Having a plan makes it far more likely you will actually achieve the objectives. At upper-level and some middle-level managers spend more time developing strategic, broad/directional, long-range, single-use plans for the organization. Other middle-level and all lower-level managers, in contrast, spend more time specifying how the strategic plans will be accomplished by developing operational, narrow/specific, short-range plans and implementing standing plans. Success companies push forward via careful planning.