Indicative planning refers to a form of planning where policies and objectives are set but they are not legally binding. Synonyms for indicative planning include indicative management, indicative programming, indicative budgeting, and indicative forecasting. It is a type of planning that helps forecast the possible outcomes that could be achieved if certain policies and objectives were implemented. Unlike binding planning, indicative planning allows for flexibility in decision making and alterations can be made if unforeseen circumstances arise. Indicative planning is often used as a preliminary step before making concrete decisions on the direction of a specific project or policy.