How to Do an Operational Plan: Everything You Need to Know
An operational plan outlines the tasks each employee will need to carry out to accomplish the goals laid out in the strategic plan.3 min read
Steps in how to do an operational plan should incorporate the following as you outline your strategy:
- Develop a strategic plan.
- Prioritize your goals.
- Use leading indicators.
- Draw on your organization.
- Communication is key.
What Is an Operational Plan?
An operational plan outlines the tasks each employee will need to carry out to accomplish the goals laid out in the strategic plan. The operations section of a business plan expands on the company:
- Objectives.
- Timeline.
- Procedures.
In other words, your operational plan should, clearly and in detail, elaborate on the physical, financial, and human resources you will allocate on a day-to-day basis in support of your company's broader strategic objectives.
Creating an Effective Operational Plan
The best operational plans have a clearly articulated objective that everyone in your company is focused on achieving. Your operational plan will, therefore, be a useful document for your investors. However, it can also help you and your employees by encouraging you to think carefully about deadlines and tactics.
The operations plan should provide answers to the following questions:
- Which personnel and departments are responsible?
- What tasks is each employee or department responsible for?
- Where precisely will daily operations occur?
- How much should be budgeted to each department to complete these tasks?
- What are the deadlines for the completion of each task?
An operational plan must have clearly articulated goals. This section should state in clear terms what the company's operational objectives are. Operational objectives should be thought of as your plan to achieve your company's strategic objective. A good operational objective should be:
- Measurable.
- Specific.
- Timely.
- Realistic.
While each department should have a different operational objective, these should assist in achieving the company's overall objective.
Once you have generated objectives, you must create a strategic plan to meet them. Each department or team must be appropriately resourced. You should think about the following resources:
- Suppliers.
- Appropriate equipment and technology.
- Each department's budget.
In addition to describing the production process, you should describe the operating process in detail. Questions you should answer include:
- Where will employees be working, and will you need to find additional facilities?
- Will employees have a set work schedule or flexible hours?