Leadership and Management
Task 1
The development of an operational plan necessitates a number of elements and steps that help in the establishment of what is needed by the team, the goals to achieve, the resources and the procedures that are required and how the acquired performance can be measured and monitored. In other words, it is utilized in outlining the strategic operations of a company’s daily operations over the following’s year course (Daft, 2011). This is usually intended as defining the manner in which physical and human resources are to be allocated so that the short-run goals can be achieved since they support the large strategic aims. The success of the operational plan must, therefore, begin with the development of a strategic plan. This strategic operation helps in the establishment of the company’s weaknesses, abilities, potential growth, vulnerability areas and the specific position within the market. This works in ensuring that the set goals have been achieved without failure. In addition, the primary and measurable aims should be created in a close relation. In that, the objectives that fail to offer support to the company’s strategy should be avoided. The goals should be those that can be measured to understand whether the corporation is making any development. In addition, these goals should be set within limited and accountable timelines. In that specifications should be made on who should accomplish the objectives in a stipulated period. Financial assessment is of importance in understanding the expected financial performance impact (Daft, 2011). Effective actions to any of the established barriers should also be identified with the company of regular progress assessment.
An operational plan contributes highly towards the business strategic plan. In that the strategic plan mainly involves setting different directions for the company, inventing goals and purposes and the establishment of strategies range that are to be pursued in order for the organization to achieve its strategic goals (Griffin, 2012). On the other hand, the strategic plan can be described as a management guide based on goals and urgencies of the stakeholders. In this case, a guide in reference to how the daily operations should be accomplished is not provided which is accomplished by the operation plan. The operational plan, therefore, facilitates the achievement of strategic plan goals because it is purposed at providing the organization personnel with a clearer picture of responsibilities and tasks that are connected with the strategic plan’s goals. In short, it is the general plan in regard to strategies implementation which is held in the firm’s strategic plan (Griffin, 2012). The management is responsible for the operational plan components in ensuring that everything has been accounted.
The leading managers are highly involved in tasks planning, offering support to employee’s teams as well as providing the needed reports for the progress. Teams and stakeholders are engaged in fruition via the development of corporate plans that normally outlines the strategies and directions that should be utilized in achieving set goals. Based on the plans every section, team or departments then set their specified goals as well as creating plans in the identification of how the company’s goals can be achieved. This is achieved through the identification of suitable personnel’s, time lime identification, budget allocation, setting goals as well as developing action strategies to counter all the arising issues during the progress.
Task 2
Operational planning is usually guided by the company’s strategic plan and therefore managers are expected to outline clear strategic plans for the effectiveness of all the operations. In achieving the set goals all the daily operations should be defined where supervisors, team leaders, and managers are involved. Team leaders and supervisors play the role of assessing manpower needs by establishing the players required and the skills that each should own (Kurtz & Boone, 2011). In addition, they are also involved in scheduling and communication so that the operations can be smooth. After addressing human resources needed a schedule is set on the grounds of achievement needs as timing is an essential thing in avoiding delays. Delays affect the company’s ability because much time can be required in catching up. Communication is the most prominent role played by team leaders and supervisors during all the operations plans. In that, the members need to understand the required actions, processes and the goals to be achieved for efficiency to be acquired. Communication, therefore, refers to offering clear instructions, duties, expectations as well as feedback. Their last role is termed as an oversight (Griffin, 2012). The best leaders are those that understands the position of their projects and work to ensure that tasks and deadlines are met.
In the successful implementation of an operational plan, several skills should be possessed by the team members, supervisors, team leaders and managers. One of the most significant skills required is communication. In that, the goals, strategies, operations, and procedures should be communicated to the involved persons clearly to avoid any confusion and to create free flow (Kurtz & Boone, 2011). The leaders should be realistic and efficient by setting achievable and time limited goals so that quality can be achieved. This means that they should not only focus on attempting to increase production because the quality is of great significance. In addition, they should be able to relate well with those involved because the corporation is highly significant because the operations require the effort of everyone thus proper relations are necessary. The team works by setting specific goals that are to be achieved in the shortest period (Kurtz & Boone, 2011). This involves choosing the right number with the required skills in accomplishing the specified tasks. The supervisor is involved in the monitoring, management, and evaluation of performance so that all the arising issues can be identified and solved adequately.
References
Daft, R. L. (2011). Understanding management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Griffin, R. W. (2012). Fundamentals of management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Kurtz, D. L., & Boone, L. E. (2011). Contemporary business. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
