The First Critical Step to an Effective Planning Process: Inputs

Posted by on December 1, 2009

Here at Method Frameworks, we've created a planning process that has put us on the playing field with the most successful planning consultants in the nation. We've put our planning process to work for some of the nation's largest organizations and have consistently delivered ROIs of 140% or more. Through our experience we can tell you that there is one critical step you must not forget: Inputs.

What are inputs and how do they affect the planning outcome?

The "Inputs" phase of planning involves an integrated set of foundational activities designed to accomplish the following:

Understand how your business ecosystem operates and how decisions within one segment of the ecosystem can impact the entire enterprise or specific segments of it;
Identify potential outcomes of the planning exercise that are likely to benefit the organization;
Frame outcomes based on organizational consequences, risk, benefits, and impacts (including company culture);
And capture and organize information

What you walk away with in this critical first step is a solid understanding of how the organization works and at least an initial vision of where the planning process will lead the organization. By understanding the business ecosystem as a whole, your key outcomes (and subsequent supporting projects) can be evaluated based on organizational consequences, risk and benefits. You can then start to answer questions such as, "Should the organization expand or diversify?" When you understand how decisions within one segment of the organization affect others, you are forced to look for synergies between where you may go and where you are today.

The foundational understanding gained in this first step puts the key players in the process on the same page from the beginning and sets the planning process in unified motion. Whether planning for corporate strategy, operations, projects, or technology needs, the Inputs step is a must-have.

Does this leave you curious about the other steps in an effective planning process? Plan4^SM is our proprietary business planning process that involves an integrated set of actions designed to help companies gain sustainable advantage. You can learn more about Plan4 by downloading our Plan4 Planning Process Overview or contact us to request a meeting with a planning consultant.