MHSA 7620 -- Healthcare Administration Essential Functions of Management The Planning Function ** Overview of the Planning Function of Management

** The planning process allows HSO managers to effectively deal with their varied external environments on a proactive basis. In terms of the management model, planning forces managers to focus on outputs, which then determines relative input needs into the HSO. The successful elucidation of HSO outputs and necessary inputs also allows managers to more effectively design and manipulate the conversion processes within the HSO (structures, tasks, people). Additionally, planning is the foundation for resource allocation and control.