Planning and controlling are mutually interrelated and inter-dependent activities because:
1. Controlling is based on planning: Planning provides standards used in controlling to compare with actual performance.
2. Planning without controlling is meaningless: Controlling ensures that commitments under the plans are fulfilled and events confirm the plans.
3. Planning is prescriptive and controlling is evaluative: Planning prescribes the most appropriate course of action for achieving objectives while controlling evaluates whether decisions have been translated into desired actions.
4. Both are forward looking: Planning is looking ahead as it is based on forecast about future and prepared for future only. Controlling aims also to improve future performance, if found any deviations.
5. Both are looking back: Controlling is looking back as it measures and compares actual performance with standards fixed in the past. Planning is also a backward looking function as plans are guided by the past experiences.
