Planning and Managing Your Work

The Capable Manager -- Book 6

The Open University

Publisher: The Open University, 1996

ISBN: 0-7492-4917-X

Synopsis:

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Table of Contents:

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• Session 1 The Planning Process
• Introduction
• 1.1 What is Planning?
• 1.2 Stages of Planning
• Stage 1: Define the Objectives
• Stage 2: Generate and Evaluate the Options
• Stage 3: Identify the Activities
• Stage 4: Sequence the Activities
• Stage 5: Identify the Resources
• Stage 6: Review the Plan
• Stage 7: Prepare Action Plans and Schedules
• Stage 8: Monitor and Control; Re-plan if Necessary
• 1.3 Problems and Constraints in Planning
• Vague Objectives
• Lack of Information
• Changing Circumstances
• People and Politics
• The Contingency Plan
• 1.4 Your Own Planning Context
• Developing a Strategy
• Business Planning
• Operational Planning
• Clarifying Your Objectives
• Review What Needs to be Done
• Determine Your Priorities
• Summary and objectives
• Session 2 Techniques of Planning and Allocating Work
• Introduction
• 2.1 Identifying and Choosing Between Options
• Generating Options
• Evaluating Options
• 2.2 Developing Plans and Schedules
• Initial Thinking: Making Lists
• Schedules and ‘Key Events’ Charts
• Gantt Charts
• Networks
• Are These Techniques for You?
• 2.3 Resources Planning
• Incorporating Costs
• 2.4 Allocating Work
• Summary and objectives
• Session 3 Monitoring and Controlling Performance
• Introduction
• 3.1 The Control Loop
• People Factors
• 3.2 Setting Standards
• 3.3 Making Provisions for Measuring and Monitoring Performance
• Information Systems
• 3.4 Deciding whether Corrective Action is Needed
• Continuing Unchanged
• Correcting Performance
• Revising the Standard (or Target)
• 3.5 Controlling Change at Boots — a Video Case Study
• Summary and objectives
• Session 4 Enhancing Performance
• Introduction
• 4.1 Appraisals
• The Purpose of Appraisals
• What to Appraise
• Personality and Other Rating Schemes
• Attainment Against Personal Objectives
• Problems with the Appraisal Interview
• Conducting an Appraisal Interview
• 4.2 Team Reviews
• 4.3 Giving and Receiving Feedback
• Communication Problems
• Active Listening
• Summary and objectives