Action Planning

Brief Description:

Action planning is a strategic method to help focus and decide what steps to take to achieve certain goals.

Description:

Action planning is a process which helps focus ideas and decide what steps you need to take to achieve particular goals. It is a statement of what you want to achieve over a given period of time. Preparing an action plan is a good way to help you reach your objectives.

An effective action plan should give a definite timetable and set of clearly defined steps to help you to reach your objective. For each objective there should be a separate action plan.

Used For:

• Stating what goals need to be achieved.

• Assessing possible weaknesses or threats in achieving goals.

Suitable participants:

Although Action Planning is typically used within organisations, it can still be used by individuals wanting to achieve life goals as well.

Cost:

Low

Action Planning in itself is cheap, costs depend on the disgression of organisers. If held within an organisation costs will be low, if an organisation decides to hold a day in a separate venue then costs would increase.

Time Requirements:

This depends on the number of objectives you have. A typical Action Planning session can take a few hours to half a day.

When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

• To assess/clarify an organisations future.

• To create clear guidelines and a timetable to achieve goals.

When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:

• To effectively resolve issues.

• For direct public engagement.

Strengths:

• Sets clear guidelines.

• Creates specific, measurable results.

Weaknesses:

• May seem detailed and tedious compared to other methods.

Origin:

Case Studies:

Related Methods

• Future Search

Restrictions In Use

Further Information

For further information please see:

http://managementhelp.org/plan_dec/str_plan/actions.htm

Popular Methods

21st Century Town Meeting

Citizens Jury

Deliberative Polling

Open Space

Participatory Appraisal

Participatory Budgeting

Webcasting