5 Creating an action plan
Action plans are useful tools for identifying the steps and stages for achieving a goal or set of goals. Action plans can be very detailed, and to be meaningful, they do need a certain amount of detail, including the goal you want to achieve, the individual steps or tasks you’ll need to take to achieve them, and the date when you should complete the task or tasks.
Activity 5
Use the table below to identify three main tasks you want to undertake for three goals related to your business idea. You will likely have more goals and more tasks to perform. However, use the table to help you prioritise your next steps in the short- (next few months) and medium- (next 6-12 months) term.
Goal 1 (Is this a short-term or medium-term goal?) |
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Goal 2: (Is this a short-term goal or medium-term goal?) |
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Goal 3: (Is this a short-term or medium-term goal?) |
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Comment
You have probably heard the term ‘SMART goal’, which stands for:
- Specific (clear)
- Measurable (so that you know you’ve attained it)
- Attainable (realistic and achievable within the time and resources you have available)
- Relevant (to your overall purpose)
- Timely (has a date for when you want to achieve it).
These characteristics can also apply in many cases to the supporting tasks or actions. For example, you could identify ‘milestones’ – or smaller goals along the way toward achieving the bigger goals – that are a result of completing actions. The table in Activity 5 is a very simple version of an action plan, and there are myriad tools to help you develop and visualise a comprehensive plan, including Gantt charts, which can be created using templates in spreadsheet programmes, such as Excel. These tools can serve as important aids in moving forward with your business idea, completing your business model canvas, and putting together a comprehensive business plan.