Planning As An Effective Tool For Achieving Organizational Objectives

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
One of the major functions of management is planning. This is a fundamental function because it determines the nature and scope of other managerial functions and general activities carried out in the organization.
Planning establishes goals or objectives which end in views in establishing organization activities. Because of the pivotal role planning plays in running an organization of management if group effect is effective, people must know what they expected to accomplish.
Planning is the basic of all managerial functions which involves selecting organizational objectives, department goals and determining ways of attaining them. This planning provides a national approach or pre-selected objectives.
According to Peretoam Halian, planning is a fundamental chosen and planning arises when an alternative course of action and is discovered. In the light of the above planning is essentially decision making.
Planning is deviating in advance what to do, when to do it, who to do it and how to do it, organization needs to plan effectively whether they are dealing on external or internal factors.
In the words of Dare and Hain, good planning is a precondition of projects for effective result and efficiency. Planning helps Star Paper Mill Ltd to:
a. Determine in the number of employees level of skill and experience.
b. Their salary scales.
c. The best way to utilize and motivate them.
d. The goals of the organization and how it can be achieved.
Star Paper Mill Limited is known for piloting paper technology in Nigeria. It is owned by late Chief Nnana Kalu and it is also the most surviving manufacturing outfit owned by Chief Nnanna Kalu. The principal activities of the company are manufacturing pads, exercise book, toilet roll etc.
However, Chief Nnanna Kalu realized that for many successful manufacturing businesses there must be an adequate raw materials hence he began to search for an industry that utilizes locally available raw material.
In September 29th 1981 Star Paper Mill Limited Aba was commissioned. Its first waste paper raw material recycling plant was established in the old Imo State now Abia State.
The company used 90% of locally available raw materials as inputs with an installed capacity of two thousand five hundred (2500) metric ton of tissue jumbo per annum.
The company for now has six (6) raw materials (waste paper) procurement centres in Owerri in view of the rapid development which has taken place since the establishment of the company. The company now performs the other functions such as transporting or distributing product to respective customers throughout the country instead of the customers to come to the company.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Despite the emphasis laid on effective and efficient planning and because:
1. It lacks some chemicals for manufacturing.
2. They lack managerial skill and experience for maximum performance and this render some of them helpless.
3. They lack effective planning skills, indiscipline.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this research work is specifically on the role of planning as an effective tool achieving organizational objective. This research work will highlight the important of planning as an effective tool for achieving organizational objective.
1. To determine how planning can improve the productivity and profitability of the company.
2. To ascertain the constraints of effective planning in the company setting.
3. To examine your work place generally.
4. To find out who should be involved in the planning of the company goal.
5. To discover the role of personal input of the workers to productivity when good plans are set.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How can planning improve the profitability and productivity of the company?
2. What are the constraints of effective planning in the company setting?
3. How do you rate your work place generally?
4. Who should be involved in the planning of the company goal?
5. How do you rate the personal input of the workers to productivity when good plans are set?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This has to do with the importance and usefulness of the study as well as it impact on the different segment of the Nigeria society. The researcher believes that the study will be useful in the following way:
1. Both government and student in the field of business administration and management as this will go a long way in enabling organization plan ahead so as to achieve their goal.
2. Planning will act as a stepping stone for the organization.
3. This study is important for the fact that organizations are growing at an alarming rate and the need to perfect it through planning.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this research work is specifically on the role of planning as an effective tool for achieving organizational objective and this research covers the entire staff of Star Paper Mill Ltd. Aba.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Despite the limited scope of this study, certain constraints were encountered during the duration of the project some of the constraints experience by the researcher is given below.
1. Lack of adequate fund to cover greater part in the case of personnel interviews and observant.
2. The dearth of necessary materials and facilities which could have aided the researcher in more ways.
3. Uncooperativeness of some staff of the Star Paper Mill Ltd. Aba.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Planning: This is deciding in advance what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.
Tool: A device of method used in achieving a set goal.
Objectives: These are broad aim toward which activity is directed.
Goal: These are objective, which are made specific with respect to degree and time.
Manager: This is someone who plans, organize, directs and controls resources for the achievement of predetermined goals and objectives with maximum efficiency.
Management: This represent group of people in an organization who are responsible for decision making and implementation of decision to achieved corporate goals and objectives. It is made up of top management and other management level.
Organization: This is a combination of people or individual efforts in pursuits of a certain purpose.