▷ 4 most important types of planning

planning undoubtedly plays a very important role to carry out the execution of any process optimally and efficiently by implementing a methodical and structured guide, delimiting space and time to achieve the objectives set.

Thus, different types of planning can be found based on the characteristics of each approach; however, all of them are based on processes, with defined objectives and methods of action, which are developed through efficiently structured schedules of activities.

That is why in this post we will explain what the most important types of planning are and what they consist of.

Well, as former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. “Plans are useless, but planning is everything.”

4 Types of planning

Planning allows organizing and programming an action plan according to the type of approach or situation to be planned, in this sense four relevant types of planning can be described What are they:

Normative or traditional planning

Normative planning is a methodology that part of a diagnosis of how a given situation is and how it "should be", taking into account a regulatory action model; this being a closed action plan that is applied to a certain situation.

It is based on procedural regulations that must be carefully executed according to the pre-established plan for the achievement of an objective, in which There is only one possible solution or alternative, as well as a single result.

This is a plan that focuses on a logical formulation approach, under a technocratic emphasis that uses, like other management processes, a diagnosis, a design, an execution and an evaluation that reflect precise information.

This model of normative planning focuses on explaining a problem in an analytical way that is basically focuses on the "should be" instead of the "is" where the process of the normative model establishes a rigorous scheme acting that allows to achieve the expected result.

It is widely used at the government level, starting from the assumption that the planner can be the guide of a social system, in which the planning subject is outside the planned reality and where planning basically works like a monopoly capable of controlling reality.

situational planning

This planning model situation represents a critique of normative planning or traditional due to its inefficiency and inability to generate changes and produce actions that solve complex problems, focuses on the "being"and not what should be; thus, take a more realistic approach, given that whoever plans is within reality and interacts with other actors They also plan.

this planning seeks to show the different models or possible management tools to carry out social processes, taking into account the different situations.

To achieve this, this planning approach is responsible for “calculate, preside over and precede the actions to take an initial situation to others, until reaching the situation that the actor intends to achieve”. (Spanish, 1998)

This, of course, makes the process easier, in which you must define goals and objectives to be fulfilled in specific periods of time, in order that the achievement of each of these objectives leads to a situation foreseen future or planned by the executor; being a useful tool for the senior management of any organizational entity.

In addition, one of the advantages of this type of planning is that as is always in constant interaction with the real situation it does not require updates, as it adapts to the circumstances of the moment.

Strategic planning

Strategic planning is a model of organizational planning that has an objective and systematic approach that facilitates decision making; in addition to providing the necessary tools for the optimization and distribution of resources.

Under this type of planning organizations can anticipate possible contingenciesfuture, helping to establish realistic long-term goals, taking into account all administrative processes in addition to planning.

For this, it is necessary to have clearly defined objectives and based on them establish action plans,taking into account both internal and external factors to the organization, always guided in this way the mission and vision of the company and its objectives.

This strategic planning system seeks anticipate opportunities and dangers that may arise in the future from a realistic and possible point of view, which allows the organization to take the best decisions in the present to take advantage of opportunities, avoid dangers or reduce risks.

Basically, plan based on strategies it is designing a desired possible future, creating methods to achieve it.

However, it is not about making future decisions, but about forecasting future events and make decisions in the present that have long-term repercussions for the benefit of the entity.

operational tactical planning

This type of planning focuses on prior assignment of specific activities to be carried out as part of a process within each operational unit that are implemented as part of the guidelines of a strategic planning.

Basically, is a complement to strategic planning of an organizational entity, establishing tactical plans at all levels of the company, which are specific actions not very detailed, but necessary to carry out the established strategic plans.

These tactical actions describe to the staff what the company needs them to do, establishing the steps in which they should be executed the activities, as well as the necessary tools to carry them out; moreover, these tactical plans They have a limited time for their execution in the short term.

It is important that these plans are always focused on the primary objectives of the organization; since if they stray too far from these objectives, it will be difficult and inefficient to make the tactical activities achieve the objectives of the strategic planning, therefore, procedures rules and objectives must be clearly defined to achieve the desired efficiency and effectiveness.