The Franklin Planner is a paper based time management system created by Hyrum W. Smith which began sales in 1984 from Franklin International Institute. The planner itself is the paper component of the time management system developed by Smith.The Franklin Planner is a paper based time management system created by Hyrum W. Smith which began sales in 1984 from Franklin International Institute. The planner itself is the paper component of the time management system developed by Smith.