Clear direction of tasks and responsibilities is very important for an organisation. A suitable plan can not only motivate the employees towards achieving the vision of the organisation but also increases the chances of financial success.
What is Operational Planning?
An operational plan can assist an organisation to achieve its objectives and overcome any challenges. Operational planning translates key objectives of a strategic plan into a widely visible procedure of who will do what and by when. This planning is generally done for short to medium time frame.
Benefits of Operational Planning
Good operational planning will identify the strategies that need to be completed to achieve the goals of the organisation i.e. budget, sales, marketing etc. It also includes a financial summary, duties & responsibilities of each professional and their performance report.
Need for Operational Planning
The objective of operational planning is to improve an organisation’s efficiency. It will be challenging to achieve organisational goals without a clear plan and direction.
Key elements of Operational planning
- Develop a strategic plan: Strategic plan is the first step of operational planning.
- Prioritise organisation goals: Set the main objectives and goals of the organisation and confirm that people are working towards achieving them.
- Use appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): KPIs vary significantly from organisation to organisation on the basis of the type of industry and their objectives. Effective use of proper KPIs is important for the success of any plan.
- Make an effective communication plan: Inbound communication is very important for the fulfilment of all operational procedures. It helps to improve the efficiency of employees and financial outcome of the organisation.
Summary
Operational planning is the key element of an organisation. It should be prepared by the professionals who will be involved in its implementation for the achievement of organisational goals.