PLANNING TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS

• TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS- a way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or
performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure.

*It is sometimes referred to as STRATEGIES in order to complete and be successful in

completing the task.

• PLANNING TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS- useful techniques and tools used in managerial planning
that can be an effective element of showing good management planning skills and can build
efficiency as a leader of a company or institution.

5 PLANNING TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS

1. FORECASTING-is an attempt to predict what may happen in the future.

*All plans are involves forecast in some way but should is prone to human judgment error/inaccurate so
it must be treated with caution.

TWO TYPES OF FORECASTING

a. QUALITATIVE FORECASTING-deals on expert opinions

b. QUANTITATIVE FORECASTING-uses mathematical and statistical analysis

2. CONTINGENCY PLANNING- identifies alternative courses of action that can be implemented to meet
the needs of changing circumstances.

* Contingency plans contain "trigger points" that indicate when pre-selected alternative plans
should be activated.

* It anticipates changing conditions.

3. SCENARIO PLANNING- is known as the long-term vision of contingency planning because it involves
planning for future states.

- This is a big help for organizations because it allows them to plan ahead and make necessary
adjustments in their strategies and operations.

- A plan is made for each scenario.

- Some examples of changes or challenges that may arise in future scenarios are environmental
pollution, human rights violations, climate and weather changes, earthquake damages to
communities, and others.

4. BENCHMARKING- involves external comparisons of a company’s practices and technologies with

those of other companies.

• Its main purpose is to find out what other people and organizations do well and then plan how
to incorporate these practices into the company’s operations.

• Replication/Innovation on BEST PRACTICES is a well-known result of benchmarking.

5. PARTICIPATORY PLANNING- a planning process that includes the people who will be affected by the
plans and those who will be asked to implement them in all planning steps

*Benefits/Advantages of Participatory Planning

a. Creativity

b. Increased acceptance and understanding of plans

c. Commitment to the success of plans

OTHER PLANNING TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS

• USE OF STAFF PLANNERS

-Staff planners are employed to help coordinate planning for the organization as a whole or for
one of its major components.

-They help bring focus and energy to accomplish important planning tasks.

• SWOT ANALYSIS

-It can be used to draw out the threats and opportunities facing a program or project. It
has the advantage of being quick to implement and is readily understood. 

• MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES (MBO) AND SMART GOALS

-MBO is a tool that can be used to improve the performance of an organization by creating
clearly defined objectives agreed upon by management and by the employees. 

-SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.