Role of a PlannerRole of a Planner

Prabhu KiranPrabhu Kiran

Business Analyst, Pioneer InfoservBusiness Analyst, Pioneer Infoserv

Structure of the PresentationStructure of the Presentation►IntroductionIntroduction►Dictionary meaning of 'Plan' and 'Planner'Dictionary meaning of 'Plan' and 'Planner'►Qualities of a PlannerQualities of a Planner►Roles of the PlannerRoles of the Planner►Reporting StructureReporting Structure►SummarySummary►ConclusionConclusion

Dictionary meaning of 'Dictionary meaning of 'PlanPlan' and ' and ''PlannerPlanner''

(Webster's Dictionary)(Webster's Dictionary)►Plan Plan

means a method devised for means a method devised for making or doing something or making or doing something or achieving an end. achieving an end.

(or)(or) A series of steps to be carried out or A series of steps to be carried out or

goals to be accomplishedgoals to be accomplished►Planner Planner A A

person who makes plans.person who makes plans.

Qualities of a PlannerQualities of a Planner►Integrity, Credibility and TrustIntegrity, Credibility and Trust – Ability to work at all levels – Ability to work at all levels

in the organization. Emotional Quotient should be very high. in the organization. Emotional Quotient should be very high. ►Ability to do Ability to do unstructured workunstructured work►Ability to work with Ability to work with teams of peopleteams of people from within the from within the

organization and outside the organization.organization and outside the organization.►Self confidenceSelf confidence balanced by balanced by humilityhumility. People are often . People are often

envious of the role the planner and the planner has to manage envious of the role the planner and the planner has to manage this. this.

►WillingnessWillingness and a and a desiredesire to learn new management techniques to learn new management techniques and implement them in the organization. and implement them in the organization.

►Innovator Innovator ►Sense of HumourSense of Humour

Roles of the PlannerRoles of the PlannerAid to the Chairman / CEO

Strategic Planners assist the Chairman / CEO to make confidential strategic decisions. They do special one off research / studies into areas which fall outside the mandate of the divisions. They also act as internal consultants to the leaders of the different divisions in the organization.

Roles of the PlannerRoles of the PlannerResearch

Planners provide up to date research to the top management of the organization on the following trends

External Environment trends – PEST factors that might affect the strategy / functioning of the organization. Business Trends – Policies and Practices adopted by leading organizations in the industry. Market research – Includes customer surveys and other methods of research to identify customer needs and expectations. Usually outsourced to a market research organization. Competitor Research – Maintain a comprehensive database of competitor strategies and information on competitor key customers and human resource personnel. The Planning team keeps up to date with new methods of doing strategic planning itself.

Roles of the PlannerRoles of the PlannerSystems Integrator and Coordinator

Usually organizations have the following functions interlinked.

Strategic planning Business planning Budgeting Performance management/reward/compensation Reporting Measurement.

The Planner works in coordination with the division heads to ensure that the planning and measurement systems work together. The planner also ensures that there is no duplication between the plans made by the various divisions in the organization

Roles of the PlannerRoles of the PlannerMonitoring of Strategy

Works with change specialists to ensure that both the content and the spirit of the strategic plan are being implemented.

Any barriers which occur, the planner helps teams to remove these barriers. This may necessitate a change in structures and systems.

Angel's Advocate and Devil's Advocate

The Planner functions both as an Angel's advocate and as a devil's advocate.

The Planner has to actively pursue a good idea and make sure it is implemented in the organization.

The Planner also has to take the role of a Devil's Advocate and take a position strongly to advocate implementation of a certain management strategy or practice.

Roles of the PlannerRoles of the PlannerTraining of Management Staff

Planners take on the role of formal facilitators to ensure top management is well versed with up to date strategic management tools and thinking.

These could include:

Formal Training sessions

Guest Speakers to speak on a 'particular topic'.

Writing Newsletters

Speaking at conferences and workshops organized by different divisions in the organizations;.

Organizing conferences in house

Sending key personnel on external training courses.

Reporting StructureReporting Structure

Ideas or

How planning starts in an organization ?

Business NeedsGoals

Strategies Action Steps Goal Champions or Business Owners

Reporting StructureReporting StructureStrategies are comprised of Time lines and Requisites

Time line: What are the action steps ? Who will be responsible for each ? When will they be accomplished ?

Requisites: What is needed to successfully implement the strategy ?

Reporting StructureReporting StructureEach goal or strategy action plan should have a proper evaluation plan. These are suggested to be:

a.) Quantifiable performance indicators (numerical quantities that can be measured against time, units or across institutions or standards set in the industry)

b.) Key Milestones in the process of implementation whose progress can track progress towards achieving the goal.

c.) A summary which will include the quantitative and qualitative indicators of success to give a balanced understanding of the outcomes produced in relation to the outcomes originally sought.

Summary Key Decision Making Advisor – Advising the top management on various options available and suggests the feasible option. Trainer – explaining the process changes and provide active direction to unit heads and staff, if necessary. Facilitator – provide assistance in moving through difficult phases of implementation Strategist – actively help set strategy and ensure implementation. Advocate – actively pursue certain ideas beneficial to the organization. Stakeholder – vested interests in results.

Thank you