What term describes the mechanism that puts plans into action?

The term that describes the mechanism that puts plans into action is organizing. Organizing involves arranging resources and tasks in a structured way to facilitate the implementation of plans. It includes assembling the necessary personnel, equipment, and materials, and defining roles and responsibilities to ensure that the objectives outlined in the planning phase can be effectively achieved.

In contrast, planning refers to the initial stages where goals and objectives are set, and strategies are formulated without necessarily taking action. Scheduling is specifically about allocating time for tasks and ensuring that activities happen at the right moment, thus it supports the implementation but is not the broader mechanism of putting plans into action. Controlling involves monitoring and evaluating the progress and outcomes once plans are executed, ensuring that the organization stays on track towards its objectives but does not independently execute the plans itself. Organizing acts as the pivotal step in bridging planning with controlling, making it the correct term in this context.