Getting the power to plan

The Need for Power. Corporate planners are charged with defining where the organization should be going and identifying how it might get there. To meet this challenge, the planner must be familiar with the diverse kinds of problems and opportunities confronting his organization, as well as with the resources available to solve the problems or respond to the opportunities. Unfortunately, being familiar with the problems, opportunities, and resources is not enough. If corporate planners are to go beyond recommending direction and approach, they must understand the nature of power and how to use it effectively. The objective of this article is to discuss the various types of power available to planners and how this power can be used to improve the effectiveness of planning skills.