What Makes a Good Plan?

You can think about the good or bad of a plan (business, farming, marketing, sales) as the plan itself, measuring its value by its contents. There are some qualities in a plan that make it more likely to create results, and these are important. However, it is even better to see the plan as part of the whole process of results, because even a great plan is wasted if nobody follows it.

The plan depends on the human elements around it, particularly the process of commitment and involvement, and the tracking and follow up that comes afterward. Successful implementation starts with a good plan. There are elements that will make a plan more likely to be successfully implemented. Some of the elements include:-

  • Is the plan simple? Is it easy to understand and act on? Does it communicate its contents easily and practically?
  • Is the plan specific? Are its objectives concrete and measurable? Does it include specific actions and activities, each with specific dates of completion, specific persons responsible and specific budgets?
  • Is the plan realistic? Are the sales goals, expense budgets, and milestone dates realistic? Nothing stifles implementation like unrealistic goals.
  • Is the plan complete? Does it include all the necessary elements? Requirements of a business plan or farming plan varies, depending on the context. There is no guarantee, however, that the plan will work if it doesn’t cover the main bases.