TWO PRINCIPAL TYPES OF PLANNING ARE USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES: MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING. MANAGEMENT PLANNING IS DIRECTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES OR GOALS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIRECTIVES DESIGNED TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES (SUCH AS PLANNING TO OVERCOME TRAINING DEFICIENCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, OVERALL CRIME REDUCTION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, OR DESIGNING CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES). OPERATIONAL PLANS ARE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH MATTERS INVOLVING THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT (SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHEDULES, MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT, OR IMPROVING PREVENTION AND APPREHENSION TECHNIQUES). MANAGEMENT PLANNING LEADS TO POLICE DEVELOPMENT WHILE OPERATIONAL PLANNING LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURE AND METHODOLOGY. PLANNING HELPS ENSURE THAT UNIFORMITY IS MAINTAINED WITH LIMITED SUPERVISION, PROVIDES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND GIVES DIRECTION TO ITS FUNCTIONING UNITS. THE PLANNING PROCESS INVOLVES A SERIES OF STEPS DESIGNED TO GUIDE THE PLANNER THROUGH THE ACTIONS OR OPERATIONS USING A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO PROBLEMSOLVING. THIS SCIENTIFIC APPROACH INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (1) RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM AREA, (2) GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AREA, (3) STUDYING THE INFORMATION COLLECTED TO FIND KEY FACTORS, (4) ANALYZING INFORMATION GATHERED ON KEY FACTORS, TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM, (5) EVALUATING THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, (6) SELECTING THE MOST APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE, AND (7) ARRANGING TO HAVE THE PLAN IMPLEMENTED AND EVALUATING ITS EFFECTIVENESS. THE PLAN SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED IN A WRITTEN STAFF REPORT. AN OUTLINE OF THE STAFF STUDY REPORT FORM IS PROVIDED. FOOTNOTES AND A CHART ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)