Barriers To Planning

(a) Environmental Barriers

Most organizations operate in environments that are complex and dynamic where the environmental factors keep changing rapidly e.g. technology, politics and economic conditions. These changes make it harder to develop effective plans. Plans may become obsolete even before they are executed.

(b) Poor Goal Setting

The beginning step in planning is goal setting. If the goals set are unrealistic either they are unattainable or too low. This will hinder effective planning.

(c) Resistance to Change

By its very nature, planning involves change. Fear of the unknown, preferences for status quo and economic insecurity causes organizational members including managers to resist change and as such resist planning that might cause such change.

(d) Time and Expense

Lack of time or financial resources can limit planning. Planning takes time and the managers face many pressures and these pressures may cause them to resist planning.

(e) Other Constraints

Various situational constraints such as labour contracts, government regulations, scarce resources, natural factors and disasters may all affect planning.