before taking action in a situation which is not always feasible.
Unit II PLANNING Planning is the fundamental management function, which involves deciding beforehand, what is to be done, when is it to be done, how it is to be done and who is going to do it. It is an intellectual process which lays down an organisation’s objectives and develops various courses of action, by which the organisation can achieve those objectives. It chalks out exactly, how to attain a specific goal. Planning is nothing but thinking before the action takes place. It helps us to take a peep into the future and decide in advance the way to deal with the situations, which we are going to encounter in future. It involves logical thinking and rational decision making. According to Koontz and O’Donnel, “Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do it, when to do it and who is to do it. It bridges the gap from where we are to where we want to go.” Planning is the continuous managerial process of anticipating and forecasting the future. environment of the business organization, the formulation of the long term and short term goals. to be achieved and selecting the strategies for their realization. Planning is also a management process, concerned with defining goals for a company's future direction and determining the missions and resources to achieve those targets. To meet objectives, managers may develop plans, such as a business plan or a marketing plan. The planning process provides the information top management needs to make effective decisions about how to allocate the resources in a way that will enable the organization to reach its objectives. Productivity is maximized and resources are not wasted on projects with little chance of success. Importance of Planning It helps managers to improve future performance, by establishing objectives and selecting a course of action, for the benefit of the organisation. It minimises risk and uncertainty, by looking ahead into the future. It facilitates the coordination of activities. Thus, reduces overlapping among activities and eliminates unproductive work. It states in advance, what should be done in future, so it provides direction for action. It uncovers and identifies future opportunities and threats. It sets out standards for controlling. It compares actual performance with the standard performance and efforts are made to correct the same. Planning is present in all types of organisations, households, sectors, economies, etc. We need to plan because the future is highly uncertain and no one can predict the future with 100% accuracy, as the conditions can change anytime. Hence, planning is the basic requirement of any organization for the survival, growth and success. Characteristics of Planning
By planning process, an organisation not only gets the insights of the future, but it also helps the organisation to shape its future. Effective planning involves simplicity of the plan, i.e. the plan should be clearly stated and easy to understand because if the plan is too much complicated it will create chaos among the members of the organisation. Further, the plan should fulfill all the requirements of the organisation. Limitations of Planning (i) Planning leads to rigidity (ii) Planning may not work in a dynamic environment (iii) Planning reduces creativity (iv) Planning involves huge costs (v) Planning is a time-consuming process (vi) Planning does not guarantee success Types of Plans Single-use and standing plans An organisation has to prepare a plan before making any decision related to business operation, or undertaking any project. Plans can be classified into several types depending on the use and the length of the planning period. Certain plans have a short term horizon and help to achieve operational goals. These plans can be classified into single-use plans and standing plans. Single-use Plan: A single-use plan is developed for a one-time event or project. Such a course of action is not likely to be repeated in future, i.e., they are for non-recurring situations. The duration of this plan may depend upon the type of the project. It may span a week or a month. A project may sometimes be of only one day, such as, organising an event or a seminar or conference. These plans include budgets, programmes and projects. They consist of details, including the names of employees who are responsible for doing the work and contributing to the single-use plan. For example, a programme may consist of identifying steps, procedures required for opening a new department to deal with other minor work. Projects are similar to programmes but differ in scope and complexity. A budget is a statement of expenses, revenue and income for a specified period. Standing Plan: A standing plan is used for activities that occur regularly over a period of time. It is designed to ensure that internal operations of an organisation run smoothly. Such a plan greatly enhances efficiency in routine decision-making. It is usually developed once but is modified from time to time to meet business needs as required. Standing plans include policies, procedures, methods and rules. Policies are general forms of standing plans that specifies the organisations response to a certain situation like the admission policy of an educational institution. Procedures describe steps to be followed in particular circumstances like the procedure for reporting progress in production. Methods provide the manner in which a task has to be performed. Rules are very clearly stated as to exactly what has to be done like reporting for work at a particular time. Single-use and standing plans are part of the operational planning process.