Planning is the process of deciding in advance what is to be done, how it is to be done, when it is to be done, and who is to do it. It is one of the basic functions of management and provides direction to all organisational activities. Planning involves setting objectives and determining the best course of action for achieving them. It is a future-oriented activity because managers anticipate future conditions, identify opportunities and challenges, and prepare suitable strategies. In business organisations, effective planning helps in the proper utilisation of human, financial, physical, and technological resources. It also reduces uncertainty, avoids unnecessary activities, and facilitates coordination among different departments. The planning process generally begins with determining organisational objectives. Objectives provide a clear direction to the organisation and indicate what it wants to achieve within a specified period. These objectives should be specific, realistic, measurable, and consistent with the overall mission of the organisation. For example, a business may set an objective of increasing sales by a certain percentage within a financial year. The second step is