Replying to the discussion around planning and doing (LO16991)
My two cents...
1. Whoever said planning was NOT doing? When you're planning, you're
doing something. Planning and doing can be two sides of the same action.
The trick is not to get hung up on one or the other but realize that
planning and doing flow into one another. Even the so-called "decisive
actors" are doing some planning--a lot more than they are letting on, I'll
bet. It is often in the best interests of their personas to appear to be
engaging in pure action, especially if the prevailing culture supports and
rewards such a persona.
2. "Plans are useles but planning is essential" - Peter Drucker (I think)
3. Have you noticed that those groups of people that deal with the most
chaotic situations are often the most structured and organized and have
plans upon plans? I'm thinking here of police, firefighters, and the
military. It seems that unstructured situations calling for the most
decisive action also require that actors be extremely well prepared. In
the best examples, the plans permit rather restrict latitude of action
depending on the circumstances.
4. Perhaps the highest pinnacle of accomplishment regarding planning and
action is some sort of Taoist non-acting action where the doer can
immediately and intuitively size up a situation and then intuitively
provide the right action. I can do it occasionally, perhaps once every few
months. Perhaps some people have more frequent experience of this than I
do.
Good, thought-provoking discussion.
Regards,
Jeff Bennett
Networks and Technology Analyst
Sony Disc Manufacturing
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