Planning for Success: Operational Plan - Individual Assignment Report

This report provides a detailed analysis of operational planning, encompassing various models and methods, and explaining the crucial role of operational plans in achieving organizational objectives. It explores budgeting processes, outlines approaches to developing key performance indicators (KPIs), and examines the relevant legislative and regulatory contexts. Furthermore, the report outlines the organization's policies, practices, and procedures related to operational plans. It includes a practical section on developing and implementing an operational plan, detailing resource requirements, setting KPIs, and establishing monitoring processes. The report also covers effective communication with stakeholders and strategies for achieving the plan within organizational guidelines.

Running Head: Planning for Success
Planning For Success
Individual Questions

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Table of Content
1. Describe models and methods for operational plans...............................................................2
2. Explain the role of an operational plan in achieving the organisation’s objectives.....2
3. Explain budgeting processes.............................................................................................................. 3
4. List alternative approaches to developing key performance indicators to meet
business objectives.......................................................................................................................................... 3
5. Outline the legislative and regulatory context relevant to the operational plan of the
organisation....................................................................................................................................................... 4
6. Outline the organisation’s policies, practices and procedures that directly relate to
the operational plan........................................................................................................................................ 5
7. Develop and implement an operational plan using a variety of information sources
and consultation (including using specialist advice if required) which includes:.................6
8. Communicate effectively with relevant stakeholders to explain the plan and
supporting information, seek approvals, negotiate variations and engage work teams. 10
9. Develop and implement strategies to achieve the operational plan within the
organisation’s policies, practices and procedures including.......................................................10

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1. Describe models and methods for operational plans
Most of the people often confuse operational plan with the strategic plan which the
company creates for duration ranging from 2-5 years. Operation plan on the other hand
can be understood as the what, who, why, when and how of the daily operation over the
next course of year. Organization use plethora of models which help them in better
planning of their operations such as Total quality management, ISO quality management
standards, Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance excellence, six sigma quality
process and many more. The organization uses these models as a benchmark and a
systematic process to bring improvement in its current operational plan.
The methods of operational plan have certain key elements which have to be adhered to
strictly. The key elements encompassing the operational plan include, laying out clear
objectives, identifying the activities to cover, setting the quality standards, setting up of
Key performance indicators and targets, creation of a risk management plan, staffing
and budgetary requirements, implementation timetables and a process for monitoring
the progress. Following the above mentioned step along with the models stated in the
section helps the organization to come up with the operational plan to boast its
operational activities.
2. Explain the role of an operational plan in achieving the organisation’s
objectives
As mentioned earlier that operational plan includes the who, what, when and how of the
operation will take place in the course of time. The underlying role and purpose of the
operational plan is to provide a clear direction to the employee personnel in terms of
their tasks and responsibilities with the aim of aligning them to the goals and objectives
of the strategic plan for the organization. Thus, the role of operational plan is for the
implementation of the strategies contained in the strategic plan. By clearly defining the
roles and responsibilities of the individuals and creation of their KPI in sync with the
strategic objectives and goals helps the employee to move in a clear direction. Thus, all
of their efforts and synergies are diverted towards accomplishment of the objectives
and goals of the organization. Operational plan in a way gives a sense of clarity and

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purpose to the employee, who then works with enhanced productivity to achieve the
organizational goals. The operational goals can be considered as the short term
objectives which help the organization to achieve its long term objectives. Once the
employees in the organization are clear with their path, it becomes fairly easier for
them to help the organization in achieving its long term objectives.
3. Explain budgeting processes
Budgeting can be seen as the tactical implementation of a business plan which helps in
the achievement of the goals and objectives of the organization. Budget helps in
financing the business plan, setting up measures and indicators of performance and
make changes along the way. The steps identified in bringing a successful budget in the
organization are:
 Identification of the goals- The organization has to clearly identify and
determine the goals for the organization to create budget in accordance to the
goals.
 Organizational Overview- This step helps in understanding the resources the
organization already have to achieve the goals of the organization.
 Identifying the Physical, Human and Financial Cost
 Creating the budget
Another important element in the budgeting process is its implementation and
execution, thus the organization engages and involves only those people who are
actually pivotal to adhere to the budget and implementation of the organizational
objectives to achieve the goals for the organization. It is very much important to keep a
buffer in the expenses while arriving at the budget; because there are strong chances
that variance from the budget will actually happen.

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4. List alternative approaches to developing key performance indicators to meet
business objectives
A key performance indicator can be understood as the measurable value which
demonstrates how effectively the company is moving forward on the path of its
achieving its organizational objectives. KPI’s are important to the organization as it
helps in alignment of the goals and objectives with the set KPI’s. The alternative
approach in developing Key performance indicators in the organization are:
 Define the company goals- The goals have to be both short and long term.
 Identifying the measures to determine if the goals have been met- Here the
organization has to map it with the financial goals and assign the result with
either leading or lagging variable.
 Identification of the activities to lead towards the achievement of the goals- Here
the organization has to focus on the specific tasks which an individual has to do
in order to achieve the goals of organization.
 Selecting 20% of the activities or the activities which have a major impact on the
business and its goals.
 Assigning stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the progress on the identified
top 20% of the activities.
 Identifying the monitoring and evaluation process of the activities.
 All the above steps boil down in creation of KPI in accordance to, the activities
which are already being measured, can be measured and the ones which cannot
be measured.
This seven step process is an alternative approach in setting up of the KPI.
5. Outline the legislative and regulatory context relevant to the operational
plan of the organisation
It is highly imperative for the organization to comply with various legislative and
regulatory environments in the operation plan of the organization to safeguard it from
any lawsuit or any indictment by the government. It includes adhering to the prescribed
laws, regulation and by laws and many more. Some of the important legislative and
regulatory requirements which the organization have to consider are:

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 Ethical Practice-Organization has to ensure that it along with its employees
follow a high standard of ethical practice in the organization and does not have
any immoral implication on the community or other external stakeholders.
 Human Right Commission Act- This right provides the organization to ensure
and promote the human rights and welfare of its employees. The organization
has to ensure that it ensures inclusion at work and weighs each employee with
the same trust and faith.
 Discrimination act
 Disability services act
 Occupational health and Safety act
 Taxation act
 Association incorporation act
6. Outline the organisation’s policies, practices and procedures that directly
relate to the operational plan
As mentioned earlier, the operational plan of the organization forms the basis for the
achievement of the strategic goals of the organization. Thus, almost all the departments,
policies and procedures are directly related to the operational plan, some of the most
important ones are:
 Human Resources- Organization has to ensure that the human resources
department works in sync with the managers, line managers and the
management. It has to be ensured that the policies of recruitment, selection,
screening, PMS are set in place in the organization.
 Resource Allocation-Another major area which is related to the operational
plan is the resources allocated to a department or a division, the resources have
to be allocated keeping in mind the consideration and requirement of the
department.
 Intellectual Property- Intellectual property is directly related to the operational
plan, as it has the potential of destroying the organization and bringing it to huge
losses.
 Monitoring Costs- The cost of a product is calculated by keeping a tight grip on
the operation process in manufacturing. Based on the cost in the operation, the

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cost of the product is calculated, thus monitoring of cost is an important element
which gets impacted by the operational plan directly.
 Operational plan record
 Employee induction
 WHS Policies
7. Develop and implement an operational plan using a variety of information
sources and consultation (including using specialist advice if required) which
includes:
Resource requirements-In order to create and implement the operational plan using the
resource requirement can be designed in the following way:
Activity Resource Requirement Number of Hours
Required
Objective Identify the human,
physical and financial
resource requirement for
the marketing department
24 Hours
Outcome Systematic allocation of
resources to all the teams
of marketing department
10 Days
How will it be done? Requirement will be
assessed with the help of
the line managers and after
getting necessary approvals
form the management, HR
and the finance team
5 days
Person Responsible Marketing supervisor
When Autumn 2018
Budget $ 5000
Performance Indicator Rightful resource allocation
and team hiring as per the
14 days

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proposed numbers
Thus, the first important part in developing the operation plan is identifying the goals
and objectives for the resource allocation. Once the goals have been identified, it is
important to identify the proposed outcome of the goal. Further to this are the specific
steps related to the budget and answering questions like what, how, when and why with
a specific timeline. This operational plan helps in systematic evaluation of the process
with clearly identified stakeholders at every step.
Key performance indicators-Key Performance indicator hold a great importance to
the business organization as it helps to monitor the progress of the created goals for the
organization. Thus, KPI helps in monitoring and tracking the progress of the
achievement of goals.
Activity Key Performance
Indicator
Number of Hours
Required
Objective The objective here is to
create KPI for the
marketing department. For
instance:
Increase in Brand
awareness by 2X.
Development of marketing
collateral, etc.
3 Days
Outcome The outcome of KPI is to
monitor and track the
progress of the goals of the
organization in sync with
the Key performance
indicators
1 Month
How will it be done? The KPI has to be set up or
created by breaking down
the goals of organization
into short term and long
2 Days

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term goals, Based on which
KPI is created for the
employees in meeting with
the HR and the marketing
manager
Person Responsible Marketing Manager
When Autumn 2018
Budget NA
Performance Indicator Everyone is aware of their
KPI, and they know that
their performance will be
evaluated on the basis of
the created Key
performance indicator
10 Days
Monitoring processes- Monitoring Process has an important role in the operational
plan, as it helps in evaluating the progress and achievement of the created
organizational goals and objective. The monitoring process is the true reflection of the
process of the organization.
Activity Monitoring Process Number of Hours
Required
Objective Identify the progress and
continual evaluation of the
progress of task completion
and KPI in sync with
achievement of goals of the
organization. The
monitoring process will
help in identification of gap
in the KPI and resource
allocation.
7 Days

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Outcome The outcome of the
monitoring process is
helpful in portraying a clear
picture in front of the top
management and the
managers. This will help in
bridging the gap in the
performance so far.
7 Days
How will it be done? The monitoring process
will take place by using
various work completion
parameters and the
analysis of the milestones
set in the completion of the
work assigned.
5 days
Person Responsible Line Manager
When Autumn 2018
Budget NA
Performance Indicator The performance indicator
of monitor process is
presence of Zero variance
in the proposed milestones
or the operations
30 days
Contingency plans-Contingency plan can be understood as the backup plan, when the
first plan fails to deliver the proposed result or the outcome. The contingency plan
comes in handy when the organization focuses on risk management and does not want
the operation to be affected in any of the circumstances.

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Activity Contingency Plan Number of Hours
Required
Objective Create a backup plan in the
event of failure of the
proposed operational plan.
For instance when one
operational strategy gets
failed, the company has
already considered another
strategy to replace the
other.
5 Days
Outcome The outcome of the
contingency plan is to make
sure that the operations of
the company are not
affected in any way
possible
7 Days
How will it be done? This will be done by a
conducting a joint meeting
with all the relevant
stakeholders
6 Days
Person Responsible Risk Assessment Manager
When Autumn 2018
Budget $ 7500
Performance Indicator The performance indicator
of the contingency plan can
be realized only in actual,
seeing the contingent plan
seamlessly replaced the
other not so functional plan
will be the performance
indicator for contingency
21 days

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plan
8. Communicate effectively with relevant stakeholders to explain the plan and
supporting information, seek approvals, negotiate variations and engage work
teams.
Communication is the heart and soul of every business activity, and it is effective and
efficient communication which aides in the achievement of the goals and objectives of
the organization. It is extremely important while communicating with the stakeholders
with the view of explaining the plan, supporting information of the plan, seeking
approval, negotiating variation and engage workers. I use the following strategy to
increase the efficiency of the communication:
Explain the plan and Supporting Information-I would ensure that I explain the plan
to the relevant stakeholders by giving them a power point presentation and handling all
their objections in the process. Post the presentation I would circulate the plan on the
email so that it is documented and kept in the archives of the stakeholders.
Seek Approvals-In my opinion this is certainly one of the most time consuming
process, as organization goes through a lot of process internally while giving a nod to
the plan. Hence the best approach is to create a well-documented plan in the form of
workbook and give it to the concerned person, post that seek approval form them via
mails.
Negotiate Variation-Negotiation is a very hard nut to track, thus I will be using my
convincing and persuasive skills to allow for negotiation variation in the organization.