Foundations of Planning Objectives

What is the primary managerial activity that involves defining the organization’s goals, establishing an overall strategy, and developing plans for organizational work activities?

Which element of planning provides direction and evaluation performance criteria?

What type of goals are related to the expected internal financial performance of the organization?

What type of planning is associated with higher profits and returns on assets?

What should be used for several years before it begins to affect performance, according to the text?

What is the difference between stated goals and real goals in an organization?

Which type of plan covers extended periods of time and seeks to establish the organization’s overall goals?

What is strategic flexibility in the context of strategic management?

What are the benefits of developing strategic flexibility in an organization?

What does strategic management aim to achieve in organizations?

Planning in Management

The primary managerial activity that involves defining the organization's goals, establishing an overall strategy, and developing plans for organizational work activities is planning.

Goal Setting

Direction and evaluation performance criteria are provided by objectives.
Financial goals, related to the expected internal financial performance of the organization, are a type of goal.

Types of Planning

Long-range planning, which covers extended periods of time and seeks to establish the organization's overall goals, is a type of planning.
The type of planning associated with higher profits and returns on assets is strategic planning.

Strategic Management and Flexibility

Strategic flexibility in the context of strategic management refers to an organization's ability to adjust quickly to changing circumstances.
Developing strategic flexibility in an organization provides benefits such as enabling rapid adaptation to changing market conditions and facilitating innovation.
Strategic management aims to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in organizations.

Goal Alignment

Stated goals represent the officially announced goals of an organization, while real goals reflect the actual priorities and values of the organization, which may differ from stated goals.
It takes several years of consistent effort before an organization's strategy begins to affect performance.

Test your understanding of the nature, purposes, types of goals, and approaches to goal-setting and planning in organizations. Explore contemporary issues in planning and its role as a primary managerial activity.