Operational plans

5.3.3 Operational plans

Operational plans are developed by lower level managers. These plans focus on carrying out tactical plans to achieve operational goals. Operational plans are narrowly focused and have relatively short time horizons (monthly, weekly, and day – to - day). For instance, the supervisor at a mine may formulate an operational plan to ensure that all work shifts for the next week are properly staffed. There are two basic forms of operational plan, namely single-use plans and standing plans. Single-use plans are used for non-recurring activities, such as the refurbishment of South

African Airways’ information desks at international airports. Plans that remain roughly same for long perio ds of time are called ‘standing plans’.

A programme is a single-use plan for a large set of activities. The building and upgrading of the stadiums for the 2010 World Cup can be seen as a programme that had to be done within a fixed time period. A programme manager manages a portfolio of projects and is responsible for the programme meeting its deadlines. A programme manager will have project managers working under him or her. A programme can consist of different projects. The building and/or upgrading of the World Cup stadiums can be seen as ten separate projects, each with its project manager. A project plan guides each project and should state A programme is a single-use plan for a large set of activities. The building and upgrading of the stadiums for the 2010 World Cup can be seen as a programme that had to be done within a fixed time period. A programme manager manages a portfolio of projects and is responsible for the programme meeting its deadlines. A programme manager will have project managers working under him or her. A programme can consist of different projects. The building and/or upgrading of the World Cup stadiums can be seen as ten separate projects, each with its project manager. A project plan guides each project and should state

 Initiating  Planning  Executing  Controlling  Closing

Project management and general management share many similarities. General management focuses on the long- term survival of an organisation; project management has

a definite beginning and end. A project is also a unique, once-off undertaking whereas general management is an ongoing process. A budget is frequently thought of in financial terms only. However, budgets are also used to plan the allocation and utilization of human, physical, and information resources.

Programmes, projects, and budgets are all single-use plans. They require of the manager to make unique decisions and to solve unique problems. Policies, standard procedures and methods and rules, on the other hand, are standing plans that have already been approved and must be applied consistently throughout an organisation. Policies are general statements that guide decision making in an organisation. Policies limit an area in which the

organisation’s goals. A mining company may have a policy regarding the appointment of migrant workers during peak demand times. All the shift bosses will have to comply with this

policy should they want to appoint additional workers during these times.

Standard procedures and methods refer to the steps or tasks that must be taken to achieve

a specific purpose.