Loading...
Loading...
Organising the work of an organisation or project involves many details and aspects that need to be considered to ensure success and achieve the desired goals. Four main types of planning are recommended to be applied sequentially and consecutively, as they are connected, with each completing the others.
Outlining the general framework and main objectives of the organisation or project as a whole, not only focusing on specific sections or parts, marks the beginning of implementing the strategic plan. This plan serves as a means to turn aspirations into actions, define future visions, and establish guiding principles to achieve them. The following are its most important uses:
Strategic planning enables organisations to plan for the next two or three years or even longer. It involves identifying the key tasks and milestones of the business, analysing the current situation, and assessing the strengths, weaknesses, resources, and opportunities. This helps make informed decisions and set long-term goals, ensuring the organisation or project transitions from its current state to the desired future state.
Most fast-growing companies and organisations rely on strategic planning or other long-term planning approaches. These plans allow the establishment of clear goals and the efficient management of resources with minimal time and effort. Furthermore, strategic planning is not limited to small organisations or enterprises but also applies to governments and large organisations. This makes it ideal for accelerating growth and achieving objectives more effectively.
For example, the government of the United Arab Emirates has implemented strategic goals to develop various sectors, including the “UAE Government Services Strategy 2021-2025”, which aims to position the UAE government as the best in the world for government services.
An exemplary initiative in the field of planning within the emirate of Sharjah is the "Strategic Planning" training programme organised by the Department of Human Resources. This programme targeted directors and department heads across governmental entities and institutions in Sharjah. Its primary objective was to raise awareness about strategic planning and its role in fostering professional growth, enhancing employee performance and institutional efficiency, and fulfilling the strategies adopted by the Government of Sharjah.
When a clear strategic plan is in place, it enables continuous comparison between what can be achieved or encountered in reality and the long-term goals. This allows making necessary adjustments and changes to maintain progress, even when facing unexpected obstacles.
For instance, if an organisation’s strategic goal is to achieve global expansion within five years, but new regulatory and legal restrictions suddenly emerged, hindering operations in certain countries, the strategic plan can be revisited and adjusted accordingly. This allows the organisation to make necessary changes efficiently, without distraction, wasting resources, or jeopardising future success.
Tactical planning typically follows strategic planning. It involves setting the company’s specific and detailed objectives and visions, which were previously outlined in the strategic plan. Below is a more detailed explanation of the importance of using this type of planning:
If the strategic plan outlines what needs to be achieved, the tactical plan details how to achieve it. In other words, strategic planning sets the overall direction, while tactical planning provides a detailed roadmap for achieving the goals. By harmonising these two planning types, organisations can ensure the effective execution of their strategic plans and ultimately achieve their desired outcomes.
The tactical plan involves setting detailed objectives, outlining the requisite actions to achieve them, and establishing a budget framework within a short-term frame, often annually or quarterly. For instance, the tactical objective of an organisation might be to enhance employee capabilities during the first quarter of the year. This would necessitate identifying the most effective strategies to accomplish this goal, such as engaging employees in a comprehensive training programme, estimating the necessary budget for that, and allocating the required resources.
As its name suggests, operational planning focuses on the practical execution and monitoring of objectives over a short period of time. Below are its key applications:
Operational planning allows for the development of actionable steps and procedures designed to achieve the tactical objectives of each department within an organisation or project. These plans are often detailed and targeted towards specific groups or individuals, with implementation periods ranging from days to weeks.
For instance, if one of the objectives is to maintain high-quality production equipment, the operational plan would involve assigning a specialised team to conduct regular weekly maintenance, providing them with the necessary resources, monitoring their progress, and ensuring task completion.
The operational plan is based on practical tasks through which results can be measured and evaluated, either through direct observation or using specialised tools and software. This facilitates accurate assessment of the organisation or enterprise’s performance, ensuring that activities are proceeding in alignment with objectives and leading towards success.
While strategic, tactical, and operational planning are essential for effectively achieving the goals of an organisation or a project, they are not immune to the unexpected. For instance, a sudden market shift, an earthquake, or a fire can disturb operations and have devastating consequences. This is where emergency planning comes into play. It addresses the management of both expected and unexpected risks that might arise in the future and negatively impact operations. The plan includes all possible scenarios, outlines strategies for dealing with them, and specifies the necessary actions to be taken in case they occur.
Undoubtedly, the most crucial aspect of responding to emergency plans is making swift and confident decisions when faced with sudden and unexpected changes. This minimises disruptions and losses and accelerates crisis management and recovery.
References
[1] cliffsnotes.com, Detailing Types of Plans
[2] cubesoftware.com, Organizational plans: a quick primer (with examples)
[3] planview.com, STRATEGIC VS. TACTICAL PLANNING: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES
[4] pingboard.com, Organizational Planning Guide: Types of Plans, Steps, and Examples
[5] spiderstrategies.com, Create an Operational Plan that Makes an Impact
For an optimal experience, please
rotate your device to portrait mode.
