Planning
Planning typically includes use of the following basic terms.
NOTE: It's not critical to grasp completely accurate definitions of each of the following
terms. It's more important for planners to have a basic sense for the difference between
goals/objectives (results) and strategies/tasks (methods to achieve the results).
1.1.1 Goals
Goals are specific accomplishments that must be accomplished in total, or in some
combination, in order to achieve some larger, overall result preferred from the system,
for example, the mission of an organization. (Going back to our reference to systems,
goals are outputs from the system.)
1.1.2. Strategies or Activities
These are the methods or processes required in total, or in some combination, to achieve
the goals. (Going back to our reference to systems, strategies are processes in the
system.)
1.1.3. Objectives
Objectives are specific accomplishments that must be accomplished in total, or in some
combination, to achieve the goals in the plan. Objectives are usually "milestones" along
the way when implementing the strategies.
1.1.4. Tasks
Particularly in small organizations, people are assigned various tasks required to
implement the plan. If the scope of the plan is very small, tasks and activities are often
essentially the same.
1.1.5. Resources (and Budgets)
Resources include the people, materials, technologies, money, etc., required to
implement the strategies or processes. The costs of these resources are often depicted in
the form of a budget. (Going back to our reference to systems, resources are input to the
system.)1.2.1. Reference Overall Singular Purpose ("Mission") or Desired Result from
System
During planning, planners have in mind ...