Management Of Family Resources

Lesson 26 : The Management Process In Family Living-Planning

Types Of Plan

The types of plans are viewed in terms of their uses and levels.

Use:

Single use and repeat use or standing plans are in this category. Each will be considered with relation to the plans families may utilize. Single-use plans, as their name implies, are plans which are used only once. They may vary in any number of dimensions such as complexity or flexibility nevertheless, they are used only once. For example, the plan a family makes for a wedding reception is characterized by being attached to a goal which has a terminal point: the marriage of a family member. Some single-use plans tend to be rather large and detailed. The planners may exercise considerable care in developing them because they do not have the benefit of extensive past experience to guide them.

Repeat-use or standing plans:

These are the plans that were designed to be used over and over again! The value of standing plans, according to Newman, is that they establish a pattern of action for "normal" situations so that the individual can then concen­trate his attention on the changes he wishes to make in this' customary pattern of action for abnormal circumstances. A standing plan as con­ceived by Newman is similar to having a routine.

Successful routines, standing plans, or meta-plans require many conscious decisions when they are developed. They may be simple routines or fairly complex plans.

While single-use plans tend to have more alternatives attached to them, standing plans are in a constant state of revision due to their frequent use. Cumulatively, a large number of alternatives might be considered connection with frequently used plans, but the impact is not great at anyone time.

Levels:

Another way of classifying plans has to do with the general scope of the plan. Burk categorized planning as master planning, operational planning, and day-to-day planning. Master planning takes the form of establishment of goals, objectives, and broad policies. This level was discussed in the section on goal setting. Operational planning involves setting the standards and general procedures for running the various subsystems within the family. The third level, day-to-day planning, fre­quently is done almost unconsciously as general procedures are followed.