Working out loads is necessary to ensure you have enough power to run what you are intending to run, if you were designing a system with no idea of the actual load, then you'd take it as stated load, so if you had 3, 16 amp sockets then you'd take the maximum load as 3x16=48 amps. Then if you had say a 32 amp socket also the potential load would increase to 48+32=80 amps, so if you had an 80 amp supply then you can see that potentially you could be up to your maximum available load, and you haven't even factored in say lighting or small sockets.
However in a situation where you know the load it can be easier, lets imagine you still have the same number and type of sockets, but you know the load to be taken, imagine the 16 amp sockets are still carrying 16 amps, but the appliance connected to the 32 amp socket is only using 20 amps, you know have a saving of 12 amps, which could be enough to run a lighting circuit.
It's not only about making sure you have enough available power on a new install, it's also about making sure an existing install can provide sufficient power for what you intend to use. suppose you have a company, and they are moving into another building, it's an existing building that was previously used as lets say a sewing factory, now sewing machines don't use much power, if the new company is an engineering firm using lots of electric welders, which do use a lot of power, then it would be pointless for them to move in, if although the building was big enough to house all their equipment, the supply wasn't big enough to run it all.