Step 1. Define the planning project methodology

What is the scope?

• Master Plan?
• Event, issue, or program plan?

• Who?
• When?
• How?

• Define planning approach and process
• Define required planning product(s) or output

Review all relevant strategic documents

• Corporate strategy, business plans, program plans
• Public opinion materials
• Media clippings, analyses
• Key communications products

• To inform understanding of planning and communications culture
• To situate strategic advice
• To develop interview plan

Identify Planning Participants

• All decision-makers
  • Anyone who will be "at the table" to approve strategic planning proposition
• All key Implementers
  • Parties who will be called on to implement the strategy

• Can be structured or unstructured
• Can be conducted in person, or by phone
• Should be set up in advance, be brief
• Avoid group consultations, if possible
• Used to identify concerns, priorities, issues, consensus
• Results used to test propositions, develop "key findings" presentation

Made to key decision-makers

• No advance paper
• Should pre-brief project authority on content
• Covers consensus points re: setting, priorities, approaches,
• Presents issues, options, with assessments, and recommendations

• Planner must accept and accommodate consensus views in drafting output
• Another round of reviews, interviews may be required
• Dispute resolution may be required

• Goes as far as possible in defining consensus strategy and possible program components
• Uses consensus language
• Many templates available
• May take another round to produce strategy and plan for approval

• Goes from Framework to Program plan (s)
• Must work as stand-alone document
• Must work as a "record of decision"
  • n.b.-- a Powerpoint Presentation is not a planning document!

1. Define the planning project
2. Undertake desk-top review
3. Identify planning participants, conduct interviews
4. Conduct "findings" and "options" presentation (s)
5. Draft the Plan for approval