Goal Directed Planning

In last weeks blog I mentioned Goal Directed Planning. GDP sounds like a planning tool –  and indeed that's how it started life, but to lloydmasters it is a dynamic, visual process that enables groups of people, often from different teams or organisations, to agree on a collective way forward.

Working together in one room, over one or two days, drives an output of a high level milestone plan, set around ‘themes’ or ‘result paths’ with each result path having an agreed goal, or end point. Whilst developing this plan issues are identified, hidden agendas surfaced, silos broken down and meaningful dialogue undertaken. It is an exhausting process, but apart from producing the plan, the process also engenders real engagement of all players, with participants clear on what needs to happen, by when and by who – most importantly this real understanding of the issues which will need to be faced, means that they can be added proactively, rather than ignored until they become show stoppers later on in the life of the project.

The plan itself can also act as a very elegant communication document. As on one piece of A3 paper a whole two year plan can be shown, together with dependencies, creating assurance amongst stakeholders and users, enabling a holistic view to be taken. Progress can be measured against each high level milestone, with the detail being illustrated in action plans that sit behind the top 2 milestone in each resource plan.

Goal Directed Planning has been used extensively with lloydmasters clients, helping support mergers, projects and reorganisations. The process translates well across nationalities and cultures and because it’s so visual, helps understanding. If you would like to understand more about this technique please contact lloydmasters for an information document.