The following article explains what planning is, what it is for, how and why we should do it. At the same time, topics such as the planning phases and the different types of planning that exist are addressed; We also talk about prospective planning and all that it implies and finally the techniques and instruments used during planning are explained.
Keywords: Planning / Phases / Types / Techniques / Instruments / Prospective.
Abstract: The following article explains what is planning, what it does, how and why we do it. At the same time issues such as the phases of planning and different types of this that there are addressed; we also discussed the prospective planning and all that this implies, and finally the techniques and instruments used during planning are explained.
Keywords: Planning / Stages / Types / Techniques / Tools / Prospective.
Introduction
Since the origin of humanity, there has been curiosity, the desire to discover, to experiment, to know and to dominate. Throughout our history we have been involved in thousands of discoveries, many random, many deliberate. Man has always felt the need to know and explore, but above all to dominate and it is because of that fact that he has taken on the task of anticipating, based on experiences, the future scenarios that he may have. Hence the planning. Planning is nothing more than bringing the actions to be carried out in the future into the present. It is planned to be able to make the best decisions and solve the problems that arise. Next, all the factors that are involved in the planning process are explained.
It can be planned in different ways:
| The planning you optimized. | Satisfactory planning | Comprehensive rational | Regulatory planning | Transactive planning. | Participatory planning. |
Within the planning there must be: diagnosis, scenarios, ends, means, evaluation and control.
There are professional planners who use participatory planning, they like to take into account the wishes, hopes and expectations of others, however they do not allow the participation of the subjects in the planning since they think that the subjects can tell others what What is planned to be done and that could affect the planning process, the opposite of what the author says "ACKOFF RUSELL" changing concept of planning in planning of the company of the future. For him, planning means a direct commitment to all the people involved in the planning or who could be affected if the plan does not go well.
There are 4 basic guidelines regarding planning:
| REACTIVIST | INACTIVIST | PREACTIVIST | INTERACTIVIST |
| People who are not satisfied with things as they are, live in the past, do not like the present and fear the future are enemies of technology, their orientation is more traditional. | They are satisfied with the present, they don't live in the past, and they don't think about the future as long as they have what it takes to meet their basic needs. | They believe that the future will be better, than the present or the past, they love technology because it is the main cause of change, they are perfectionists, they put their trust in science and technology they do not take importance to experience, they are more concerned about losing one chance you make a mistake. | It considers the past, the present and the future as different but inseparable aspects of the problem for which it is planned; focus on all orientations at the same time |
Operational planning defines the specific means that must be used to carry out action plans and thus achieve immediate goals or specific short-term results and imposed by a higher authority. Tactical planning is responsible for the set of actions and methods that are required to achieve the objectives, that is, the action plans with established goals. Strategic planning is the path or general guideline of action that is chosen to reach the proposed objective linked to the Mission and Vision. Normative planning consists of defining ideals and from this defining objectives by designing different desired futures.
Planning system, whatever the type of planning level, your system is made up of a series of steps. The diagnosis: Forecast (it is the predictable future based on the present), objective (as far as it is proposed to go), strategy (it deals with the general plan to achieve the objectives), control (keep a record periodically to ensure that the strategy and the tactic is leading to the achievement of its objectives) and tactic (indicates the determined means to be used).
The interactive planning model is the attitude that must be applied in a plan when planning is carried out in an area of interest. It is oriented to the future, starting from the idea that the future of the organization or company depends on how it is built and its creation. It is about how you will work on designing the desirable future and selecting and inventing the forms to produce it as faithfully as possible. Because it must bring a change in the entire company.
The principles of the interactive planning model are: prospective principle (anticipation and active attitude towards the future), systemic principle (analysis of components and interactions), principle of continuity (constant review), strategic principle (taking advantage of opportunities) and holistic principle. (integration, perspective and integrity).
Interactive planning model: programming subsystem (it is developed under the principle of interaction and has three important foundations that are: the institutional plan, the operation models and the analysis of the environment), budgeting subsystem (resource allocation), subsystem evaluation and control (registration, relationship of achievement of objectives with efficiency and effectiveness) and planning subsystem (useful instrument for the transformation of the company or institution that is on the way to achieve greater and better achievements).
Evaluation and control subsystem
This subsystem helps us to provide feedback and verify mistakes and successes within our planning, comparing reality with the desired image.
The evaluation happens in two phases: the analysis and the measurement. The first will evaluate both the effectiveness and efficiency of the elements of the model and the second constitutes how to use the resources for the political ends of the company. To achieve this, the social impact and significance of the company and how much benefit it will bring must also be evaluated.
The evaluation should start when the subsystems are put into operation and always continue in step.
As far as control is concerned, it is the constant supervision of the activities that are carried out, as well as the suggestions that are made to make any type of decision.
One of the most common plans is the prospective that tells us about the vision for the future more in line with the situation that is being lived, that is, the most likely thing to happen. First you will create an image of what you want to achieve and then land it in reality. This type of planning helps us to chart a better path towards the desired future. It consists of a decision-making process to reach the expected result and at the same time posing alternative scenarios that may occur.
In summary, we can say that prospective planning consists of seeing a desired future, bringing it to reality by analyzing the instruments that we have at our disposal, thus creating feasible futures and of these selecting the one that is most convenient to which we will arrive after a series of decisions.
Within the elements of prospective planning is the holistic vision that consists of seeing the elements as a whole, from the environment, the participants, the information, etc., since the objective of the prospective is to provide those who will make decisions, the ability to define which are the most important elements and in this way, make the best decisions.
Another element of foresight is creativity that consists of doing something new and of value, always looking for the best way to do it.
On the other hand, we have participation and cohesion with them, it is intended to facilitate the project or plan that is proposed, participation is what everything collaborates with and cohesion is the union of the parts that form a whole, that is, with what is it's related.
The relevance of the process on the product is the importance that something is given, and in the process of something that we really want we are already visualizing future images, to see if it is really worth it and give it the importance it deserves.
Continuing with the elements of the prospective we have convergence is when some points of view or ideas coincide and divergence is when there are certain differences, when some points to be discussed differ.
The last element is the construction purpose, which is what falls into reality, after having imagined the desirable futures and the process was carried out well. And this will be carried out in decision making, considering values and socio-political interests.
Phases of the Prospective
|
Techniques |
||
| Qualitative | Quantitative | Mixed |
| Search conference: being able to reach new dimensions on the subject. | Bayesian Statistics: Incorporates previous and relevant information to reduce uncertainty about the probability of an event occurring. | Technological forecast: anticipate why they may represent a threat to the advantages obtained by a country or company. |
| Alternative images: being able to manage a future well. | Monte Carlo: it can provide a numerical solution, decisions are stochastic or probabilistic in nature. | Simulation games: transmit different points of view and explain alternative solutions in relation to a problem. |
| Systematic intuitions: manifests significant aspects of reality. | Econometric techniques: terms that can be used to build a dynamic model of reality. | Decision matrix: it relates both horizontal and vertical projections of possible technology transfers. |
| KJ: scientific and systematic approaches to solving problems. | ||
| Contextual mapping: allows to know the criteria of relevance, power and usefulness in the media where future development. |
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Instruments |
|
| Questionnaire: set of questions on the topic; it is a means to obtain answers that can include scales and mechanisms that provide information on the responsibility of the respondent. | Conference: Presentation of a presentation by a qualified speaker, before a specific audience. It is characterized by an extremely formal and fast means of transmitting expert information with continuity. |
| Semantic differential: bipolar scales that present at each pole, an adjective related to opposite meanings in relation to a particular concept. | Round table with questioner: They are the exchange of ideas of a group of small experts on a topic with the participation of one or more people who act as questioners, often under the direction of a moderator. |
| Gutiman scale: It is a thermometer that integrates a list of propositions to discover the hierarchy of attitudes of the individual determined at their level of commitment and adherence. | Interview: It is a relationship in which a formal dialogue is established, face to face on a specific topic. |
| Likert scale: in relation to the predictions that are had about a referent (school, state, family, etc.) | Poster: It is a creative expression of the expectations and desires of a group through visual manifestations, for which it uses different elements: colors, photographs, objects, messages, etc. |
| Thurstone scale: of statements in relation to different opinions and ways of reacting towards a "referent" which has a predisposition. | Promotion of ideas: It is the interaction of a small group to encourage the free presentation of ideas without restrictions or limitations regarding their feasibility. |
CONCLUSION
Planning helps us to make the best decisions to solve the different situations that may arise. We can plan in many ways taking into account various factors, but within the planning there must always be the diagnosis, scenarios, ends, means, evaluation and control.
Just as there are different types of planning, there are also different actors within it, the four common ones are REACTIVISTA, inactivists, proactivists and interactivists, each one takes its role according to the importance they give to progress. Also within planning we have the evaluation and control subsystem, which is basically to verify that things are going well and give the expected results.
Now, as in everything, there are better known ways of planning, such as prospective planning, which consists of planning a desired future, accommodating it to reality and making the most pertinent decisions that lead us to meet the goal set. This planning has as elements the holistic vision, creativity, participation and cohesion and the construction purpose, in the same way this process is divided into phases which are: the normative phase, the definitional phase, the strategic confrontation and finally there is the strategic determination and feasibility.
Finally, we have the techniques and strategies that lead us to carry out planning. Within the techniques we have three groups: the qualitative ones, which are the analogies, the pertinence tree, the compass, search conference, alternative images, systematic institutions, the KJ and contextual mapping. Within the second group, the quantitative ones are Bayesian statistics, the Monte Carlo method, and econometric techniques. Finally, in the mixed group we can find the technological forecast, the simulation games and the decision matrix.
In the case of the instruments, there are the questionnaires, the semantic differential, the Gutiman scale, the Likert scale, the Thurstone scale, the conference, the round table, the interview, the poster and the promotion of ideas.
Both the instruments, the techniques, as well as the participants and the approach that is given to planning, constitute the means that will lead us to carry out the most pertinent planning for the goals and objectives that we want to achieve.
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