Germany – Page 7 – understand-culture

validity. Validität.

The validity of a plan (validity) cannot be taken for granted and taken for granted. A plan is merely an abstract depiction or model of the reality to be expected in successive steps, which moreover still has to be designed over time. Therefore, as for all models, the planning reflects a simplified image of the expected future reality.

Die Gültigkeit einer Planung (Validität) kann nicht als gegeben und selbstverständlich angenommen werden. Eine Planung ist lediglich eine abstrakte Abbildung oder ein Modell der in aufeinanderfolgenden Schritten zu erwarteten Realität, die zudem im weiteren Zeitablauf noch zu gestalten ist. Daher gilt wie für alle Modelle, dass die Planung ein vereinfachendes Abbild der erwarteten künftigen Realität wiedergibt.

Purposes of a plan

A plan is a detailed proposal or scheme for achieving a specific goal. In Germany, as in any other country, a plan can serve a variety of purposes, depending on the context in which it is being used. Some possible purposes of a plan might include:

Setting out a clear strategy for achieving a particular objective, such as increasing sales or improving efficiency
Providing a roadmap for the implementation of a project or initiative, outlining the steps that need to be taken and the resources that will be required
Facilitating communication and coordination among team members or stakeholders by clearly outlining roles and responsibilities
Allowing for the tracking of progress towards a goal and making adjustments as needed to ensure that the goal is achieved

Plans can be created for personal, business, or organizational purposes, and can range from simple to-do lists to complex, multi-faceted proposals.

Source: ChatGPT. Question: For Germans what is the purpose of a plan?

Nietsche on planning

“Making plans and making resolutions brings with it much good feeling, and he who has the strength to be nothing but a plan-maker all his life will be a very happy man. But he will occasionally have to rest from this activity, in that he executes a plan — and then comes the anger and disillusionment.”

Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844 – 1900)

“Pläne machen und Vorsätze fassen bringt viel gute Empfindungen mit sich, und wer die Kraft hätte, sein ganzes Leben lang nichts als ein Pläne-Schmiedender zu sein, wäre ein sehr glücklicher Mensch: Aber er wird sich gelegentlich von dieser Tätigkeit ausruhen müssen, dadurch dass er einen Plan ausführt — und da kommt der Ärger und die Ernüchterung.”

Bismarck on planning

“Ich gewöhne mich nachgerade, nicht Pläne über acht Tage hinaus zu machen, denn der liebe Gott lässt mich doch nicht in seine Karte sehen, und tut ohne Zweifel gut daran.”

“I’m getting used to not making plans for more than eight days, because the good Lord doesn’t let me look at his map, and it’s no doubt a good idea to do so.”

Otto von Bismarck (1815 – 1898)

“more tense the nerves”

“Je gedehnter das Vorhaben, desto gespannter die Nerven.” Translation: The longer the project, the more tense the nerves.

Daniel Mühlemann (born 1959), nature photographer, aphorist and translator.

The Romans in Germany

Salvete! DW Travel host Lukas Stege follows in the Romans’ footsteps through Germany. Accompany him on his journey along the līmes – the border between the Roman Empire and Germany – from Cologne to the Saalburg, a reconstructed Roman fort close to Frankfurt.

Der Kluge baut vor

Vorbereiten. To prepare. To anticipate a situation; to be enabled to complete a task; to do the work needed beforehand; to develop oneself.

The Germans place great value in being well prepared. They gather information early, complete the initial steps, anticipate what will come. They believe that being prepared saves time and effort, and allows them to make the best decisions.

Der Kluge baut vor. The intelligent one prepares early. Those who are not prepared, who, for example, forget to buy certain things when food shopping, or cannot respond to questions in a meeting, have only themselves to blame. To be well prepared is in Germany not voluntary, not a nice-to-have, it is expected. Germans are under pressure to think things through, to write things down, to do their homework.

The purpose of good preparation is to get the work done faster and better. One needs no more than a shopping list when it is clear what meal will be cooked. To prepare for a meeting is not difficult, provided one knows what will be discussed.

In Germany, most people have a concrete idea of how things should be, of what they plan to eat, of what they will discuss in a meeting. Germans not only make plans, they live according to them.

Planung. Vorwegnahme.

Wikipedia in German defines Planung as: Planning describes the human capability or activity of thoughtful – or thought-anticipation – of actions that appear to be necessary in order to reach a goal.

Die Planung beschreibt die menschliche Fähigkeit Fähigkeit oder Tätigkeit zur gedanklichen Vorwegnahme von Handlungsschritten, die zur Erreichung eines Zieles notwendig scheinen.

Planning – another definition

Definition: Planning is the fundamental management function, which involves deciding beforehand, what is to be done, when is it to be done, how it is to be done and who is going to do it. It is an intellectual processwhich lays down an organisation’s objectives and develops various courses of action, by which the organisation can achieve those objectives. It maps out exactly, how to attain a specific goal.

Hildegard on planning

“As the fire carries the flame within itself, so it is necessary for the powers of the rational man to have a work before him.”

Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179), German mystic, abbess and scientist, Catholic saint

“Wie das Feuer die Flamme in sich trägt, so ist es für die Kräfte des vernunftbegabten Menschen notwendig, ein Werk vor sich zu haben.”