Simple Action Plan
There are numerous types of businesses, entities, or organization that we can see in the society that we are living in today. Each establishment has their own goals and objectives that they need to reach in order to improve and enhance. However, having goals alone is not sufficient; there must be a detailed plan specifically describing the steps to achieve those goals in the form of action plan.
Action plan along with proper implementation can surely help in achieving the goal in the most efficient way.
Not sure on how to start an action plan? Here are comprehensive examples that could help you in creating actions plans. Additionally, related topics can be found in these links:
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What Is an Action Plan?
An action plan is a detailed plan or a sequence of steps outlining the actions that must be taken and performed well in order for a strategy to succeed or to reach one or more specific goals. It can serve as a blueprint for the project manager to break a large project down into smaller, more manageable specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based (SMART) goals.
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Three Major Elements of an Action Plan
1. Specific Tasks
This pertains to what specific, detailed plan must be accomplished or reached as well as whom should the task be assigned to. In planning, the task must be very specific; otherwise, if the task is too broad or general, the steps to be taken to reach those tasks may also be vague and might not be a direct method to accomplish the task. You may also see business action plan examples.
Furthermore, the person or team in charge of the task must also be clearly identified so that there will be no passing of task to another person and one will be clearly informed that he or she is responsible of completing a task. There will also be accountable for progress of the task. If someone is appointed for a certain area, any update regarding the progress or completion of the task rests upon him. You may also like daily plan examples & samples.
2. Time Horizon
There must also be a clear time horizon of when will the task be done. A deadline must be set in every step to achieve the task and this can be done with the help of some charts such as a Gantt chart. This chart will set the timing and schedule for the whole project by breaking down the things needed to do into tasks that are set with a time limit.
The time limit will also serve as a constraint that will push the person in charge of the task to keep moving. If there will be no time limit, everyone would work on other things than prioritizing the ones needed to be accomplished first. When every task is given a deadline, it will set the priority and importance of each task and will determine which task must be worked on first. You may also check out what is an action plan?
3. Resource Allocation
Last but not the least is the resource allocation, which is also called an acrion program. An organization or entity must determine and specify what specific funds are available for specific activities. In this way, they may gather more funds or release more funds. They can also determine which center needs to have a cost cutting and which particular task must be supplied with more funds. You might be interested in sales action plan examples.
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Advantages of Action Plan
Others might think that action plans require an ample amount of time to prepare and, at the same time, the implementation requires and consumes a lot of time. However, the time spent in creating and implementing an action plan is worthy enough because your task or goal would surely be reached through proper implementation of action plan. You may also see career action plan examples.
There are more benefits that an entity can acquire when having an action plan, and they are as follows:
1. Helps Focus Activity
An action plan helps you maintain your focus in achieving the goal. You will have a step-by-step process that you need to undergo in order to stay on track. Without an action plan, you may engage in different activities that may hinder in accomplishing your goal or you cannot make a move because you do not know where to begin and what is the first step to take.
Thus, with action plan, it helps ensure that all your actions and decisions are directed toward accomplishing your goals and you will not be derailed in doing anything else besides the steps toward your goal.
2. Standardized Processes
You may have planned to achieve a great goal, but it is doubtful that you can achieve it without setting up proper steps and processes to achieve the goal. The foundation of a resilient organization are well-defined procedures that an organization must take in order to have a smooth flow of the steps toward achieving your life goal.
Every function in the organization must be noted and written down in standard operating procedures (SOPs) so one must know the next processes that he or she must undergo.
3. Delegation of Tasks
Traditionally, standard operating procedures help with delegation of tasks by giving new and inexperienced people access to the instructions on how to complete the task. It includes details on what one must do to achieve a task. This will also serve as a training to those who are still new to the organization, and this will also help them be familiar with the tasks and procedures which can be helpful in achieving the future goals of a company. You may also like research action plan examples.
With proper delegation, they will know the specific things they need to do, they are the ones held responsible for a certain process, and their progress can be tracked.
4. Strengthens Team Morale
Usually, people in an organization work with a team to accomplish a certain goal. Through an action plan that they are creating together, it will help strengthen the team’s morale and unity. They can also encourage one another to continue pursuing the goal that they want to achieve. You may also check out employee corrective action plan examples.
Every member of the team must also play a role and must have delegated a responsibility that could contribute to the overall success in achieving the organization goal. If a member felt that he or she is included in creating the plan, he or she will be more motivated to follow through an action toward achieving the goal.
5. Consistent Customer Experience
When you have consistent processes with regard to the steps you must take to achieve your goal, this would also ensure that customers get consistent service.
Standard operating procedures ensure that those who are assigned in dealing with customers and prospects will know exactly what is expected with each customer interaction. With proper implementation of an action plan, it can be assured that the procedures in dealing with customers are done according to the organizations guideline so that people will receive consistent customer experience that would hopefully lead to customer satisfaction. You might be interested in quality plan examples & samples.
6. Business Continuity
Action plans are designed in such a manner that it captures the knowledge of an individual and allow it to be passed on to the new generation. Passing on of knowledge is essential, for if one employee resigned from a certain post, the one replacing him or her would know what exactly are the things that he needs to do and perform in behalf of the employee who left. You may also see event plan examples & samples.
Having action plans would help newbies easily adjust to the workload even if they are still new to the company or industry and this would surely help the business get going because replacing experienced people is time-consuming and expensive.
7. Reduced Learning Curve
Being trained by a personal and experienced mentor is something that every individual willing to grow longed for. However, this luxury is not always available. Time constraint is always the challenge that everyone is facing especially when it comes to learning a new task or taking over someone over a certain task. Hence, the amount of time it takes for the takeover or to learn new tasks must be reduced. You may also like advertising plan examples & samples.
In order to do this, action plans can surely helps since it contains information required to execute a task such as instruction, document templates, and specific forms.
8. Quality Control
When there is a consistent process with regard to achieving a goal, it will ensure that the same quality product would be achieved. Along with the evolution and innovation of organization processes, standard operating procedures evolved as well. SOPs and action plans will address the problems with regard to quality, and the issues are easily identifiable when one will follow an action plan. You may also check out daily plan examples & samples.
Hence, make sure that the plan is comprehensive and detailed enough so it will address every possible issue and it would answer every possible question that may come in the way during the implementation of the action plan.
9. Boosts Self-Esteem
An action plan will also help in strengthening your self-esteem as well as your self-confidence while working on the plan. Effective action plans contain a lot of small steps to achieve the goal.
Whenever you finish a step of your plan, you will gain confidence that you can achieve your goal because you are slowly taking small steps to get closer to your goal. Whenever you accomplish the goal through your action plan, it would surely create and boost your self-esteem. You might be interested in management plan examples.
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Sum Up
In every organization, they must come up with a goal that would improve and enhance their operations. However, they must also prepare and plan the necessary steps that they would take in order to achieve those goals. These are called action plans. You may also see audit plan examples & samples.
An action plan must be detailed enough to have a clear pathway toward achieving the goal. It must have the three basic elements namely, specific tasks, time horizon, and resource allocation.
The advantages of adopting an action plan are as follows: helps focus activity, standardized processes, delegation of tasks, strengthens team morale, consistent customer experience, business continuity, reduced learning curve, quality control, and boosts self-esteem. You may also like implementation plan examples & samples.
If you have a hard time in creating your own action plan, do not forget to refer to the examples and templates given in the above section.
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