Planning is one of the most important functions of management. It involves deciding in advance what is to be done, how it is to be done, when it is to be done, and by whom it is to be done. In Business Organisation and Management, planning provides direction to organisational activities and helps managers achieve business objectives efficiently. It is a systematic process of thinking about the future and selecting the most appropriate course of action from among various alternatives. Planning is concerned with both organisational goals and the means required to achieve those goals. Planning begins with the determination of organisational objectives. Objectives are the specific results that an organisation wants to achieve within a particular period. They provide direction to managers and employees. For example, a business may set an objective of increasing sales by 15 per cent in the next financial year. Objectives should be clear, realistic, measurable and consistent with the overall mission of the organisation. The planning process generally involves the following steps: The first step is the identification of objectives. Management must clearly determine what the organisation wants to accomplish. Objectives may relate to profit,