Competency: Planning

Definition: Planning is a core aspect of organizational management. Contingency planning, strategic planning, forecasting, resource management, project management, staffing, scheduling, and logistics are all important types of planning in organizations. Planning gives direction and sets the framework for managing time and resources by identifying goals, setting priorities, and establishing the steps needed to reach those goals.

Planning enables you to set clear objectives, outline strategies to achieve them, and allocate resources effectively. It helps in anticipating potential challenges and developing contingency plans to mitigate risks. Planning is necessary for your development and success.

Contingency Planning Planning for contingencies, ensuring that you can respond quickly and effectively to challenges, minimizing disruptions and maintaining continuity.
Forecasting Predicting the future conditions that may impact your business helps you to anticipate changes and respond appropriately, staying relevant in the changing workplace.
Strategic Planning Defining strategy, direction, and making decisions on the allocation of resources while reducing risk and maximizing rewards.
Task Prioritization Identifying the most important tasks and focusing resources on them, you can achieve more impactful results ensuring that critical objectives are addressed first.
Implementation Putting plans into action is key to realizing strategic goals. Proper implementation ensures that strategies are executed as intended, leading to successful outcomes.
Project Management To oversee and guide a project from its inception to completion, ensuring it meets its objectives within the defined scope, time, and budget constraints.
Resource Management Ensuring the right resources (supplies/equipment/human/financial) are available to successfully implement the plan.

Organizational Skills

Business Acumen
Strategic Focus
Strategic Insight
Entrepreneurship
Company
Organizational Fluency
Fiscal Management
Planning
Vision
Global Perspective

Assessments Measuring Planning:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)

Contingency Planning

Always has a "Plan-B" ready if needed.
Is good at planning for the "unexpected".
Develops effective plans to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
Adjusts plans as needed according to situational/strategic changes.
Regularly makes plans for contingencies.
Has plans to handle unexpected events.
Explores new directions/approaches to overcome setbacks and roadblocks.
Develops contingency plans to address potential problems.
Works toward identifying potential problems and solutions for addressing them.
Develops and works contingency plans as needed.
Creates back-up plan for each quarter to ensure achieving sales goals.

Forecasting

Able to look ahead (beyond the present) when addressing the work/needs of the department.
Anticipates obstacles and ways to overcome them.
Anticipates potential challenges, develops plan to overcome them and then carries out the plan.
Anticipates challenges and has plans to overcome them.
Allows input from others for the 5-year plan.
Anticipates potential challenges and develops plan to overcome achieve success.
Anticipates potential challenges, develops plan to overcome them.
Anticipates unexpected hurdles or obstacles to a plan or project.
Plans for future enhancements of the products.

Organization

Works in an organized manner
Able to stay organized and focused using excellent planning skills.
Creates to-do lists to make sure nothing is missed.
Reorders the schedule of events to maximize attendance/efficiency.
Organizes lists of items required for meetings or presentations.
Integrates planning across functional, divisional and departmental boundaries.
Organizes activities and events at conferences.

Strategic Planning

Develops a strategic plan to reduce costs in the department.
Understands the process for developing strategic plans for the organization.
Has developed an effective strategic plan.
Assesses the risks of various strategic plans.
Anticipates the impacts of strategic plans.
Develops strategic plans for the company/organization.
Assesses the potential impact of changes to the strategic plan.
Open to input from others into the plan for development of the strategic plan.
Develops strategic plans for ensuring competitiveness in the marketplace.
Utilizes strategic thinking in planning.
Develops a strategic plan.

Task Division/Prioritization

Determines the steps required for completion of a task.
Sets the appropriate sequence of tasks to ensure completion of the project.
Sets the appropriate sequence of tasks to efficiently achieve the goal.
Divides complex tasks into smaller steps to measure progress toward a goal.
Prioritizes tasks based on urgency/need.
Prioritizes tasks and allocates resources.
Assigns the right tasks to the right people and holds them accountable.
Accomplishes major tasks by breaking them into manageable pieces.

Implementation

Delegates role to team members to accomplish goals.
Is able to follow the plan set in place.
Ensures everyone in the department is onboard with the current plan.
Closely follows the plan established for the department.
Involves relevant coworkers in the development of the plan.
Encourages others to follow the plan.
Ensures performance measures are in place to monitor and assess attainment of goals and objectives.
Consistently restates and reinforces his/her direction or forward plan.

Planning

Makes plans and follows through.
Develops plans to help manage expectations and project demands.
Ensures staff are held accountable for following the department plan.
Develops plans used to accomplish urgent or critical tasks.
Is able to clearly articulate the plan for the department/district.
Prioritizes plans based on a cost/benefit analysis.
Analyzes market trends to plan the best course of action.
Able to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders in developing the plan for the division.
Consults with the research department before making major changes.
Plans meetings effectively.

Project Management

Able to identify the needs of the department before a major change.
Creates plans to handle complex, multi-faceted projects.
Initiates the planning process by defining the scope of the project.
Creates a timeline to specify when each phase of the project should be concluded.
Open to input from others into the plan for the project.
Creates effective project plans.
Determines the appropriate actions needed to achieve goals.
Develops a detailed plan outlining tasks, resources, timelines, and deliverables.
Develops an effective plan to guide the project.
Identifies what must be accomplished for successful completion of project.

Resource Management

Determines what supplies/equipment will be needed for the project.
Understands what materials will be required to successfully implement the plan.
Ensures staff have the supplies and resources necessary to enact the plan.
Understands what equipment will be needed for the project.
Determines what supplies/equipment will be needed for the department.
Determines what supplies/equipment will be needed for the job.
Anticipates resources needed to successfully implement a plan or project.
Identifies resource requirements that may impact the development of the 5-year plan.
Determines the allocation of funds based on plans for future development.
Determines the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project.
Accurately estimates the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project.
Purchases equipment and software that will be needed in the future.
Develops systematic approach to get resources needed to accomplish the plan.
Identifies resources needed to accomplish objectives.

Scheduling/Staffing

Creates a timeline for events and monitors progress.
Adjusts and rearranges the schedule to maximize efficiency.
Schedules staff based on seasonal needs.
Notifies staff when the plan is not on schedule.
Determines staffing needs for the project/department.
Plans for future staffing needs.
Reduces uncertainty in the department through clear planning and schedules.
Plans and organizes events effectively.
Plans schedules based on associates' strengths to maximize sales.
Plans schedules in detail to include breaks and specific assignments, by associate, by hour to maximize customer service.
Regularly plans and participates in networking and recruiting activities to ensure additional help is available throughout the year.

Logistics Planning

Able to develop logistics plans to move material through a multi-step supply chain.
Develops proper plans to ensure seamless flow of materials through logistics.
Creates effective logistics plans to achieve high operational efficiency.
Develops plans to ensure the smooth operation of the supply chain.
Develops good plans used for logistics.
Makes strategic and tactical decisions to guide the logistics process.
Effectively uses logistics planning to reduce supply delays.
Plans freight processing during non-operating hours or off the sales floor to maximize customer service.

Time-Management

Conducts regular assessments of the project status to ensure adherence to the set schedule.
Efficiently manages deadlines.
Establishes and monitors timeframes and timelines.
Accurately estimates the duration of tasks.
Establishes a course of action for self and others to accomplish specific goals.
Sets up and monitors timeframes and plans
Plans for how to allocate time to specific activities.

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