The planner's dual role—a survey of U.S. companies

The author, Peter Lorange, is an Assistant Professor at the IMEDE Management Development Institute, Lausanne. His main research interests lie within the area of Formal Planning Systems. This article reports the results of a survey of planning in 60 manufacturing companies in the U.S.A. The main conclusion is that the two major tasks of planning, the development of the planning process and the formulation of plans, are distinctly different. The most effective handling of the two tasks takes place when the differences are thoroughly recognized and the tasks are separated among the planners so that the different working relationships required with top management can be reflected.