This article is about the impact that planning has on today's corporate society. The need for planning is often obvious and after the fact. This article examines the importance of planning in an organization and the important role it plays in the success in today's corporate world.

The organizing, staffing, leading and controlling functions stem from the planning function (Higgins, 1994). Today's managers are often ready to organize and staff only after goals, and plans to reach the goals, are in place. Often planning provides the goals and standards that set in motion the controlling function. Planning is important in all levels of management. There are several levels in today corporate planning:

Vision - Nonspecific directional and motivational guidance for the entire organization. Top

managers normally provide a vision for the business. It is the most emotional of the four

levels.

Mission - An organization's reason for being. It...