Analzaed

Management Planning

Management: Theory, Practice, and Application/MGT330

Management Planning

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) is one of the largest outsourcing solutions for payroll, human resources, tax, and benefits administration (ADP, n.d). It services an estimated 570,000 clients and employs more than 45,000 employees (ADP, n.d). For such a large company in a competitive market, management planning is critical to the ongoing success of the organization. Evaluating the planning function of management at ADP will demonstrate how they effectively follow the six basic planning steps. Next, analyzing three factors that influence the company’s strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning will reveal how they carefully map the company’s development. Concluding with a review of the impact that legal issues, ethics, and corporate social responsibilities have on ADP’s management planning will highlight the various considerations taken when choosing a course of action.

Planning Function of Management

The planning function is important for all organizations, both large and small. Planning is defined as the “conscious, systematic process of making decisions about goals and activities that an individual, group, work unit, or organization will pursue in the future” (Bateman & Snell, 2009, p. 132). The critical word in that definition is decisions. Planning is used to make decisions through six steps: situational analysis, alternative goals and plans, goal and plan evaluation, goal and plan selection, implementation, and monitor and control (Bateman & Snell, 2009). ADP is a dynamic organization that is constantly changing to improve technology, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase revenue. Before any changes are made, ADP follows the six planning steps of management to ensure the selected goal will be successful. As an example, the recent standardization initiative demonstrates how the six steps were followed.

ADP began with the...