Constructing an action plan
This page explores key elements in an action plan, and some techniques you can use in developing one.
Your action plans should include:
- Leadership vision and support for the change
- Clear objectives (see advice below on SMART objectives)
- Specific actions
- Assigned responsibilities
- Resource requirements
- Defined deadlines
- Risk assessment and risk management
- Communication and roll-out plans
- Measures of success and critical success factors
- Evaluation
When formulating your action plans consider the following
points:
- What are the top priorities and what are the most important
next steps?
- What support/information/training do people need?
- How will this all be coordinated/steered?
- Who will organise what?
- How will the plan be communicated?
- What resources will be needed?
- What are the helping and hindering forces?
- How will you know when you have achieved it?
You should ensure that the objectives of the service
improvement are SMART i.e.
- Specific - clearly defined
- Manageable - something which isn't too big or complex. Breaking large tasks into bite size chunks
- Achievable - something which is realistic and not overambitious
- Resources - that is within the resource capabilities of the organisation
- Time bound - has a short deadline or timescale
To take people along with you and to maintain credibility,
try to create milestones within the service improvement
which:
- Are a quick win
- Result in a noticeable improvement
- Are highly visible
This will enable stakeholders to track the service improvement
and celebrate the progress. Allow for a degree of flexibility
within the service improvement process; be adaptable, but
keep a focus on the "end vision".
