Planning, to some degree, involves educated and experienced guesswork. Decisions are made based on evidence available from past experience and the likelihood of events in the future. However, risk is still involved. Nothing is certain. Even with reliable data and excellent strategy, there are unforeseeable events that could slow down or even hinder progress.
Plans and predictions are only as good as the data and information that are given. Poor documentation and reporting of data will result in poor strategy. The success of an organization's planning efforts and activities correlate directly with the amount of effort, creativity, time, and resources that people put into it. Organizations that adopt "boilerplate" or "cookie-cutter" approaches to planning will most likely fail.
Planning is nothing without action. Organizations that do not implement their plans will not be successful. Plans should not also be static or unyielding.
The planning process should consider the changing environment and circumstances. The plan should be adaptable. If an organization fails to take into account these changes, it may render the plan obsolete and/or ineffective.
