Where is the Organization Headed? Is Everybody Entitled to Know?

Where is the Organization Headed? Is Everybody Entitled to Know?
Goals should be clear and spelled out for all to see. Not
only are they clearly stated, but they are specific in
terms of deadlines and specific numbers, like earnings and
other quantifiable items. For example, a sales organization
would spell out "we are earning $5000 in the month of May."
It is expressed in the present tense. An engineering team
might spell out "The planning is complete," and "detail
drawings are released to the production team." Planning
routines like Microsoft Project carry out goals planning in
an organized fashion. Several styles are available, but the
most popular is the Gantt Chart in which task elements are
shown with timeline starting and completion points. As work
is completed the bar so indicates. Late starts and late
activities are clearly indicated. Actual completion date is
shown when accomplished.

There is a cost connected to proceeding with planned goals.
This should not be a surprise. Resources need to be put in
place in a timely manner so that the goals have some
guarantee of succeeding. This could be planned hires,
office environment expanded and arranged to receive new
staff, and needed equipment put in place to accommodate
activities. Computer networking is a must in a modern
organization. A plan for success is a plan that includes
training of managers as well as individuals in the
organization. Rather that react to day to day conditions
the organization plan drives activity, which flows from the
plan in place. All of this appears on the master plan.

Rather than drifting aimlessly day to day, the organization
is driven by the plan to meet short term and long term
goals, and individual activities are paced by what the plan
indicates. Weekly reports indicate how individuals are
measuring up to the goals on the plan. This periodic
feedback will be cause to put corrections in place so that
the goals are met. These corrections could be in the form
of short term staff adjustments and realignments to meet
the needs of the unit needing assistance.

Without the discipline of clear goals, including but not
limited to a project schedule with attendant weekly report
updates, activities drift aimlessly like a ship without a
rudder. Work, any kind of work, will be found to fill the
allotted time, and nothing supporting the goals is
accomplished. The manager becomes frantic when his goals
are not met, and the worker wonders why sparks are flying
from the direction of the boss's office. Organized
published goals and schedules are the answer, and it is
easy to learn to initiate, update, and report to those
involved in the project.

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