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Planning — Part 2: Limitations and Types of Plans

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Lesson

Limitations and Types of Plans

Part 2: the limitations of planning and the eight types of plans.

In this lesson you will

Explain the limitations of planning
Distinguish between types of plans and identify the type from an example

Part 2 at a glance

Concept

Limitations of planning

Table of six limitations of planning and why each happens
Limitation	Why it happens
Leads to rigidity	Managers feel bound to the plan
May not work in a dynamic environment	Premises can turn out wrong
Reduces creativity	Others only carry out plans made at the top
Involves huge costs	Surveys, experts and data cost money
Time-consuming	Detailed plans can delay action
Does not guarantee success	Results depend on implementation and events

Worked example

Worked example 1: spot the limitation

Each imagined situation shows a limitation of planning.

Step 1: find what went wrong.
Step 2: name the limitation.
Step 3: suggest how it could be reduced.

Find what went wrong, then name the limitation.
Imagined situation	Limitation
A sales officer must ignore a hotel order not in the plan	Rigidity
A new rule bans the coating a bag maker planned to use	Dynamic environment
Supervisors stop suggesting designs	Reduces creativity
A shop spends weeks on surveys and misses Diwali orders	Time-consuming