Planning involves defining goals, strategies, and coordinated plans. It can be informal with unwritten plans or formal with specific written goals and action plans. Planning provides direction, coordination, control, and helps anticipate issues. It establishes a hierarchy from broad strategic plans to specific operational plans. Effective planning involves setting objectives, considering alternatives, and developing coordinated derivative plans and budgets. The principles of planning emphasize contributing to objectives, clear objectives, planning preceding other functions, and efficient, consistent plans based on agreed premises.