Operational Plan

An operational plan is a detailed and short-term document that outlines the day-to-day activities, processes, and resources required to achieve an organization's strategic goals. It is typically developed for a specific period, such as a financial year, and is meant to provide a roadmap for managers and employees to follow in order to achieve the organization's objectives.

Purpose and Role: The primary purpose of an operational plan is to break down the organization's strategic plan into actionable tasks and allocate resources accordingly. It helps guide the daily operations and decision-making within an organization, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals. The operational plan also provides a way to monitor progress, identify potential issues, and adjust the plan as needed to keep the organization on track.

Components: An operational plan typically includes the following components:

1. Goals and objectives: A clear outline of the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals and objectives that the organization aims to achieve during the planning period.
2. Key performance indicators (KPIs): Metrics used to evaluate progress towards the goals and objectives. KPIs help to measure success and ensure that the organization stays on track.
3. Action plan: A list of tasks, activities, and projects that need to be completed in order to achieve the goals and objectives, along with their deadlines and responsible parties.
4. Resource allocation: A detailed breakdown of the resources required to complete the tasks and activities, including personnel, budget, equipment, and materials.
5. Monitoring and evaluation: A plan for monitoring progress towards the goals and objectives, including regular reviews of KPIs, milestones, and outcomes, as well as any adjustments that need to be made to the plan.

Importance: An operational plan is important because it helps to ensure that the organization's strategic plan is effectively implemented. It translates high-level goals into actionable tasks and provides a clear roadmap for all team members, ensuring that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. By monitoring progress and making adjustments as needed, the operational plan helps to keep the organization on track towards achieving its strategic objectives.

Benefits:

1. Provides a clear roadmap for daily operations and decision-making
2. Translates strategic goals into actionable tasks and activities
3. Facilitates resource allocation and prioritization
4. Enables effective monitoring and evaluation of progress
5. Improves communication and coordination among team members

Pros and Cons: Pros:

1. Offers a clear and detailed roadmap for daily operations
2. Improves efficiency and effectiveness by ensuring everyone is working towards the same goals
3. Facilitates resource allocation and prioritization
4. Provides a framework for monitoring progress and adjusting the plan as needed

Cons:

1. Can be time-consuming to create and maintain
2. May need to be frequently updated to reflect changes in the organization's priorities or external factors
3. Requires commitment from all team members to be successful

Examples to illustrate key concepts:

1. A retail store's operational plan may include specific sales targets, inventory management processes, staffing requirements, and marketing initiatives for the upcoming year. By following the operational plan, the store can work towards achieving its overall strategic goals, such as increasing market share or improving customer satisfaction.
2. A non-profit organization's operational plan might outline fundraising activities, community outreach programs, volunteer recruitment efforts, and budget allocations for the year. This helps the organization to stay on track and ensure that its resources are being used effectively to achieve its mission.

In summary, an operational plan is a crucial tool for translating an organization's strategic goals into actionable tasks and guiding daily operations. By providing a clear roadmap and facilitating resource allocation, monitoring, and evaluation, an operational plan helps to keep the organization on track towards achieving its objectives.

See Also

• IT Strategy (Information Technology Strategy)
• IT Governance
• Enterprise Architecture
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• IT Sourcing (Information Technology Sourcing)
• IT Operations (Information Technology Operations)
• E-Strategy