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Planning Developing a plan is a type of problem solving. Effective planning involves seven steps. 1. Consider the task. * "What has to be done, who does what, when, where, and how." 2. Consider the resources. * What time is available? * What are the skills of the group? * What equipment and supplies are needed and available? * What other items should be considered? 3. Consider alternatives. * What happens if something goes wrong? * What are the emergency procedures? * What is the alternate plan? * Could the alternate plan be better than the original plan? 4. Reach a decision. A decision usually is needed at every step in the process. * Who has the responsibility? * Is a poor decision better than no decision? * Is no decision a decision? * Is a group decision best? 5. Write down the plan. 6. Put the plan into action. 7. Evaluate. * Evaluate each step is taken to ensure you are still on task. Try "Verbal Rehearsal" when faced with a specific project to complete or a problem to solve. Here the members of the group "talk it up" as they decide how to approach the project or problem. As in classic problem solving, seven steps are involved. 1. What is the problem? * A clear understanding of the problem is needed before the group can set a goal. 2. What's our goal? * A goal redefines the problem into a positive statement that answers the question, 'What do we want?" 3. Stop and think. * Stop talking and allow each person to examine the problem and goal before continuing to the next step. 4. Make a plan. * Looking for options. * Once the alternatives and consequences have been discussed, a decision is made on a start-to-finish plan. 5. Do it. * Each member must know how to proceed. 6. Keep at it. * "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." * Sometimes only a small adjustment in the plan is required to make it work. 7. Evaluate it. * How did it go? Was the goal attained? Did we give our best effort? What might have been changed? * It is important to evaluate each step so that the result will be a better plan next time.
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