Implementation Plan
An implementation plan is based on a sound business plan, presenting a clear line of sight from the scaling vision; to the objectives to be accomplished in the business plan; to the activities required to achieve expectations; to the outputs to be delivered; to who will be responsible for activities and tasks of implementation; to the timeline in which implementation will take place; and to costs associated with implementation; and finally to the assumptions and potential risks involved in implementing the business plan.
An implementation plan should provide details of how you will execute your business plan in:
1 Objectives
The implementation plan restates business plan objectives. Major objectives can be divided into implementation phases. Where objectives are broad, intermediate objectives/steps required in order to achieve major objectives should be stated.
2 Deliverables
This section should list all the products, services and/or outcomes of each objective or intermediate objective to be delivered. A deliverable is a measurable, tangible, verifiable output, result or item that must be produced to achieve a business plan objectives, or part of an objective. Deliverables also serve as means to measure performance on meeting business plan objectives and evaluating progress.
3 Milestones
Milestones should be indicated in the implementation scheduled and related to the completion of several deliverables that constitute a phase within an implementation plan. A milestone is an important check point along the way that tells you if you are on track progress on achieving business plan implementation. Be mindful that the milestones will focus on outcomes and can be tracked, such as the expected impacts, and development of products, services and program and their roll-out.
4 Activities
The plan should explain what activities and tasks will be undertaken to achieve deliverables. The activities associated with deliverables must be aligned with objectives.
5. Accountability
Accountability for who will carry out various steps is a critical element to successfully implementing a business plan. Delineating responsibility for completing activities and tasks as well as supervision or oversight of specific objectives and milestones facilitates accountability for implementation activities and deadlines.
Ø Who is going to manage the various implementation processes?
Ø Who is going to be responsible for oversight and execution of particular activities?
Ø Who is responsible for specific deliverables?
6. Implementation Schedule
This section should clearly outline what the business plan will be delivering and when. The Implementation Schedule determines and defines the major phases of work that will be undertaken to achieve the business plan. It sets the framework establishing a timeline for achieving major objectives. It also breaks down the work structure detailing activities and tasks, responsibilities and timeline. The Implementation Schedule documents a logical sequence of events over time to progress from business plan development to delivery; it can also be tied to the budget and implementation expectations.
The Implementation schedule should provide the following information in a clear, easy to read format:
Ø Phases linked to objectives and intermediate objectives
Ø Deliverables associated with each phase
Ø Major activities for each deliverable
Ø Key milestones
Ø Who is responsible for delivery of each major activity
The implementation is best represented on a Gantt Chart.
7. Budget
Every deliverable has a cost. Where possible the cost for each deliverable and milestone should add up to form the implementation budget. The principle underlying this section is cost control. This section will enable organizations to effectively track expenditure over time and provide early warning of likely overspend / underspend or possible savings. In some cases, expenditure will be a critical indicator of progress.
Since an implementation plan represents a portion of the business plan—i.e. one year out of a three-year business plan or one quarter out of a one year business plan—it is important that the budget reflects a portion of the costs for whole life of the business plan
8. Assumptions and Risk Management
State the assumptions behind your implementation plan and potential risks which may affect the implementation upfront. Understanding the underlying assumptions and potential risks related to implementing your business plan can reduce the likelihood or consequences of unpleasant surprises that may jeopardise the achievement business plan objectives resulting from:
Ø changing circumstances and new developments in the strategic environment,
Ø business plan adaptations based on implementation realities,
Ø market adjustments resulting from client/stakeholder response.
To be effective, risk management needs to be an ongoing and meaningful element in the management of the implementation plan. The plan needs to do more than a ‘tick and flick’ exercise at the commencement of business or implementation planning; both assumptions and risks must be revisited on a regular basis.
Implementation Plan 1
Phase
/Objective
/Deliverables
/Milestones
/Activities
/Accountability
/Timeline
Phase #1
/Objective #1
/Deliverable #1.1
/Milestone #1.1
/Activity #1.1.1
/ /Activity #1.1.2
/ /Activity #1.1.2
/ /Deliverable #1.2
/Milestone #1.2
/Activity #.1.2.1
/ /Activity #.1.2.2
/ /Activity #.1.2.3
/ /Activity #.1.2.4
/ /Objective #2
/Deliverable #2.1
/ Milestone #2.1 /Activity #1.1.1
/ /Activity #1.1.2
/ /Deliverable #2.2
/ Milestone #2.2 /Activity #2.2.1
/ /Activity #2.2.2
/ /Deliverable #2.3
/ Milestone #2.3 /Activity #.2.2.1
/ /Activity #.2.2.2
/ /Activity #.2.2.3
/ /Activity #.2.2.4
/ /Activity #.2.2.5
/ /Implementation Plan 1