550 Questionnaire Items Measuring 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 skills are essential for business growth as they provide a structured approach to achieving goals. Here are some examples of how each skill contributes to your success:
- Contingency Planning Being prepared for unexpected events, ensuring that you can respond quickly and effectively to challenges, minimizing disruptions and maintaining continuity.
- Forecasting Predicting future trends and market conditions helps you to anticipate changes and adapt your strategies accordingly, 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.
Excellent planning skills enable you to navigate the complexities of the market, avoid obstacles, seize opportunities, and drive growth in a systematic and sustainable way.
360-Degree Feedback Questionnaires 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)
360-Degree Feedback Questionnaire Items
The Planning Competency in a 360-Degree Feedback assessment includes items measuring the ability to prepare for the unexpected, forecast the future, successfully allocate resources, prioritize tasks, implement plans and manage time.
Contingency Planning
- Adjusts plans as needed according to situational/strategic changes.
- Develops effective plans to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
- Is good at planning for the "unexpected".
- Always has a "Plan-B" ready if needed.
- Has plans to handle unexpected events.
- Regularly makes plans for contingencies.
- Explores new directions/approaches to overcome setbacks and roadblocks.
- Develops contingency plans to address potential problems.
- Develops and works contingency plans as needed.
- Creates back-up plan for each quarter to ensure achieving sales goals.
- Works toward identifying potential problems and solutions for addressing them.
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.
- Allows input from others for the 5-year plan.
- Anticipates challenges and has plans to overcome them.
- Anticipates potential challenges, develops plan to overcome them.
- Plans for future enhancements of the products.
- Anticipates potential challenges and develops plans to overcome them to achieve success.
- Anticipates unexpected hurdles or obstacles to a plan or project.
Organization
- Works in an organized manner
- Able to stay organized and focused using excellent planning skills.
- Reorders the schedule of events to maximize attendance/efficiency.
- Creates to-do lists to make sure nothing is missed.
- 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
- Understands the process for developing strategic plans for the organization.
- Develops strategic plans for the company/organization.
- Anticipates the impacts of strategic plans.
- Assesses the potential impact of changes to the strategic plan.
- Open to input from others into the plan for development of the strategic plan.
- Has developed an effective strategic plan.
- Develops a strategic plan to reduce costs in the department.
- Assesses the risks of various strategic plans.
- Develops strategic plans for ensuring competitiveness in the marketplace.
- Develops a strategic plan.
- Utilizes strategic thinking in planning.
Task Division/Prioritization
- Determines the steps required for completion of a task.
- Sets the appropriate sequence of tasks to efficiently achieve the goal.
- Assigns the right tasks to the right people and holds them accountable.
- Divides complex tasks into smaller steps to measure progress toward a goal.
- Prioritizes tasks and allocates resources.
- Sets the appropriate sequence of tasks to ensure completion of the project.
- Accomplishes major tasks by breaking them into manageable pieces.
- Prioritizes tasks based on urgency/need.
Implementation
- Delegates role to team members to accomplish goals.
- Is able to follow the plan set in place.
- Closely follows the plan established for the department.
- Encourages others to follow the plan.
- Ensures everyone in the department is onboard with the current plan.
- Involves relevant coworkers in the development of 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.
- Ensures staff are held accountable for following the department plan.
- Able to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders in developing the plan for the division.
- Develops plans used to accomplish urgent or critical tasks.
- Is able to clearly articulate the plan for the department/district.
- Develops plans to help manage expectations and project demands.
- Prioritizes plans based on a cost/benefit analysis.
- Analyzes market trends to plan the best course of action.
- 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.
- Determines the appropriate actions needed to achieve goals.
- Creates plans to handle complex, multi-faceted projects.
- Open to input from others into the plan for the project.
- Creates effective project plans.
- Creates a timeline to specify when each phase of the project should be concluded.
- Develops a detailed plan outlining tasks, resources, timelines, and deliverables.
- Develops an effective plan to guide the project.
- Initiates the planning process by defining the scope of the project.
- Identifies what must be accomplished for successful completion of project.
Resource Management
- Identifies resource requirements that may impact the development of the 5-year plan.
- Determines what supplies/equipment will be needed for the job.
- Determines what supplies/equipment will be needed for the department.
- Purchases equipment and software that will be needed in the future.
- Ensures staff have the supplies and resources necessary to enact the plan.
- Anticipates resources needed to successfully implement a plan or project.
- Understands what equipment will be needed for the project.
- Determines what supplies/equipment will be needed for the project.
- Understands what materials will be required to successfully implement the plan.
- Accurately estimates the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project.
- Determines the allocation of funds based on plans for future development.
- Determines the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project.
- Identifies resources needed to accomplish objectives.
- Develops systematic approach to get resources needed to accomplish the plan.
Scheduling/Staffing
- Determines staffing needs for the project/department.
- Adjusts and rearranges the schedule to maximize efficiency.
- Reduces uncertainty in the department through clear planning and schedules.
- Creates a timeline for events and monitors progress.
- Schedules staff based on seasonal needs.
- Notifies staff when the plan is not on schedule.
- Plans for future staffing needs.
- Plans schedules based on associates' strengths to maximize sales.
- Regularly plans and participates in networking and recruiting activities to ensure additional help is available throughout the year.
- Plans and organizes events effectively.
- Plans schedules in detail to include breaks and specific assignments, by associate, by hour to maximize customer service.
Logistics Planning
- Creates effective logistics plans to achieve high operational efficiency.
- Develops proper plans to ensure seamless flow of materials through logistics.
- Able to develop logistics plans to move material through a multi-step supply chain.
- Effectively uses logistics planning to reduce supply delays.
- 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.
- Plans freight processing during non-operating hours or off the sales floor to maximize customer service.
Time-Management
- Establishes and monitors timeframes and timelines.
- Establishes a course of action for self and others to accomplish specific goals.
- Conducts regular assessments of the project status to ensure adherence to the set schedule.
- Efficiently manages deadlines.
- Sets up and monitors timeframes and plans
- Plans for how to allocate time to specific activities.
- Accurately estimates the duration of tasks.
Employee Opinion Survey Items
Planning enables businesses to navigate uncertainty, capitalize on opportunities, and manage limited resources efficiently.
Contingency Planning
- Our department has a back-up plan for each quarter to ensure achieving sales goals
- Our department is able to adjust plans as needed according to situational/strategic changes.
- I regularly plan for unexpected events
- I regularly plan for contingencies
- Our organization develops and works contingency plans as needed
- Our department regularly makes plans for contingencies
- I have plans to handle unexpected events
- My department is good at developing plans for contingencies
- Our company is good at planning for the "unexpected"
- We develop contingency plans to address potential problems
- My manager encourages us to plan for the unexpected
- Leadership develops and implements contingency plans as needed
- My supervisor is good at planning for contingencies
- My manager always has a "plan-b" if needed
- Our department is prepared with tactical plans to address critical incidents
- My manager explores new directions/approaches to overcome setbacks and roadblocks
Task Division/Prioritization
- I can determine the steps required for completion of a task
- My manager effectively prioritizes tasks based on urgency/need
- Our department has set the appropriate sequence of tasks to efficiently achieve the goal
- Leadership is effective in prioritizing tasks and allocating resources
- I analyze market trends to plan the best course of action
- My manager assigns the right tasks to the right people and holds them accountable
- I divide complex tasks into smaller steps to measure progress toward a goal
- I can accomplish major tasks by breaking them into manageable pieces
- The project manager is good at setting the appropriate sequence of tasks to ensure completion of the project
Forecasting
- My manager can anticipate potential challenges, develop a plan to overcome them and then carry out the plan
- I anticipate potential challenges, develop a plan to overcome them and then carry out the plan
- I am able to anticipate potential challenges and develop plans to overcome them
- Our company has a 5-year plan
- I feel that leadership is able to anticipate obstacles and find ways to overcome them
- My supervisor anticipates the resources I need to successfully implement a plan or project
- Our company has a 2-year plan
- My manager plans for the future
- My manager is able to look ahead (beyond the present) when addressing the work/needs of the department
- Our department has a 2-year plan
- I anticipate the resources needed to successfully implement a plan or project
- Employees I work with anticipate challenges and have plans to overcome them
- I can anticipate potential challenges and develop a plan to achieve success
- Our department keeps track of market trends to plan for future initiatives
- Management anticipates potential challenges and develops a plan to achieve success
- I am able to anticipate obstacles and find ways to overcome them
- Our department has a 5-year plan
Resource Management
- Resources are organized and coordinated effectively
- Assessment is part of the planning process to identify organizational weaknesses and develop solutions
- Resources are coordinated and utilized effectively in my department.
- My manager is able to identify the needs of the department before a major change
- My manager determines what supplies/equipment are needed for the project
- Financial planning is an important part of the Company's plans
My Abilities
- I can analyze market trends to plan the best course of action
- I know what resources are needed to accomplish goals
- I know what courses of action are available
- I know the operating constraints that limit what our department can do
- I know what constraints may limit what can be performed
- I know what steps are needed to plan for equipment upgrades
- I know what courses of action I need to take to achieve my objectives
- I am able to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders in developing the plan for the division
- I am familiar with operational planning
- I can identify alternate courses of action if needed
Organization
- My manager is able to stay organized and focused using excellent planning skills
- The project leader will reorder the schedule of events to maximize attendance/efficiency
- Our company integrates planning across functional, divisional and departmental boundaries
- Team leaders organize lists of items required for meetings or presentations
- We regularly use planning and scheduling software
- I feel I work in an organized manner
- We use software tools to help with visualization of the plan
- Action plans are developed to ensure accomplishments of goals and objectives
- I use to-do lists to make sure nothing is missed
Strategic Planning
- Leadership gathers data from a variety of sources for use in strategic planning
- Leadership at our company collaborates to implement the strategic plan
- My supervisor is open to input from others into the plan for development of the strategic plan
- My manager understands the process for developing strategic plans for the organization
- My manager is good at creating a strategic plan
- My manager has developed a strategic plan to reduce costs in the department
- I have confidence in our leadership's strategic plans
- Managers assess the risks of various strategic plans
- My manager regularly develops strategic plans
- I feel the President has developed an effective strategic plan
- My manager anticipates the impacts of strategic plans
- I know how to utilize strategic thinking in planning
- I develop strategic plans for ensuring competitiveness in the marketplace
- My department has a strategic plan in place
- The Company strategic planning process supports employee development and continuous process improvement
- I know how to develop a strategic plan
- Our department's strategic plan is linked to the organization's mission and goals
- Our organization has implemented a strategic plan for our future
- The Company has long-term goals aligned with its strategic vision
- The VP has developed strategic plans for the company/organization
My Manager or Supervisor
- My manager is good at avoiding barriers that may inhibit our progress
- My supervisor has a good understanding of the environment we operate in which helps us in planning for future actions
- My manager is good at financial planning and keeping the department's expenses within budget
- My manager is effective at planning for transitions in equipment or facilities
- Leadership develops plans used to accomplish urgent or critical tasks
- My supervisor knows what courses of action are necessary to achieve objectives
- My manager uses operational planning
- My manager develops plans to help manage expectations and project demands
- My supervisor develops tactical plans when an incident arises
- My supervisor helps me keep goals on track
- My manager gives me objectives that need to be completed
Leadership at the Company
- Leadership assesses the Company human resources to promote and improve employee development opportunities
- Leadership at the company assesses the potential impact of changes to the strategic plan
- Leadership at the company makes plans and follows through
- Leadership develops effective plans to deal with unforeseen circumstances
- Leadership at the company prioritizes plans based on a cost/benefit analysis
Implementation
- Coworkers closely follow the plan established for the department
- Delegates tasks to team members to accomplish goals
- My manager ensures everyone in the department is onboard with the current plan
- Our department is flexible enough to adjust the plan as needed
- Plans that our department makes are usually implemented smoothly without incidents
- My supervisor encourages others to follow the plan
- Progress is regularly evaluated to ensure adherence to the plan
- The department head ensures staff are held accountable for following the department plan
- Our department uses milestones to keep track of progress
- I am able to follow the plan set in place
- My department is effective at planning for smooth implementation of new processes
- Our department ensures performance measures are in place to monitor and assess attainment of goals and objectives
- My manager sets milestones to track progress on the plan
- Goals and objectives are integrated and aligned with the Company vision
- Our department collects data regarding our progress in implementing our plans
- Our department collaborates with others to implement the strategic plan
Planning
- Vision, strategic plans, processes, and quality controls are coordinated through the Leadership at the Company
- I make plans and follow through
- My supervisor plans meetings effectively
- Managers involve relevant coworkers in the development of the plan
- My supervisor understands that the initial plans may need to be adjusted
- Our department sets objectives to be completed
- I plan for the future
- My manager is able to clearly articulate the plan for the department/district
Project Management
- The project manager develops an effective plan to guide the project
- The project lead initiates the planning process by defining the scope of the project
- The project manager is open to input from others into the plan for the project
- My manager creates effective project plans
- Our department determines the appropriate actions needed to achieve goals
- The team leader identifies what must be accomplished for successful completion of project
- My manager develops a detailed plan outlining tasks, resources, timelines, and deliverables
- I usually create a timeline to specify when each phase of the project should be concluded
- I can create plans to handle complex, multi-faceted projects
Resource Management
- I know how to identify resources needed to accomplish objectives
- My manager determines the allocation of funds based on plans for future development
- The project lead is good at determining what supplies/equipment will be needed for the job
- My manager anticipates resources needed to successfully implement a plan or project
- The manager understands what equipment will be needed for the project
- Our department purchases the equipment and software that will be needed in the future
- The team lead ensures staff have the supplies and resources necessary to enact the plan
- My manager develops a systematic approach to get resources needed to accomplish the plan
- Our department accurately estimates the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project
- I know how to determine what supplies/equipment will be needed for the department
- The project leader is good at determining the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project
Scheduling/Staffing
- I make plans for future staffing needs
- The department schedules staff based on seasonal needs
- The Company has an excellent workforce planning strategy to meet future needs
- My manager is effective at determining appropriate staffing needs for the project/department
- Leadership at our company knows how to position us to be competitive in the marketplace
- My supervisor creates a timeline for events and monitors progress
- The project lead notifies staff when the plan is not on schedule
- I can plan schedules based on associates' strengths to maximize sales
- My manager adjusts and rearranges the schedule to maximize efficiency
- My manager reduces uncertainty in the department through clear planning and schedules
Logistics Planning
- The division leader develops plans to ensure the smooth operation of the supply chain
- I am able to develop logistics plans to move material through a multi-step supply chain
- My manager creates effective logistics plans to achieve high operational efficiency
- I am effective in using logistics planning to reduce supply delays
- Our department makes plans for freight processing during non-operating hours
- Our department develops good plans used for logistics
- My supervisor makes strategic and tactical decisions to guide the logistics process
- The COO develops proper plans to ensure seamless flow of materials through logistics
Time Management
- Our department plans for how to allocate time to specific activities
- My manager works with others to ensure plans are kept on schedule
- My manager accurately estimates the duration of tasks
- I am able to keep goals on track
- I know how to the management software to set up and monitors timeframes and plans
- My manager establishes a course of action for self and others to accomplish specific goals
- My supervisor efficiently manages deadlines
- I conduct regular assessments of the project status to ensure adherence to the set schedule
- Our division establishes and monitors timeframes and timelines
Self-Assessment Items
Contingency Planning
- I always have a "Plan-B" ready if needed.
- I am good at planning for the "unexpected".
- You regularly make plans for contingencies.
- I develop effective plans to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
- I have plans to handle unexpected events.
- I adjust plans as needed according to situational/strategic changes.
- You explore new directions/approaches to overcome setbacks and roadblocks.
- You work toward identifying potential problems and solutions for addressing them.
- You develop contingency plans to address potential problems.
- You develop and works contingency plans as needed.
- You create back-up plan for each quarter to ensure achieving sales goals.
Forecasting
- You are able to look ahead (beyond the present) when addressing the work/needs of the department.
- You anticipate obstacles and ways to overcome them.
- You anticipate potential challenges, develops plan to overcome them and then carries out the plan.
- You allow input from others for the 5-year plan.
- I anticipate challenges and have plans to overcome them.
- You anticipate potential challenges, develops plan to overcome them.
- You anticipate unexpected hurdles or obstacles to a plan or project.
- You anticipate potential challenges and develop plans to overcome them to achieve success.
- You plan for future enhancements of the products.
Organization
- You work in an organized manner
- You create to-do lists to make sure nothing is missed.
- I can reorder the schedule of events to maximize attendance/efficiency.
- I am able to stay organized and focused using excellent planning skills.
- You organize lists of items required for meetings or presentations.
- You integrate planning across functional, divisional and departmental boundaries.
- You organize activities and events at conferences.
Strategic Planning
- You assess the potential impact of changes to the strategic plan.
- I can develop strategic plans for ensuring competitiveness in the marketplace.
- I am open to input from others into the plan for development of the strategic plan.
- I anticipate the impacts of strategic plans.
- I can develop a strategic plan to reduce costs in the department.
- I assess the risks of various strategic plans.
- You understand the process for developing strategic plans for the organization.
- You have developed an effective strategic plan.
- I develop strategic plans for the company/organization.
- You utilize strategic thinking in planning.
- You develop a strategic plan.
Task Division/Prioritization
- I determine the steps required for completion of a task.
- I prioritize tasks based on urgency/need.
- I set the appropriate sequence of tasks to ensure completion of the project.
- I prioritize tasks and allocate resources.
- You accomplish major tasks by breaking them into manageable pieces.
- You set the appropriate sequence of tasks to efficiently achieve the goal.
- I divide complex tasks into smaller steps to measure progress toward a goal.
- You assign the right tasks to the right people and holds them accountable.
Implementation
- You delegate role to team members to accomplish goals.
- You ensure that everyone in the department is onboard with the current plan.
- I encourage others to follow the plan.
- You are able to closely follow the plan established for the department.
- You involve relevant coworkers in the development of the plan.
- I am able to follow the plan set in place.
- You consistently restate and reinforce your direction or forward plan.
- You ensure performance measures are in place to monitor and assess attainment of goals and objectives.
Planning
- You make plans and follows through.
- You are able to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders in developing the plan for the division.
- You are able to clearly articulate the plan for the department/district.
- I develop plans used to accomplish urgent or critical tasks.
- I develop plans to help manage expectations and project demands.
- You ensure staff are held accountable for following the department plan.
- I prioritize plans based on a cost/benefit analysis.
- I analyze market trends to plan the best course of action.
- You consult with the research department before making major changes.
- You plan meetings effectively.
Project Management
- You are able to identify the needs of the department before a major change.
- I can develop an effective plan to guide the project.
- I know how to create effective project plans.
- I know how to create a timeline to specify when each phase of the project should be concluded.
- You are open to input from others into the plan for the project.
- I can develop a detailed plan outlining tasks, resources, timelines, and deliverables.
- I create plans to handle complex, multi-faceted projects.
- I can initiate the planning process by defining the scope of the project.
- I determine the appropriate actions needed to achieve goals.
- You identify what must be accomplished for successful completion of project.
Resource Management
- I can determine the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project.
- I determine what supplies/equipment will be needed for the job.
- You determine what supplies/equipment will be needed for the project.
- You purchase equipment and software that will be needed in the future.
- I understand what equipment will be needed for the project.
- You anticipate resources needed to successfully implement a plan or project.
- You determine what supplies/equipment will be needed for the department.
- You understand what materials will be required to successfully implement the plan.
- I determine the allocation of funds based on plans for future development.
- I ensure staff have the supplies and resources necessary to enact the plan.
- I identify resource requirements that may impact the development of the 5-year plan.
- I can accurately estimate the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project.
- You develop systematic approach to get resources needed to accomplish the plan.
- You identify resources needed to accomplish objectives.
Scheduling/Staffing
- I can create a timeline for events and monitors progress.
- You notify staff when the plan is not on schedule.
- You plan for future staffing needs.
- I determine staffing needs for the project/department.
- I schedule staff based on seasonal needs.
- I reduce uncertainty in the department through clear planning and schedules.
- I can adjust and rearrange the schedule to maximize efficiency.
- You plan and organize events effectively.
- You plan schedules based on associates' strengths to maximize sales.
- You plan schedules in detail to include breaks and specific assignments, by associate, by hour to maximize customer service.
- You regularly plan and participate in networking and recruiting activities to ensure additional help is available throughout the year.
Logistics Planning
- I can effectively use logistics planning to reduce supply delays.
- I can develop good plans used for logistics.
- I can create effective logistics plans to achieve high operational efficiency.
- You develop proper plans to ensure seamless flow of materials through logistics.
- I can develop plans to ensure the smooth operation of the supply chain.
- You are able to develop logistics plans to move material through a multi-step supply chain.
- I make strategic and tactical decisions to guide the logistics process.
- You plan freight processing during non-operating hours or off the sales floor to maximize customer service.
Time-Management
- You establish and monitor timeframes and timelines.
- I am able to efficiently manage deadlines.
- I plan for how to allocate time to specific activities.
- You establish a course of action for self and others to accomplish specific goals.
- You set up and monitor timeframes and plans
- I conduct regular assessments of the project status to ensure adherence to the set schedule.
- I accurately estimate the duration of tasks.
Job Application
Contingency Planning
- Explain how you would develop and work contingency plans as needed.
- Can you create back-up plan for each quarter to ensure achieving sales goals?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you were good at planning for the "unexpected".
- How do you have plans to handle unexpected events?
- How do you explore new directions/approaches to overcome setbacks and roadblocks?
- Are you able to develop contingency plans to address potential problems?
- Do you regularly make plans for contingencies?
- How would you adjust plans as needed according to situational/strategic changes?
- Did you develop effective plans to deal with unforeseen circumstances?
- Do you always have a "plan-b" ready if needed?
- Give an example of how you would work toward identifying potential problems and solutions for addressing them.
Forecasting
- Could you anticipate potential challenges, develops plan to overcome them?
- Give an example of how you anticipated obstacles and the ways to overcome them.
- Have you anticipated challenges and do you have plans to overcome them?
- Give an example of how you have anticipated potential challenges, developed plans to overcome them and then carried out the plan.
- Have you anticipated potential challenges and developed plans to achieve success?
- Give an example of how you anticipated unexpected hurdles or obstacles to a plan or project.
- Did you allow input from others for the 5-year plan?
- How do you plan for future enhancements of the products?
- Explain how you would be able to look ahead (beyond the present) when addressing the work/needs of the department.
Organization
- Can you reorder the schedule of events to maximize attendance/efficiency?
- Are you able to able to stay organized and focused?
- Give an example of how you have integrated planning across functional, divisional and departmental boundaries.
- Do you organize activities and events at conferences?
- Do you create to-do lists to make sure nothing is missed?
- Give an example of how you worked in an organized manner
- Are you able to organize lists of items required for meetings or presentations?
Strategic Planning
- Have you assessed the potential impact of changes to the strategic plan?
- Are you able to assess the risks of various strategic plans?
- Describe how you would utilize strategic thinking in planning.
- Are you open to input from others into the plan for development or the strategic plan?
- As a new manager, how would you develop strategic plans for the company/organization?
- Can you can develop strategic plans for ensuring competitiveness in the marketplace?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you have developed an effective strategic plan.
- Can you can develop a strategic plan to reduce costs in the department?
- Could you anticipate the impact of strategic plans?
- Give an example of how you understood the process for developing strategic plans for the organization.
- Did you develop a strategic plan?
Task Division/Prioritization
- How do you set the appropriate sequence of tasks to ensure completion of the project?
- Give an example of how you prioritized tasks and allocated resources.
- If needed, can you determine the steps required for completion of a task?
- In your previous position, have you set the appropriate sequence of tasks to efficiently achieve a goal?
- How can you divide complex tasks into smaller steps and then measure progress toward a goal?
- How would you assign the right tasks to the right people and hold them accountable?
- Have you prioritized tasks based on urgency/need?
- Do you accomplish major tasks by breaking them into manageable pieces?
Implementation
- Do you encourage others to follow the plan?
- Were you able to closely follow the plan established for the department?
- Are you able to follow the plan set in place?
- Do you delegate role to team members to accomplish goals?
- If hired, how would you ensure performance measures are in place to monitor and assess attainment of goals and objectives?
- Have you ensured that everyone in the department was onboard with the current plan?
- Did you involve relevant coworkers in the development of the plan?
- Describe how you would consistently restate and reinforce your direction or forward plan.
Planning
- Would you consult with the research department before making major changes?
- If needed, are you able to prioritize plans based on a cost/benefit analysis?
- Have you ensured staff were held accountable for following the department plan?
- In your previous position, how did you articulate the plan for the department/district?
- Can you develop plans used to accomplish urgent or critical tasks?
- Do you plan meetings effectively?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you analyzed market trends to plan the best course of action.
- How do you develop plans to help manage expectations and project demands?
- Are you able to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders in developing the plan for the division?
- Do you make plans and follow through?
Project Management
- In your previous position, how were you are able to identify the needs of the department before a major change?
- As a new manager, how would you can develop a detailed plan outlining tasks, resources, timelines, and deliverables?
- Can you create plans to handle complex, multi-faceted projects? Explain.
- Can you determine the appropriate actions needed to achieve goals? Give some examples.
- How would you can develop an effective plan to guide the project?
- How would you create effective project plans?
- How do you identify what must be accomplished for successful completion of project?
- As a new manager, how would you can initiate the planning process?
- Give an example of how you were open to input from others.
- Do you know how to create a timeline to specify when each phase of the project should be concluded?
Resource Management
- How would you accurately estimate the amount of materials/supplies needed for this project?
- As a new manager, how would you understand what materials would be required to successfully implement this plan?
- If hired, how would you identify resources needed to accomplish your objectives?
- In your previous position, how did you determine what supplies/equipment were needed for the department?
- Did you purchase equipment and software that you felt would be needed in the future?
- Do you understand what equipment will be needed for this project? Explain.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you determined what supplies/equipment would be needed for the job.
- How do you ensure staff have the supplies and resources necessary to enact the plan?
- When is the right time to determine what supplies/equipment will be needed for the project?
- Describe how you would identify resource requirements that may impact the development of the 5-year plan.
- Are you able to anticipate resources needed to successfully implement a plan or project?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you developed systematic approach to get resources needed to accomplish a plan.
- How can you determine the allocation of funds based on plans for future development?
- When would you determine the amount of materials/supplies needed for the project?
Scheduling/Staffing
- If hired, how would you determine staffing needs for the project/department?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you planned for future staffing needs.
- Give an example of how you would adjust and rearrange the schedule to maximize efficiency.
- Did you plan and participate in networking and recruiting activities to ensure additional help is available throughout the year?
- Can you can create a timeline for events and monitor progress?
- How would you plan and organize events effectively?
- How do you reduce uncertainty in the department's planning and schedules?
- Do you plan schedules in detail to include breaks and specific assignments, by associate, by hour to maximize customer service?
- How would you notify staff when the plan is not on schedule?
- If hired, how would you plan schedules based on associates' strengths to maximize sales?
- Are you able to re-schedule staff based on seasonal needs?
Logistics Planning
- Would you plan freight processing during non-operating hours or off the sales floor to maximize customer service?
- In your previous position, did you develop plans to ensure the smooth operation of the supply chain?
- Are you able to are able to develop logistical plans to move material through a multi-step supply chain?
- Do you make strategic and tactical decisions to guide the logistics process? Explain.
- Did you develop good plans used for logistics? Elaborate.
- Can you can create effective logistics plans to achieve high operational efficiency?
- How would you can effectively use logistics planning to reduce supply delays?
- In your previous position, did you develop plans to ensure seamless flow of materials through logistics?
Time-Management
- How do you accurately estimate the duration of tasks?
- Give an example of how you would set up and monitor timeframes and plans.
- How would you efficiently manage deadlines?
- Describe how you would establish and monitor timeframes and timelines.
- Have you established a course of action for youself and others to accomplish specific goals?
- How do you plan and allocate time for specific activities?
- In your previous position, did you conduct regular assessments of the project status to ensure adherence to the set schedule?
None
- When was the last time you used a spreadsheet?
- What does it mean if an account is out of balance?
- How often do you use computers at work?
- What decisions did you handle in your last job?
- How would you predict a product's success?
- Do you have an analytical mind?
- What plan of action do you take when facing a problem?
- Describe a difficult problem you solved.
- What do you do when faced with an important decision?
- What do you believe to be the prime factor that allows people to succeed in business today?
- Describe how you use computers.
- What types of decisions are easiest for you to make and which ones do you find most difficult?
- Describe a time you had a problem with decisiveness.
- How do you make important decisions?
- What difficult decisions have you made?
- How do you fix unexpected problems?
- Under what circumstances do you typically make mistakes?
- What do you do when you have difficulty solving a problem?
- What happens when two priorities compete for your time?
- What decisions are difficult for you?
- What do you do when you're stuck on a problem?
- Describe the most common problems you encounter at your (previous/current) job.
- How do you identify potential problems before they occur?
- What judgmental errors have you made?
- What problems have you seen team-based companies face?
- How do you make decisions?
- Describe how you solve difficult problems.
- What errors have you made in your work?
- What has been the most difficult decision you've had to make in the last 3 years?
- What is the toughest problem you've ever solved?
- Describe a problem in which you might use (algebra/trigonometry/calculus/statistics)?
- Have you used (algebra/trigonometry/calculus/statistics) at work? If so, what was the problem you were solving?
- What does it mean if you have spent more than you have encumbered?
- Have you worked in a group to solve a problem? If so, what role did you play?
- Are you an analytical type of person? If so, explain.
- What personnel crises have you dealt with in your job?
- When do you decide to stop working on a difficult problem?
- Who are our competitors?
- How do you feel you have improved your planning process in the last few years?
- Have you worked under multiple deadlines? If so, what did you do?
- How do you solve problems?
- Do you use computers to solve problems?
- How do you analyze problems?
- What factors would you use to predict a product's performance in the marketplace?
- Describe a situation in which you would utilize computers.
- Describe a time you had to make a quick decision.
- Describe your problem solving skills.
- What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative analysis?
- Have you used computers to assist you in solving problems? If so, how?
- Do you consider yourself analytical?