How Managers Plan—The Analysis of Managers’ Activities

This paper analyzes the positions of Mintzberg and planning experts on the extent to which managers plan and the importance of planning to management. Mintzberg contends that managers do not plan. The planning literature contends that planning leads to effective management. In a replication of Mintzberg’s study, the authors found support for the planning literature’s position. The discrepancy between Mintzberg and the planning literature is explained by the shortcomings of the observational method used by Mintzberg. A suggested modification of Mintzberg’s method is given.