The Manager's Role in Operational Planning
An operational plan is a key tool for managing an organisation.
It provides the manager with detailed information on the work that
must be done to ensure that planned goals and objectives are achieved.
The management process should involved continual checking of the implementation of the Operational Plan and exercising control of the organisation's resources to ensure success.
What needs to be checked by the manager if management team includes:
- Timelines - have strategies been commenced and will all tasks be completed by the scheduled timelines?
- Performance Measures - has progress been made according to performance measures? Is it likely that targets will be met?
- Responsibilities - is there anyone having difficulty with the tasks allocated to them? Does there need to be any reassignment of responsibilities?
- Physical Resources - the assignment of assets
e.g. equipment, vehicles, space in a building or outdoors
- Budget - the allocation of money e.g. pay salaries, purchase equipment, hire venues, undertake
advertising and promotion
Methods of control
Managers will therefore need to control the above factors on a week-to-week
basis.
This control by managers will involve:
- Investigating on a regular basis of what has been
achieved, and what has not
- Implementing corrective action where tasks are
not achieved, or achieve on time
- Checking that resources will be available when needed
- Supervising, supporting and motivating the
people of the organisation to ensure tasks are undertaken
- Adjusting the operational plan if there is a need
- Reporting problems to superiors e.g. directors, committee
personnel, the Board Members of the organisation
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