M.A. (Socialis Scientiae) / The gist of this extended essay is an exploration of the skills necessary to perform the planning function in management. The text is presented in two parts - a literature study and a documentation of the findings of an empirical investigation. In order to place the planning function in perspective the candidate starts by defining management as such and then discusses management in the research domain in which three specialist fields converge - management science, social work and health. Since the respondents function within the boundaries of a government setting, the influence of beaurocracy on management is included in the discussion. Subsequently all the managerial functions are described and the candidate indicates why planning is seen as the primary managerial function - it precedes all the other functions and in addition to having the status of an independent generic function, it is implicitly imbedded in the other functions. Eight categories of skills required in planning are identified: Visionary, projection, analytical, political, interactional, value-clarification, decision-making, and time-management skills. In each of these categories some abilities on the part of those who plan are indicated. The candidate then suggests a model for planning based on the literature that could be used in developing an integrated planning system for medical social workers. In the empirical part of the study the candidate attempts answering the following questions: 1. Are all the skills as mentioned in fact used by the respondents (in this case the top management section of the sub directorate of Social Work of the Branch: Health Services of the Transvaal Provincial Administration) and if they are used, how often? 2. With regard to which of these skills do respondents require extended training? Findings indicate that the respondents apply all 8 categories of skills and regard the majority of the 50 abilities as prerequisites. Learning needs were reported in respect of 13 of the abilities listed. Throughout this study the significance of the planning function in management is emphasized and the argument that managers need to develop specific knowledge and skills in order to perform effectively and efficiently is furthered.