The process of generating and comparing different courses of action and then choosing one prior to action. It takes the system from a high-level specification of what is to be done to a detailed specification of how to do it. (Arbib)
(1) the process of generating (
see generative ) descriptions of alternative courses of action and the deciding (
see decision ) among these before engaging in any of the actions described. (2) The process of allocating resources and scheduling processes so as to direct the future
behavior or
development of a
system. Planning is always selective among the possible futures of a
system incorporating this activity and is therefore behaviorally manifest. (
Krippendorff )
