Basics of Organizational Plans

Organizational Plan

Compilation and Organization of These Slides by: Abdul Rauf

1. What’s Organizational Plan?An organizational plan is

basically a “to do” list for an organization. It lists out the plan of work, programs, and organizational growth over a period of time - six months, a year, a five years.

Planning helps an organization chart a course for the achievement of its goals.

A plan can help you:Set priorities for your workMake sure tasks get done on timeFocus on one thing at a timeShare work among staff, board

members and volunteersMake your goals clear to fundersGet a handle on big projects by

breaking them down into smaller tasksSee the big picture of what your

organization is doing

2. How to Plan?2.1 Decide On Categories2.2 Set Goals2.3 Set Tasks2.4 Plan a Schedule2.5 Choose Responsibility2.6 Support2.7 Follow Through2.8 Plan Evaluation

2.1 Decide On Categories

First, think about all the work that your organization does, and list out the general categories

for example: ◦ Fundraising, ◦ Community Outreach, ◦ Website, ◦ and so on. ..(Some big categories might be split up)

2.2 Set GoalsSecond, make sure the goals for

your work in each category are clear.

Ask yourselves, “Where do we want to be with this work in a year or two or more?”

Example:  Fundraising: Raise $8000.

2.3 Set Tasks

Next, discuss each goal and talk about all the tasks that need to be done to achieve that goal.

At this point, they don’t have to be in order. Some will be more specific than others; the more specific the better, in general.

You may not know how to reach some goals, yet; it’s fine to have a task list that looks like

“Get fundraising training. Create fundraising plan and schedule. Carry out plan.”

2.4 Plan a ScheduleMake sure that all the tasks are

listed, number them.

Then draft a schedule for the tasks—either when they will be completed, or (for ongoing tasks) when they will begin.

The goal is to set a schedule that is challenging but realistic.

Assign responsibilities by asking people to volunteer to be responsible for goals or tasks.

If nobody is willing to volunteer for a particular task, ask the group if it is really necessary to do it. If the group decides that it is, try to break it down into smaller tasks that might be easier to take on.

2.5 Choosing Responsibilities

 Brainstorm other individuals and organizations that can provide support, assistance or advice in helping you carry out particular tasks or achieve general goals.

Get support from other stakeholders like government departments etc.

2.6 Support

2.7 Follow through

Come up with a plan to check inSupport and encourage people as

they carry out their tasks. This may mean choosing one person

to regularly check on the status of different tasks, or it may be part of reporting back at meetings.

2.8 Plan Evaluation

Finally, set a time to revisit the whole plan as a group to evaluate how things are going and revise assignments and schedules.

This may be a few months or half a year in the future.

3. Various Types Of Plans

Business Planning

•Help to prepare for the growth & assimilate additional resources into the company.

Performance Planning

•As your business grows, your performance metrics will need to change to reflect your increasing activity.

HR Planning•Keep the HR department updated on personnel projections, human resources group needs to continually acquire resumes.

Financial Planning

•Keeping your financing options available for your company can be an important part of the growth of your company

Types of Organizational PlanOperational Plans

Tactical Plans

Strategic Plans

Start-up Plans

Corporate Plans

Growth Plans

HR Plans

4.1 Operational PlansThe specific results expected from

departments, work groups, and individuals are the operational goals. 

These goals should be precise and measurable. ◦ “Process 150 sales applications each week” or

“Publish 20 books this quarter” are examples of operational goals.

An operational plan is one that a manager uses to accomplish his or her job responsibilities. Supervisors, team leaders, and facilitators develop operational plans to support tactical plans.

4.2 Tactical plansA tactical plan is concerned with what the lower

level units within each division must do, how they must do it, and who is in charge at each level.

Tactics are the means needed to activate a strategy and make it work.

Tactical plans are concerned with shorter time frames and narrower scopes than are strategic plans.

These plans usually span one year or less because they are considered short‐term goals.

Long‐term goals, on the other hand, can take several years or more to accomplish. Normally, it is the middle manager's responsibility to take the broad strategic plan and identify specific tactical actions.

4.3 Strategic PlanA strategic plan is an outline of steps designed

with the goals of the entire organization as a whole in mind, rather than with the goals of specific divisions or departments.

Strategic planning begins with an organization's mission.

Strategic plans look ahead over the next two, three, five, or even more years to move the organization from where it currently is to where it wants to be.

Requiring multilevel involvementTop‐level management develops the directional

objectives for the entire organizationLower levels of management develop compatible

objectives and plans to achieve them.

4.4 Start-up PlansThe start-up plan is the stepping stone of

the business. In this plan, the incorporator of the

business analyzes the financial viability of his proposed venture.

Startup Plans Include:◦The proposed product◦ Its market of operation◦The team of individuals who would assist him

in his venture◦The finances of the business and their mode

of procurement

4.5 Corporate PlansThese plans are also known as

strategic plans. These plans are drawn with the intent of analyzing whether or not the company’s resources are being utilized optimally. As there are often several ways in which a chore can be performed, corporate plans highlight the most feasible and profitable one.

4.6 Growth PlansWhenever an organization is looking in the

direction of expansion, it formulates a growth plan.

This plan is very similar to a start-up plan. Through this plan, the company determines

whether or not it can spread its wings further.

The company here analyzes its◦ Operations, ◦ Finances, ◦ Personnel◦ Capabilities.

4.7 HR PlansThese plans are chalked out by

the human resources department to obtain the right number of employees with the right skills for the right places at the right time.

Through the implementation of this plan, all the departments of the company should have the optimum number of personnel required.