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Types of Plans

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Introduction

Planning is one of the most crucial steps in any business, without Planning an organisation can never achieve the success they desire. If the organisation has a unique service or product to provide to the consumer, that is not available anywhere in the market, and only one particular organisation can provide it, and also this very product or the service can add so much value into the life of the consumer, then chances are the organisation or the business is going to achieve a great level of success, by that product or service. But everything can fail if the organisation has not worked out the plan for itself. Because as said, Planning is an essential part of any business.


If the organisation has limited resources but a great plan to optimise the use of those resources, then the organisation is going to be successful. In a nutshell, Planning is very important and the students of commerce are supposed to learn about Planning at a young age, and hence the same is included in the syllabus and the same is provided by the Vedantu.


Though Planning seems a rather simple thing, there are various types of Planning and hence here Vedantu describes everything related to Planning.


Nature of Planning

  • It is a Continuous Process: Planning never stops for an organisation, it is an ever-going process. As long as the business operates in the market, Planning is going to be there in the organisation.

  • It is a Managerial Role: Planning is an important part of the job profile of the manager because the manager is the one who is supposed to make a good plan that can make the organisation grow, while the employees are supposed to follow the plan.

  • It is Omnipresent: In the business, organisation Planning is everywhere, not a single function or the department in the business is present there, which can work without an efficient plan.

  • It is the Success of Subsequent Plans: Planning makes the organisation grow, and when the organisation grows, it requires further plans and hence in this way the success of the subsequent plans helps the other plans.


By considering its four main aspects, the essence of planning can be understood. These are:

  • It is a commitment to goals.

  • It is the primacy of the manager's assignments.

  • It is omnipresent, and it is.

  • The success of subsequent plans.


Characteristics of Planning

  • Managerial Role: Planning is a managerial function that provides the basis for other management functions, i.e. coordinating, staffing, directing, and controlling, as they are carried out within the periphery of the plans made.

  • Objective-Oriented: It focuses on the definition of the organisation's objectives, the identification of possible courses of action, and the decision on the required action plan to be followed to achieve the objectives.

  • Pervasive: It is omnipresent in the sense that it is present in all segments and is required at all organisational levels. Although at various levels and agencies, the complexity of preparation varies.

  • Continuous Process: Plans for a particular term, such as a month, quarter, year, and so on are made. When the time is over, fresh proposals are drawn up, taking into account the current and future needs and conditions of the organisation. It is also an ongoing process, as the plans are framed, implemented and another plan is pursued.

  • Intellectual Process: It is a mental activity that includes applying the mind, thinking, anticipating, intelligently imagining and innovating, etc.

  • Futuristic: We take a sneak look at the future in the course of preparation. It includes looking into the future, evaluating it, and forecasting it so that the organisation can better face future challenges.

  • Decision-Making: Decisions are made with regard to the selection of possible courses of action that can be taken to achieve the objective. The preferred alternative should be the best of all with the lowest number of negative results and the highest number of positive results.


Planning is concerned with the setting of goals, targets, and the development of strategies to achieve them. The exercise lets managers evaluate the current situation to find ways of maintaining the desired role in the future. It is both the organisation’s need and the managers' responsibility.


Importance of Planning

  • It allows managers to boost potential results for the good of the organisation, by setting targets and choosing a course of action.

  • This minimises danger and misunderstanding by looking forward to the future.

  • Coordination of events is encouraged. Therefore it reduces duplication between operations and removes unproductive jobs.

  • It states in advance what needs to be achieved in the future, so it offers instructions for action.

  • It uncovers potential opportunities and risks and detects them.

  • It sets out control criteria. It contrasts real performance with normal performance and attempts are made to correct the same performance.


Planning is very important not just for organisations, but also for individuals, for success and the successful performance of an organisation. It is the most fundamental of all the roles of management. The first of the basic managerial tasks are planning. Planning is important as it inquires about organisational priorities by default and includes decision-making in preferred ways and means of achieving goals. This requires the collection of missions and targets and the steps to achieve them. Consequently, each company puts a greater focus on planning.


As a process, planning includes deciding the potential course of action, which is why action is taken, what action is taken, how an action is taken, and when action is taken. 


Types of Plans

Plans are mainly divided into two Types, which are the Single-use plan, and the Standing plan.

  • Single-use Plan: Single-use plan as the name suggests is the plan that is used only once in order to achieve a particular goal, and that is why it is also known as the specific purpose plan because the plan gets discarded after the purpose is achieved. And the new plan is then created. Goals, Programs, ventures, and budgets are the four common forms of single-use plans.

  • Standing Plans: Again, as the name suggests these are the plans which stand for a rather long time, that is to say, the Plans which are used by an organisation, again and again, are called standing Plans.


Difference Between Single-Use Plan and Standing Plan

Basis of difference

Single-use plan

Standing Plan

Time Period

Single-use plans are for a shorter period and are repeatedly worked out in case of need.

Standing Plans are formulated for a longer period.

Basis

Single-use plans are based on the standing plan of an organisation. 

Standing Plan is based on the main objective of the organisation's

Scope

These plans advise in the matters of daily routine.

These plans advise the managers in particular matters such as sales policy and price policy.

Types

The single-use plan is of 2 types:

Budget

Program

Standing plan are of six types:

Rules

Methods

Strategies

Policies

Procedures

Objectives

Object

Single-use plans are designed to run successfully some particular activities.

Standing plans are repeated to bring about informality in the decision.

FAQs on Types of Plans

1. Is studying planning really that important?

Yes, one hundred per cent, studying the topic of the plan and the types of plans is really very much important for the students. Because planning is the core of any business, and without the proper planning the chances of the business achieving the desired success are almost zero. Also, there are various ways and types of planning which are again necessary for the students to learn, because there are many types of issues that can arise in the organisation, and therefore it is important to take care of each of them by planning.

2. Where can I find a good explanation of single-use and standing plans for my commerce study?

If you are looking for a good explanation of the single-use and standing plan for your commerce subject then you have already arrived at the right place. Because Vedantu provides the complete explanation of the planning and the said two types of planning to the students for completely free of cost. It is explained in a well-defined manner and hence it becomes very easy for the students to grasp what is written here, and more importantly that it helps the students in remembering the same for the exams.

3. Why should I refer to the types of plans provided by the Vedantu?

For any student who is studying any topic for or the subject for the first time, it is very important to have a clear and concise explanation of the topic at hand, because otherwise chances are that the students cannot comprehend the topic only because it is not explained in a simple and lucid manner, and then builds a prejudice that the topic is difficult, and the same can happen to the topic of planning as well. To avoid such happenings and prejudices Vedantu provides a complete explanation of the topic of the plan, in an extremely simple language, because the top educators have prepared it, and also it is totally free of cost.

4. Which are the two types of plans not considered as standing or single-use plans?

Objectives are a strategy that is not a single or standing plan. Objectives are not a single-use strategy so longer-lasting targets are made and should not be viewed as a single-use. On the other hand, priorities are not a standing strategy, since goals can be changed from time to time in compliance with management changes. Companies, large or small, may define issues and set general targets for their organisation, but to make progress, they need concrete strategies. The preparation stage includes action courses and describes the outcomes that the business needs to see. At the various levels of the company, these findings translate into targets.

5. What is a Multi-Use Plan?

Multi-use plans and single-use plans are divided into two groups. Standing plans or repeated use plans are other names. In cases of a similar type, they are used repeatedly. They are often used for repetitive-nature problems. It is a particular strategy for a non-recurring occurrence to be met. In nature, they are long-term strategies that are used by the whole organisation. They are the successful means by which power, communication, and goals are accomplished. Goals, plans, practises, procedures, and regulations are included.