1. Henri Fayol:
> “Planning is the activity of foreseeing the future, investigating alternative courses of action, and deciding in advance the most appropriate course of action to achieve organizational objectives.”
2. Koontz and O'Donnell:
> "Planning is deciding in advance what to do, when to do it, who is to do it, and how it is to be done. It involves the selection of missions and objectives and the sequence of steps to achieve them."
3. George R. Terry:
> “Planning involves selecting missions and objectives, establishing strategies and policies, developing programs, allocating resources, and establishing procedures to attain desired goals.”
4. James A.F. Stoner:
> “Planning is a systematic and conscious process of making decisions about future actions to achieve organizational goals. It involves both the selection of goals and the determination of the best course of action to achieve those goals.”
5. Harold Koontz:
> “Planning is an intellectual process that seeks to determine the best possible course of action to achieve predetermined objectives. It is a conscious, rational, and systematic decision-making process.”
6. William H. Newman and James P. Logan:
> “Planning is the process of setting objectives and then developing and implementing a series of steps to achieve them. It is the primary managerial function that determines the direction and purpose of an organization.”
7. L.P. Alford and H.R. Becht:
> “Planning is the thinking process that results in the selection of a future course of action to be taken by the members of an organization.”
8. Chester I. Barnard:
> “Planning is the process of making present decisions that relate to expected future events and actions so that present and future operations are more predictable, less haphazard, and more orderly.”
These definitions highlight the common themes of decision-making, goal-setting, resource allocation, and the selection of appropriate courses of action to achieve desired outcomes. Planning involves anticipating the future, considering alternative scenarios, and setting a roadmap for achieving organizational objectives in an organized and systematic manner.