example of operational plan in education

School Operational Plan

If you think operational planning is only for corporate businesses, nonprofit organizations, research laboratories, and medical facilities, then you may want to think again.

School Operational Plan Example

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Primary School Operational Plan Example

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Even academic institutions like primary schools, high schools, and colleges also need an operational plan so that they can be well-guided when it comes to the development of their operational processes and the successful implementation of their strategies and tactics.

May it be a primary school operational plan or a state college operational plan that you would like to develop, remember that a school operational plan can be used by any academic institutions that would like their vision to be realized and their mission to be incorporated in their daily operations.

Especially if the school operational plan is created for the benefit of the students, it is imperative for the document to be curated accordingly so that it can present the exact message and action plan that the school management would like to execute. We have put together a number of school operational plan examples that can be used as formatting guides and references within the processes of creating a detailed and presentable operational plan for your academic institution.

Primary School Curriculum, Learning, and Operational Plan Example

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Why Does Your School Need an Operational Plan?

In comparison to an incident action plan , a school operational plan is also expected to provide instructions on how particular activities should be done based on the results that the entity who will use the document would like to achieve. Hence, it is essential for a school operational plan to be precise, concise, and direct to the point.

Creating a school operational plan can help organize the overall operations, performance, and management of academic institutions. This document can result to the successful implementation of operational action plans and the incorporation of effective strategies that can further improve the current state of the school who will use the specified material.

Listed below are a few of the reasons why it is deemed necessary for your school to have its own operational plan.

1. A school operational plan can help the vision of the school to materialize. It is important for a school operational plan to be developed so that the school board can be aware on how they can effectively manage the school and its operations. Having this document can make it more efficient for entities to work with one another for the development of the operational standards, simple action plans , and regulations of the school.

2. A school operational plan aligns the school operations and management protocols with the successful support for student-related activities and functions. It is not enough for organizational goals to be achieved as it is also essential for the growth of particular stakeholders to be considered especially the students of the academic institution. You may also see operational plan for restaurant examples .

3. A school operational plan can serve as a platform where the collaboration of different stakeholders can be established. Through this document, the school board and the management can ensure that the teachers, professors, students, and all the other concerned entities are functioning and working toward the same professional goal . If this can be achieved, it is most likely that the school can get to the level of achieving several milestones in a timely manner.

4. A school operational plan can improve the approach of the school when particular instances and circumstances occur within its operations. This is very helpful especially during incidents, emergencies, and other programs that concern the participation or involvement of school stakeholders. You may also like business operational plan examples .

Being able to understand the core or root causes of events can help the school management find ways on how to better its operations and develop the relationship between its stakeholders.

5. A school operational plan can help the consistent monitoring of the school’s growth and development. It is important for the improvement of the school operations to always be updated so that the school management can see how their plan of action and strategies affect their actual performance. In this way, efficient key points can be maintained and ineffective strategies can be removed and replaced.

6. A school operational plan can open a discussion about the current operational issues that the school needs to face. There are problems within the existing condition of the school operations that must be addressed with the help of a school operational plan to prevent these items from being a blown-up concerns. You may also check out hotel operational business plan examples .

7. A school operational plan promotes the proper management of the resources of the school. Using this document can set budgetary limits and time scopes that can create awareness on how the school can achieve high outputs without wasting any of its resources. You might be interested in annual operational plan examples .

Primary Independent Public School Operational and Business Plan Example

Primary School Operational Plan and Strategic Resourcing Example

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School Board Operational Plan Example

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Primary School Business Plan for Continuous and Sustainable Operations Example

Benefits of Having a School Operational Plan

Just like a security operational plan , a school operational plan also provides a clear perspective of what is needed to be achieved and the action plans that are needed to be implemented to get the goals set by the entities who developed the document. This is why it is highly recommended for every school to have their own operational plan. Here are some of the benefits that your school can experience if it will use a comprehensive school operational plan:

1. Developing a school operational plan can strengthen the presentation and articulation of the school’s values. Moreover, this document can also give a clear idea of what the vision and mission of the school are.

This is essential as stakeholders need to be knowledgeable of what the school advocates for so that they can function based on the vision that the school would like to achieve not only for the organization but also for its students and all the other stakeholders. You may also see project operational plan examples .

2. Creating a school operational plan can give an idea about the effectiveness and quality measures that the school uses to ensure the standards that it follows. With the help of a school operational plan, it will be easier for the board to identify whether the current performance of the school is at par with what is expected from it. You may also like hospital operational plan examples .

3. Coming up with a school operational plan allows the organization of the school practices, management regulations, and staff performance to occur. In every school, being organized is very important as it helps entities to work together so that the implementation of operational strategies can be as effective and as successful as possible. You may also check out  IT operational plan examples .

4. Using a school operational plan can serve as a reference and a guide that the school management can use when it comes to decision-making processes.

Since a school operational plan is based on different elements and factors like the performance results of the school during its previous operational year, the communication between the stakeholders of the academic institution and the data or figures from different areas of the school operations, then this document can be considered as a reliable and credible source of information that can guide the school to create and implement regulations for its expected betterment. You might be interested in restaurant operational plan examples .

Catholic High School Five-Year Strategic Operational Plan Example

Primary School Business Operational and Management Plan Example

Useful Tips for Creating a Complete and Organized School Operational Plan

If you own a restaurant, your restaurant operational plan can serve as your guide when it comes to planning and implementing work processes that can slowly lead you to the achievement of your goals, objectives, and vision. This is the same instance that makes it necessary for schools to create an operational plan. Through the usage of the latter, schools can be more observant on how they need to execute operational standards and processes so that they can get the maximum results out of their efforts.

Listed below are some of the useful tips that you can follow if you want to create a comprehensive school operational plan that is relevant, understandable, and truly beneficial to the school and its operations.

1. When developing a school operational plan, you always have to be realistic. Think of the resources that you have at hand and list down all the processes in which these resources will be used. Do you have enough workforce to execute your school operational plan? Do you think that the school board will allow the budget allocation that you have presented in the document? You may also see operational plan for cleaning services examples .

Do you believe that your strategies and tactics are truly attainable especially considering the support that you can get from your stakeholders? Answering these questions can help you identify the effectiveness and efficiency of the school operational plan that you have developed. You may also like business plan examples .

2. Make sure that you will create a timeline that contains all the time frames in which activities are expected to be done, executed, and achieved. For you to make the most out of the document’s usage, you need to adhere to the timely implementation of work functions. It is also important for you to address the ownership of responsibilities so that key persons can be aware of what to do and when to do their obligations. You may also check out department strategic plan examples .

3. Set a professional tone of conversation when creating the school operational plan especially if it is intended to be reviewed by the board and the management. You have to ensure that the document is as business-appropriate as it can be so that you can reflect the formality that you have incorporated in all the steps of the school operational plan’s development. You might be interested in one-page strategic plan examples .

Senior High School Business, Operational, and Management Plan Example

School Development and Implementation Plan Documentation for Operations Example

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Preparing for the Drafting of Your School Operational Plan?

Aside from the tips that we have presented above, there are still other preparation suggestions and recommendations that can give you the confidence when it comes to the development of a school operational plan that works. Here are some ways on how you can further prepare for the drafting of your school operational plan:

1. Align your business action plan , management plans, and operational plans. You have to be aware on how to work things out without compromising any areas of the school operations. You need to find the balance with these specifications so you can ensure that you can protect the rights that all your stakeholders are entitled with.

2. Do not hesitate to use references like downloadable examples and templates. Using downloadable examples can give you more idea on what to put in the document and how you can present your message or discussion in the most effective way there is. You may also see real estate strategic plan examples .

On the other hand, using templates can make it more efficient for you to create a layout that can arrange the flow of your discussion so that the school operational plan can be understandable and visually appealing.

3. Review, assess, and evaluate the document once you have already finished drafting it. You have to ensure that you will create a school operational plan that is suitable for your school’s needs and one that is also free from any formatting mistakes and grammatical errors. You may also like hotel business plan examples .

Stick with the basics of the document’s creation and develop any of its areas once you have already familiarized yourself in the proper development processes necessary for the document’s finalization. Use any of the downloadable examples that we have listed in this post. You may also check out management plan examples .

Again, do not veer away from the usage of references and ensure that you will not be intimidated by the challenges that you may face within the development of your school’s operational plan.

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Free Operational Plan Templates

By Andy Marker | July 11, 2022

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We’ve rounded up the most useful collection of free organizational plan templates to record and track the goals and resource needs of your business or organization. 

Included on this page, you’ll find a basic operational plan template , a nonprofit operational plan template , a three-year operational plan template , and a five-year operational plan template .

Basic Operational Plan Template

Download Basic Operational Plan Template Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Word  

Use this basic, customizable operational plan template to create a detailed roadmap for your organization. With this template, the path to reaching your goals will be clear to all stakeholders, and team members will know exactly what tasks need to be completed and when. 

Having efficient and clear processes in place is critical for reaching your organizational goals. Learn more in this guide to operational excellence principles .

Nonprofit Operational Plan Template

Download Nonprofit Operational Plan Template Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Word

Nonprofit organizations often have complex, long-term strategic goals. This operational plan template for nonprofits will help you develop a clear set of tasks and accountability measures to keep everyone apprised of next steps. Use this template to identify your goals, establish a clear plan, set and track your budgets, assign stakeholders, and implement reporting protocols. 

This guide to operations strategies will give you an overview of the steps necessary to develop a comprehensive plan for your organization.

Three-Year Operational Plan Template

Download Three-Year Operational Plan Template — Microsoft Excel  

Your operational plan might include long-term tasks and deliverables. Use this operational plan template to chart your organization’s needs over a three-year period. Enter specific goals, delivery dates, responsibilities, and necessary resources on this customizable template to track progress and ensure that you are on your way to reaching your strategic goals. 

Your business or organization might also benefit from an operational audit, which is a chance to conduct a deep dive into strategic planning and to increase accountability. See this comprehensive guide to operational audits to learn more and gain access to additional resources and templates.

Five-Year Operational Plan Template

Download Five-Year Operational Plan Template — Microsoft Excel  

Long-term planning is a key element of any organization. This five-year operational plan template gives you a detailed look at the steps and resources needed to reach your goals. Track deliverables, responsible parties, and resources in this customizable template. This template also helps team members visualize long-term needs and stay on top of their responsibilities and timelines. 

See this guide to operations management for more information, tips, tricks, and future trends in managing your organizational resources.

What Is an Operational Plan Template?

An operational plan template is a form that captures key details about a work plan. An operational plan includes specific actions and resources needed to reach certain milestones. It is more detailed and specific than a strategic or business plan.

Operational plans help project managers identify resource needs, maintain accountability, implement a reporting process, and maintain a budget.

Operational plan templates templates vary by type but typically include the following:

• Delivery Date: Enter target completion dates for each task in your plan.
• Evidence of Success: Write a short statement explaining how you will know when the goal has been achieved. 
• Executive Summary: Describe the plan in a short paragraph that specifies how it differs from or relates to other plans in your organization.
• Goals: Enter specific goals or milestones of your larger strategy or business plan.
• Responsible Parties: Include the names of the stakeholders who are responsible for each task.
• Resources Needed: Enter all resources necessary to complete each task, including on-hand resources and those you will need to procure.
• Risks: Note any risks you may encounter.
• Title: Enter the plan name or title.

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When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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Operational Planning: How to Make an Operations Plan

The operations of your business can be defined as the sum of all the daily activities that you and your team execute to create products or services and engage with your customers, among other critical business functions. While organizing these moving parts might sound difficult, it can be easily done by writing a business operational plan. But before we learn how to make one, let’s first understand what’s the relationship between strategic and operational planning.

Operational Planning vs. Strategic Planning

Operational planning and strategic planning are complementary to each other. This is because strategic plans define the business strategy and the long-term goals for your organization, while operational plans define the steps required to achieve them.

What Is a Strategic Plan?

A strategic plan is a business document that describes the business goals of a company as well as the high-level actions that will be taken to achieve them over a time period of 1-3 years.

What Is an Operational Plan?

Operational plans map the daily, weekly or monthly business operations that’ll be executed by the department to complete the goals you’ve previously defined in your strategic plan. Operational plans go deeper into explaining your business operations as they explain roles and responsibilities, timelines and the scope of work.

Operational plans work best when an entire department buys in, assigning due dates for tasks, measuring goals for success, reporting on issues and collaborating effectively. They work even better when there’s a platform like ProjectManager , which facilitates communication across departments to ensure that the machine is running smoothly as each team reaches its benchmark. Get started with ProjectManager for free today.

What Is Operational Planning?

Operational planning is the process of turning strategic plans into action plans, which simply means breaking down high-level strategic goals and activities into smaller, actionable steps. The main goal of operational planning is to coordinate different departments and layers of management to ensure the whole organization works towards the same objective, which is achieving the goals set forth in the strategic plan .

How to Make an Operational Plan

There’s no single approach to follow when making an operation plan for your business. However, there’s one golden rule in operations management : your strategic and operational plans must be aligned. Based on that principle, here are seven steps to make an operational plan.

• Map business processes and workflows: What steps need to be taken at the operations level to accomplish long-term strategic goals?
• Set operational-level goals: Describe what operational-level goals contribute to the achievement of larger strategic goals.
• Determine the operational timeline: Is there any time frame for the achievement of the operational plan?
• Define your resource requirements: Estimate what resources are needed for the execution of the operational plan.
• Estimate the operational budget: Based on your resource requirements, estimate costs and define an operational budget.
• Set a hiring plan: Are there any skills gaps that need to be filled in your organization?
• Set key performance indicators: Define metrics and performance tracking procedures to measure your team’s performance.

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Operational Plan Template

Use this free Operational Plan Template for Word to manage your projects better.

What Should be Included in an Operational Plan?

Your operational plan should describe your business operations as accurately as possible so that internal teams know how the company works and how they can help achieve the larger strategic objectives. Here’s a list of some of the key elements that you’ll need to consider when writing an operational plan.

Executive Summary

An executive summary is a brief document that summarizes the content of larger documents like business plans, strategic plans or operation plans. Their main purpose is to provide a quick overview for busy stakeholders.

Operational Budget

An operational budget is an estimation of the expected operating costs and revenues for a given time period. As with other types of budget, the operational budget defines the amount of money that’s available to acquire raw materials, equipment or anything else that’s needed for business operations.

It’s important to limit your spending to stay below your operational budget, otherwise, your company could run out of resources to execute its normal activities. You can use our free operating budget template for Excel to track your operating costs.

Operational Objectives

It’s essential to align your operational objectives with your strategic objectives. For example, if one of your strategic objectives is to increase sales by 25 percent over the next three years, one possible operational objective would be to hire new sales employees. You should always grab your strategic plan objectives and turn them into one or multiple action items .

Processes & Workflows

Explain the various business processes, workflows and tasks that need to be executed to achieve your operational objectives. Make sure to explain what resources are needed, such as raw materials, equipment or human resources.

Operational Timeline

It’s important to establish a timeline for your operational plan. In most cases, your operational plan will have the same length as your strategic plan, but in some scenarios, you might create multiple operational plans for specific purposes. Not all operational plans are equal, so the length of your operational timeline will depend on the duration of your projects , workflows and processes.

Hiring Plan

Find any skills gap there might be in your team. You might need to hire a couple of individuals or even create new departments in order to execute your business processes .

Quality Assurance and Control

Most companies implement quality assurance and control procedures for a variety of reasons such as customer safety and regulatory compliance. In addition, quality assurance issues can cost your business millions, so establishing quality management protocols is a key step in operational planning.

Key Performance Indicators

It’s important to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the productivity of your business operations. You can define as many KPIs as needed for all your business processes. For example, you can define KPIs for marketing, sales, product development and other key departments in your company. This can include product launch deadlines, number of manufactured goods, number of customer service cases closed, number of 5-star reviews received, number of customers acquired, revenue increased by a certain percentage and so on.

Risks, Assumptions and Constraints

Note any potential risks, assumptions and time or resource constraints that might affect your business operations.

Free Operational Plan Template

Leverage everything you’ve learned today with our template. This free operational plan template for Word will help you define your budget, timeline, KPIs and more. It’s the perfect first step in organizing and improving your operations. Download it today.

What Are the Benefits of Operational Planning?

Every plan has a massive effect on all team members involved, and those can be to your company’s benefit or to their detriment. If it’s to their detriment, it’s best to find out as soon as possible so you can modify your operational plan and pivot with ease.

But that’s the whole point of operational planning: you get to see the effect of your operations on the business’s bottom line in real time, or at every benchmark, so you know exactly when to pivot. And with a plan that’s as custom to each department as an operational plan, you know exactly where things go wrong and why.

How ProjectManager Can Help with Operational Planning

Creating and implementing a high-quality operational plan is the best way to ensure that your organization starts out a project on the right foot. ProjectManager has award-winning project management tools to help you craft and execute such a plan.

Gantt charts are essential to create and monitor operational plans effectively. ProjectManager helps you access your Gantt chart online so you can add benchmarks for operational performance reviews. You can also create tasks along with dependencies to make the operation a surefire success.

Whether you’re a team of IT system administrators, marketing experts, or engineers, ProjectManager includes robust planning and reporting tools. Plan in sprints, assign due dates, collaborate with team members and track everything with just the click of a button. Plus, we have numerous ready-made project reports that can be generated instantly, including status reports, variance reports, timesheet reports and more.

Related Operations Management Content

• Operational Strategy: A Quick Guide
• Operations Management: Key Functions, Roles and Skills
• Operational Efficiency: A Quick Guide
• Using Operational Excellence to Be More Productive

Operational planning isn’t done in a silo, and it doesn’t work without the full weight of the team backing it up. Ensure that your department is successful at each benchmark. ProjectManager is an award-winning pm software dedicated to helping businesses smooth out their operational plans for a better year ahead. Sign up for our free 30-day trial today.

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The need for an iiep remains higher than ever.                                    (unesco internal oversight services, 2013).

 An effective ministry is guided by a plan which brings together all stakeholders and is regularly monitored and updated. IIEP strongly believes that planning is not a one-off activity. Rather it is a continuous practice that should engage all ministry departments and partners at national and subnational levels in a consultative and participatory process. Institutionalizing planning necessitates that ministries establish a strategic vision and priorities, coordinate their programmes and budgets annually and within a medium-term expenditure framework, negotiate with national and international financing agencies, and periodically monitor that it is on track to achieve policy objectives through implementation reviews.

Strategic planning guides educational development by giving a common vision and shared priorities. Educational planning is both visionary and pragmatic, engaging a wide range of actors in defining education’s future and mobilizing resources to reach its goals. For policy-makers, planning offers the path to:

• implement education reform and system transformation;
• realize equal opportunities for children and youth;
• provide quality education for all.

IIEP has strong experience and expertise in strategic planning and has developed in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) two newly published documents to help ministries in charge of education transform their processes and operations to meet the challenges of a changing world:

• Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Appraisal
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Plan Templates

10+ primary school operational plan templates – pdf.

As much as they are lovely, kids can be a pain in the neck. In the best of times, they can be a bundle of joy but in the worst of times, they can be little-whirling tornadoes of a nightmare. Imagine managing hundreds of them and being in charge of their educational program while also handling the salary of people under you. That, my friend, is running a primary school .

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Primary School Operation Plan Sample

School Operational Plan Sample

Operational Plan for Primary School Example

Operational Plan for Primary School

Independent public primary school sample.

Questions During the Operational Planning Stage

1. where are we now, 2. where do we want to go, 3. how do we get there, 4. how do we monitor our progress, primary school ict operational plan.

Primary School Operational Strategic Plan

Primary School Music Operational Plan

People Involved in the Operational Planning

What to include in an operational plan.

• timing, sequencing, and scheduling of those activities
• the number of activities
• the person in charge of these activities
• the required resources to carry out and perform these activities (the source of these resources should also specify where these resources came from; financial resources are not exempted here)
• a way of monitoring the progress
• objectives that are clear and concise
• the expected quality standards of the results in the operational plan’s implementation
• the expected outcomes
• resources and staffing required for the operational plan’s implementation
• timetables and milestones

Primary School Operational Plan Example

Primary School Science Operational Plan

Steps in Creating an Operational Plan

1. identify the situation, 2. setting priorities, 3. building the plan, 4. implementing the plan, 5. monitoring and evaluation, primary school sustainability operational plan.

Primary School Visual Arts Operational Plan

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FREE 12+ School Operational Plan Samples & Templates in PDF | MS Word

No business or organization can survive without a plan. Almost everything around us happens and are created according to plan. If you want to be successful in the future, plan for it and work hard. If you want to do something then create a pan on how it should be done. An operational plan is a type of plan that is used in numerous industries and organizations. Feel free to check them out below.

School Operational Plan Samples Templates

11+ operational plan templates sample templates, 10+ annual operational plan samples & templates – pdf, word ..., 10+ simple operational planning samples & templates – pdf, word, sample school operational plan template.

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Annual School Operational Plan

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School Operational Plan Template

Size: 320 KB

This just tells us that planning is a very important part of our day-to day lives.  In this article, our main topic would be about an operational plan that is used in the school setting and that is a school operational plan. We have also included some useful samples and templates that can be used as reference.

School Strategic Operation Plan Template

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Sample School Operational Plans

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Primary School Operational Plan

Size: 501 KB

Operational Plan and Strategic Resourcing

Size: 348 KB

What Is a School Operational Plan?

Operational plans that are used in schools and educational institutions are called school operational plans. Just like the usual operational plan, a school operational plan is a detailed plan that provides a clear view of what tasks or activities a school must do in order to contribute or support the organization to achieve its goals and objectives. The operational plan lays out the details on the required day-to-day tasks that the school must do to keep the school institution functioning according toward its goals.

Part of further understanding a school operational plan is getting to know its uses. So here are a list of the uses of a school operational plan.

• A school operational plan is used to create strategic goals and objectives that the school must undertake in order to continue functioning effectively.
• The plan is used to describe the milestones of the institution and the conditions to gain success.
• It also helps determine which part or which portion of the strategic plan should be put in operation or should be put to use in certain operations.
• A school operational plan is used as a reference or the basis to justify the operating budget request for a particular year. It is the first and last step taken in preparation for an operating budget request.
• Schools have different parts that work to ensure that certain departments are doing their share of responsibilities. Each part or department have their own operational plan and these operational plans are used to set different budgets for different departments.
• A school operational plan should be created in a way that supports the strategic plan of the organization so that it will be able to deliver results that are expected from them.

A lot can be learned from operational plans. There are other types of operational plans that you be interested in, like HR operational plans and annual operational plans .

What Are the Three Types of Plans?

Plans can be categorized based on the level of detail that they provide. The three types of are operational plans, tactical plans and strategic plans. Each of these plans are discusses below.

Operational Plans

Operational plans are very detailed plans that are used by supervisors, managers, team leaders and the rest of lower management. An operational plan is created with the assumption that top management and mid-level management has already laid out the strategic and tactical plans needed by the organization. A school operational plan is a type of operational. As mentioned above, it lays out the plan for the day-to-day tasks that needs to be taken by the organization to meet higher goals and objectives.

Tactical Plans

Tactical plans are plans that are used in mid-level management. These plans are aimed at supporting the strategic plans by making sure that each lower level district or department in an organization do their specific tasks and share of responsibilities. Unlike an operational plan, tactical plans are not very detailed.

Strategic Plans

Strategic plans are very broad and general plan that are created by top management with goals and objectives that are intended for use by the organization as a whole. Since this plan is too general and too broad, tactical plans and operational plans support it so that the set goals and objectives can be met. It requires that the whole organization is working in harmony and that there is clear communication between the different levels of management. The aim of a strategic plan is to help the entire organization improve or to help it get to where it wants to be in the future.

It is easy to differentiate each type plan based on the level of management creating them as well as the areas within an organization where the plan is being used and implemented. There are other related articles that you may find interesting, like  Simple Operational Planning Samples & Templates and  Flight Plan Templates .

What Things Are Addressed by an Operational Plan?

The questions what, who, when and how much are the questions being addressed by an operation plan. An operational plan that fails to address these questions may be lacking or may not be that reliable. Its efficiency may be found questionable and thus creates a problem the implementation of the plan. Let us further take a look at what these questions mean or what they are referring to.

• What –  In an operational plan, this refers to the specific strategies and tasks that must be achieved or completed. It also includes what specific risks that the organization is currently facing.
• Who –  This refers to the people who are involved in the plan or those who have specific responsibilities in each of the strategies or tasks in the plan.
• When –  This refers to the specific time frames required for each strategy or tasks, or the timeline for when the tasks should be completed.
• How much – Refers to the specific amount or the financial resources need in order for the tasks or strategies to be carried out as planned. Enough or sufficient resources helps in the completion of the tasks or strategies.

Most importantly, an operational plan should address underlying issues that causes certain things to fail and find strategies on how to be successful and productive. Other related articles are Business Plan Templates and Sales Plan Templates.

What Should Your Operational Plan Contain?

The following are the list of things that an operational plan should contain.

• Objectives that are clear and concise
• Activities that should be delivered or implemented
• Quality standards that are set for each specific task
• The desired outcomes or the outcomes that are expected results of the given plan
• The people needed for the plan and those that should get involved with it
• The different resource requirements
• The timing or time frame required to implement the various tasks or strategies
• A uniform process for monitoring the progress or milestones gained from the following the plan
• The start and end date of the plan
• The specific department or team where the plan is mean to be implemented and followed
• The specific list of task and activities needed to be accomplished or completed
• Ways on how the tasks will be done or carried out
• The goals and objectives that the organization plans to achieve

One should be familiar with the things that make up an operational plan. Samples and templates will help you become familiar about these things. Some of these templates are recovery plans samples and templates and project plan samples and templates.

Public School Sample Operational Plan

Size: 463 KB

Sample School Emergency Operations Plan

College Operational Plan Sample

Size: 492 KB

Printable Operational Plan

Size: 196 KB

School District Operational Plan

Sample Annual Operational Plan for Primary School

Size: 261 KB

Tips in Writing Operational Plans

How can you make your operational plan better? Well, you can’t be that good when you first create one, but you must be real good. The success of your team relies on the operational plan that you will be creating. But it doesn’t mean that you have to be an expert to produce a good. Why not try using these simple tips to help you write a better an operational.

• You have to keep in mind the goals and objectives set out by top management. This way you will be able to create specific goals and objectives for your team or group that is in line with what top management aims to achieve.
• Assign tasks to the people whom you are working with. Make sure that everyone gets involved in the planning and implementation of the plan.
• Detailed steps and instruction on how to do things will result in desirable outcomes. This way all of the members of your team will do things uniformly.
• Remind everyone to do things in a timely fashion. Provide a time frame on how long certain tasks and activities should be done. It is best to set a specific start date and end date for each tasks.
• Encourage every member or your team to participate and aim in the same goal. Ask them for their output in the plan and check if it is possible to have it incorporated. This will make it easy for you to make decisions and implement the plans that you have created.
• Be open to change. make changes or revisions to your plan as necessary, especially i it is a must to support the tactical and strategic plans of the organization.
• Use simple and concise words in writing the contents of your plan. this will avoid multiple interpretations that could lead to chaos.
• Set proper expectations and be clear about the results or outcomes that you want your team to achieve.

One last tip that definitely helps is making sure that you review your work thoroughly to avoid any mistakes or errors. Following and making use of these tips will surely help you write better and useful operational plans. To learn more about other related articles, please feel free to visit our website.

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Building operational excellence in higher education

When colleges and universities think about building academic enterprises for the 21st century, they often overlook one of the most critical aspects: the back-office structures needed to run complex organizations. By failing to modernize and streamline administrative functions (including HR, finance, and facilities), universities put themselves at a serious disadvantage, making it harder to fulfill their academic missions.

Take faculty recruitment and retention. The perceived level of the administrative burden is often a major factor in the attractiveness of an academic job offer. In 2018, the administrative burden on productive research faculty was measured at 44 percent of their workload (up from 42 percent in 2012). 1 Sandra Schneider, “Results of the 2018 FDP faculty workload survey: Input for optimizing time on active research,” Federal Demonstration Partnership, January 2019, thefdp.org. For faculty members, the prospect of moving to an institution where they would have a lighter administrative load is a huge selling point, since “institutional procedures and red tape” ranks as one of the top five sources of stress. 2 Ellen Bara Stolzenberg et al., “Undergraduate teaching faculty: The HERI faculty survey 2016-2017,” Higher Education Research Institute, February 2019, heri.ucla.edu. Something similar happens with students: studies show that the need to jump through administrative hoops is an important driver of “summer melt,” when students admitted to a school fail to matriculate for the upcoming year. 3 Emily Arnim, “Why summer melt happens—and how to freeze it,” EAB, April 30, 2019, eab.com.

Outdated and ineffective administrative operations can have more direct effects on an institution’s reputation. Financial fraud, ineffective or unfair personnel practices, and grants lost as a result of poor research administration can all lead to negative press reports—or worse. The 115-year-old College of New Rochelle, in New Rochelle, NY, recently closed its doors after fraud decimated its finances and reputation, making any chance of recovery impossible. 4 Dave Zucker, “As College of New Rochelle closes, Mercy steps in to take on displaced students,” Westchester Magazine , March 5, 2019, westchestermagazine.com.

A vast challenge

In our experience, most colleges and universities that set out to improve their administrative operations fail to meet their stated goals and in some cases take a step backward. There are several reasons, many relating to the unique constraints of academic institutions:

• Starting from the top down. Universities are essentially confederations of departments and functions, each with its own internal organization and power structure. Rather than gathering input and alignment from these constituencies, many new administrative plans are run centrally and fail to gain traction.
• Putting the answer before the problem. Another common pitfall is starting with a solution and looking for ways to solve a problem for that answer rather than doing the work needed to gain a deep understanding of the problem on the ground and building a solution collaboratively with stakeholders.
• Focusing on dollars rather than sense. Other change programs flounder because they focus primarily on cost savings rather than on improving service levels or the experience of the administrative staff.

A failed program is more than just a loss of time and money. By raising the expectations of faculty and staff and then failing to follow through on them, such failures stoke resentment and make it harder for future programs to gain traction.

While improving administrative operations remains a vast challenge for many universities, a few are taking a new approach—and posting meaningful results. In some cases, institutions that transformed their back offices have managed to halve the time needed to hire new staff or have reduced wasteful procurement transactions by more than 50 percent.

A new approach for a university in gridlock: A case study

A major public research university knew it had reached the breaking point. Its outdated administrative operations were holding it back on several fronts. Slow response times, red tape, and time-consuming administrative tasks had generated resentment and frustration among faculty. Some had already left for other universities, citing a lack of support for research administration, an inability to hire critical lab staff in less than six months, and difficulty keeping labs stocked with supplies.

Part of the problem was that no one seemed to be accountable. The schools and other units blamed the central administration. Central staff, meanwhile, thought the schools and units weren’t doing their part. In this stalemate, nothing got fixed.

Things only got worse when university leaders decided to create a shared-services effort intended to deliver multimillion-dollar savings. When frustrated deans and faculty heard about the effort, they made it clear that any plan conceived without their input would not have their support. With no resolution in sight, and core functions such as hiring and procurement in jeopardy, university leaders realized they needed to find a new approach.

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Rethinking administrative operations from the ground up.

The leadership realized that instead of once again creating a solution they would then impose on a diverse system, they had to understand the problems from the point of view of the various stakeholders and then design targeted fixes. With that fundamentally different perspective, the change team created a carefully thought out road map and began the hard work of redesigning systems and processes:

• The first step was a listening tour to hear directly from faculty and staff on the problems they encountered. What were their pain points? Where exactly were the bottlenecks? The team got unvarnished feedback. From the director of a research center: “We had to hire temporary employees just to complete our normal tasks because the hiring time is so slow.” From a dean: “The university felt like it was in gridlock.”
• Next, the change team convened a group of design teams, made up of members from both the schools and the central staff, to break down the problems, reimagine the processes from a blank sheet of paper, and implement changes.
• The team started the redesign process with two specific initial goals: reducing the time needed to hire administrative staff from an average of more than 80 days to 45 days and reducing the number of procurement vouchers—tens of thousands of them—that wasted thousands of hours of staff time and failed to capture the right data.
• As the team worked through each service, it followed a fast, structured process, designing new solutions in about two months, piloting them for two to three months, and then rolling them out to the campus in waves of schools and units over the following six months.

The results were unequivocal: time to hire fell by 46 percent for nonfaculty positions, and improper procurement (measured by the volume of unnecessary vouchers) fell by 57 percent (Exhibit 1).

So far, the improvement in hiring time has had significant downstream effects. For example, 96 percent of hiring managers report acceptances by their first-choice candidates. In the past, many first choices had dropped out of the process to pursue other opportunities as their names sat in the queue during the months-long hiring process. Just as important, the change team created a community of faculty, staff, and academic leaders who fully embraced the new ways of working. Over the course of the redesign effort, the process involved more than 400 staff and faculty, held more than 50 listening sessions, convened more than 30 design workshops, and generated a list of dozens of initiatives to pursue in the future (Exhibit 2).

The team is currently pursuing transformational initiatives in research administration, travel, student-worker support, and academic personnel. Its ambitions are equally transformative. For example, its goal in research administration is to cut the time to set up awards in half. This collaborative, bottom-up process led many staff members to tell the leadership that “this feels different” from previous change efforts.

Understanding the elements of success

A few key elements helped make a big difference.

Involve faculty and staff as true collaborators. Don’t drive the change from the central administration down to schools and units. Instead, raise the quality and adoption rate of operational solutions by converting faculty and staff from sideline observers into true collaborators. Start with listening to end users, understanding the obstacles they face, and jointly identifying where and how the current system fails them. In that way, a university can bypass the tendency to consider overarching organizational solutions and focus on solving the actual problems at hand.

Have central administrators work side by side with employees of schools or units. For creating solutions, a partnership between the central administration and the faculty and staff of schools or units is even more critical. It is essential to develop solutions by having representatives from schools and units work together with central staff. Besides gaining a deeper understanding of the problems by including these stakeholders, leaders can begin to convert possible naysayers among faculty and staff into allies.

Focus on the university’s mission. While efficiencies and cost savings are important, they are notoriously hard to capture and reinvest. In addition, any sense that the real goal is to cut costs is unlikely to build internal allies among faculty and staff who already feel undersupported. Instead, leaders should communicate a message of improved service levels that can help further the university’s academic and community-impact missions.

Transformation 101: How universities can overcome financial headwinds to focus on their mission

Show an impact early. There’s a saying that nothing succeeds like success. By starting with one or two services that can be improved quickly and showing an impact within six months, leaders can build belief in the effort. Winning over skeptical constituents will make the rest of it move forward more easily.

Invest in a continuous-improvement team. Staff volunteers committing many hours a week on top of their day jobs can’t sustain changes and expand into other areas of the university entirely by themselves. Creating a small team dedicated to executing transformation initiatives across administrative functions can help accelerate and sustain the momentum for change across the university. A high-functioning team will have a catalog of services (such as training, facilitation, and full-on process redesign) that helps it tailor its support to the specific details of a given problem.

Focus on a transformational rather than incremental impact. Redesigning administrative operations across a university is a big effort. Leaders should take full advantage of the opportunity by thinking about a total transformation, not incremental change. Typical efforts aim for a 20 percent improvement. When leaders set their sights on improvements of more than 50 percent, they can free themselves from the status quo. That magnitude of change will force the change team to start with a truly blank slate and to reimagine a dramatically improved future one.

Taking an important step in transforming a university

A final insight: the work this university did enabled leaders of the administrative functions to shift their sights beyond fighting fires to the truly strategic parts of their work. The progress on hiring, for example, helped surface the challenges the university faces in attracting and retaining talent—particularly underrepresented minority faculty. Furthermore, conversations about improving the performance of the administrative functions highlighted the aspirations of leaders and staff to use machine learning, automation, and other advanced techniques in their work.

Although administrative operations are often overlooked, efficient and effective ones can lead to much broader changes. When universities can hire the high-potential candidates they seek, eliminate wasted time of faculty and staff, and unlock the power of data, they can catapult ahead in their ability to meet their educational and research missions.

Stay current on your favorite topics

Suhrid Gajendragadkar is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Washington, DC, office, where Ted Rounsaville is an associate partner and Jason Wright is a partner; Duwain Pinder is a consultant in the New Jersey office.

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Blog Business

10+ Operational Planning Examples to Fulfill your Strategic Goals

By Danesh Ramuthi , Oct 25, 2023

An operational plan is a comprehensive, action-driven document that maps out how daily activities within an organization fuel the journey towards achieving strategic objectives.

Essentially acting as the nexus between high-level strategy and practical execution, this plan ensures that every department, from human resources to specific departments, operates in synchrony, aligning their day-to-day activities with the broader strategic goals.

By streamlining processes, it fosters cohesive efforts amongst diverse cross-functional teams, ensuring that both individual team members and entire departments work together harmoniously towards the company goals.

Ready to sculpt your organization’s future? Start your journey with venngage business plan maker and leverage their expertly crafted operational plan templates . 

Click to jump ahead: 

Why is an operational plan important?

10 operational plan examples, what should an operational plan include, how to write an operational plan.

• Strategic plan vs operational plan: What is the difference? 

In summary 

An operational plan is crucial because it serves as a bridge between a company’s high-level strategic planning and its day-to-day activities, ensuring that the business operations align with the strategic goals. 

While a strategic plan provides a long-term vision, outlining the company’s objectives and goals to gain competitive advantages in the business environment, the operational plan outlines the specific actions, key elements and resource allocation required to achieve those objectives. 

For example, while the strategic plan might set a goal for revenue growth over the fiscal year, the operational plan provides a detailed roadmap, breaking down major projects, assigning responsibilities to individual team members or specific departments and setting key performance indicators to monitor progress and ensure the entire organization works together effectively.

Operational planning, in essence, transforms the strategic objectives into actionable plans, ensuring that the entire team, from department heads to diverse cross-functional teams, is aligned and works in tandem to support revenue growth, increase productivity, and achieve the desired outcomes. 

Operational plans, through a well-structured operational planning process, also provide a clear understanding of the day-to-day activities, allowing team members to know their roles, leading to better collaboration and synergy. 

Moreover, by having clear operational plan examples or templates, businesses can ensure realistic expectations, manage their operating budget effectively and track progress through key performance metrics, thus ensuring that the company stays on course to realize its long-term vision.

Operational plans play a pivotal role in the business landscape, bridging the gap between strategic vision and tangible actions. They translate the overarching goals of an organization into detailed procedures, ensuring that daily operations are in line with the desired strategic outcomes. 

In the section below, I will explore a few operational plan examples, shedding light on their structure and importance.

Business operational plan example

A business operational plan is a comprehensive document that elucidates the specific day-to-day activities of a company. It presents a detailed overview of the company’s organizational structure, management team, products or services and the underlying marketing and sales strategies. 

For businesses, irrespective of their size, an operational plan can prove invaluable. By laying down the business goals and objectives, it acts as a blueprint, guiding entrepreneurs through the creation and implementation of strategies and action plans. The planning process also incorporates mechanisms to track progress and performance. 

Additionally, for startups or companies looking to scale, a meticulously crafted operational plan can be pivotal in securing funds from potential investors and lenders.

Layered on this are details about the company’s organizational structure, its products or services and its marketing and sales strategies. 

The document also delineates the roles and responsibilities of each team member, especially the management and key personnel. Given the dynamic nature of the business environment, it is imperative to revisit and update the operational plan regularly.

Related: 15+ Business Plan Templates for Strategic Planning

Simple operational plan example

A simple operational plan, often used by startups or smaller enterprises, emphasizes the basics, ensuring that the fundamental aspects of the business operations are captured succinctly. While it might not delve into the intricacies of every operation, it provides an overview of day-to-day activities, highlighting the goals and objectives the business aims to achieve in the short term.

In essence, this plan revolves around core elements like the company’s main objectives for the fiscal year, key responsibilities assigned to individual team members and basic resource allocation. A straightforward market analysis might also be included, offering insights into customer needs and competitive advantages the business hopes to leverage.

Though simple, this operational plan example remains pivotal for the organization. It provides a roadmap, guiding team members through their daily responsibilities while ensuring that everyone is working together towards shared goals. It becomes especially essential for diverse cross-functional teams, where clarity of roles can lead to increased productivity.

Modern operational plan example

In today’s fast-paced business environment, the emphasis on efficiency and innovative processes is paramount. The modern operational plan example caters precisely to this demand. Ideal for organizations aiming to streamline processes and highlight workflow, this type of operational plan emphasizes a more dynamic approach to planning. 

It not only reflects the evolving nature of business operations but also provides a modern backdrop for content, ensuring that the presentation resonates with the current trends and technological advancements. The use of modern tools and platforms within this plan enables diverse cross-functional teams to work together seamlessly, ensuring that day-to-day activities are synchronized with the company’s long-term vision.

Furthermore, such an operational plan helps the entire organization stay agile, adapting rapidly to changes in the business environment and ensuring alignment with strategic goals.

Minimalist operational plan example

The minimalist operational plan example champions simplicity and clarity. By focusing on clear and concise business strategies, it eliminates any potential ambiguity, ensuring that team members and stakeholders have an unclouded understanding of the company’s objectives and goals. 

The minimalist design not only promotes easy comprehension but also aligns with the modern trend of decluttering, ensuring that only the most vital components of the operational planning process are highlighted. 

This approach leaves no room for confusion, streamlining the planning process and making sure that individual team members and departments are aligned with the business’s key objectives. 

Moreover, the flexibility offered by a minimalist design allows businesses to craft an operational plan template that is not only functional but also accurately reflects their brand image and core values, ensuring cohesion across all aspects of the business strategy.

Clean operational plan example

The clean operational plan example stands as a testament to this principle. Ideal for businesses that prioritize clarity and directness, this format seeks to convey goals and strategies without overwhelming stakeholders. 

While maintaining a neat and organized layout, it ensures that tasks are managed effectively, helping team members grasp their roles and responsibilities without getting lost in excessive details.

One of the primary advantages of a clean operational plan is its ability to eliminate distractions and focus solely on the critical aspects of operational planning. 

Such a design aids in making sure that diverse cross-functional teams can work together harmoniously ensuring that day-to-day activities align seamlessly with the company’s long-term vision. 

The simplicity of the clean operational plan not only supports revenue growth by ensuring efficiency but also reinforces the company’s strategic goals, making it an excellent tool in the arsenal of businesses that believe in clear communication and precise execution.  

An effective operational plan acts as a roadmap, directing how resources should be allocated and tasks should be performed to meet the company’s objectives. Here’s what a comprehensive operational plan should encompass:

• Goals and objectives : Whether short-term or long-term, the operational plan should define clear goals and objectives that align with the company’s strategic plan. This gives direction to the entire organization, ensuring everyone is working towards a common aim.
• Clear responsibilities for team members : It’s essential that team members understand their roles within the operational plan. By outlining who is responsible for what, the plan ensures that there are no overlaps or gaps in duties and that everyone has clarity on their day-to-day activities.
• Assigned tasks: Alongside responsibilities, specific tasks need to be allocated to individual team members or specific departments. This granularity in assignment ensures that every aspect of the operational plan is covered.
• Timeline: This provides a clear schedule for when each task or objective should start and finish. A well-defined timeline assists in monitoring progress and ensures that the plan stays on track.
• Budget and resources : Every operational plan needs to factor in the budget and resources available. This includes everything from the operating budget to human resources, ensuring that the business has everything it needs to execute the plan effectively.

Read Also: 6 Steps to Create a Strategic HR Plan [With Templates]

As businesses evolve, it’s essential to have a comprehensive and adaptive operational plan in place to navigate the complexities of the business environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft an effective operational plan:

Step 1: Define your goals and objectives

Begin with a clear understanding of your strategic goals and objectives. This will act as a foundation for your operational plan. Ensure that these goals are in alignment with your company’s strategic plan and provide both short-term and long-term visions for the business.

Step 2: Determine roles and responsibilities

Identify the key stakeholders, department heads and team members who will play pivotal roles in executing the plan. Assign responsibilities to ensure that everyone knows their part in the planning process and day-to-day activities.

Step 3: Develop a timeline and milestones

Establish a clear timeline that breaks down the operational planning process. Include key milestones to track progress and ensure the plan remains on target.

Step 4: Allocate budget and resources

Determine the resources required to achieve your goals and objectives. This includes estimating the operating budget, identifying human resources needs and other resource allocations, ensuring you have everything in place to support revenue growth and other business needs.

Step 5: Outline day-to-day operations

Detail the day activities that are integral to the business operations. This will provide clarity on how different tasks and functions work together, ensuring efficiency across diverse cross-functional teams.

Step 6: Monitor and measure performance

Integrate key performance metrics and indicators to regularly monitor progress. Using both leading and lagging indicators will provide a comprehensive view of how well the operational plan is being executed and where improvements can be made.

Step 7: Review and adjust regularly

The business environment is dynamic and as such, your operational plan should be adaptable. Regularly review the plan, comparing actual outcomes with desired outcomes and adjust as necessary to account for changes in the business environment or company goals.

Step 8: Document and communicate

Create an operational plan document, potentially using operational plan examples or an operational plan template for guidance. Ensure that the entire team, from individual team members to the entire organization, is informed and aligned with the plan.

Related: 7 Best Business Plan Software for 2023

Strategic plan vs operational plan: What is the difference?

When running an organization, both strategic and operational planning play pivotal roles in ensuring success. However, each has a distinct purpose, time horizon and scope. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between these two essential business plans:

• Strategic plan : This plan sets the course for the organization’s future. It embodies the long-term vision and mission, detailing the objectives necessary to achieve it. The essence is how everyone, from C-suite executives to individual team members, collaborates towards realizing this vision.
• Operational plan : This is the roadmap for the day-to-day activities of the organization. While the strategic plan looks at the bigger picture, the operational plan hones in on the tactics and execution. It is crafted to support organizational goals with a focus on short-term activities specific to departments or functions.

Time horizon :

• Strategic plan : Long-term in nature, usually spanning three to five years.
• Operational plan : Concentrates on the short-term, with plans laid out yearly, quarterly, or even monthly.

Modification and updates :

• Strategic plan : This evolves over longer intervals, typically three to five years. There might be minor adjustments year over year based on changing business needs and the external business environment.
• Operational plan : Due to its short-term focus, it requires frequent assessments. Plans might be adjusted yearly, quarterly or even monthly to ensure alignment with the strategic objectives and current business environment.

Created by :

• Strategic plan : Crafted by the upper echelons of management – think CEO, CFO and other C-suite members.
• Operational plan : These plans come to life through mid-level management and department heads, ensuring alignment with the broader strategic vision while catering to specific departmental needs.
• Strategic plan : Broad in its outlook, it takes into account external factors like market trends, competition, customer needs and technological innovations.
• Operational plan : This narrows down the focus to the internal workings of the organization. It revolves around technology in use, key performance indicators, budgeting, projects, tasks and the allocation of responsibilities among team members.

As we’ve traversed through the importance of operational planning to various operational plan examples, it becomes evident that having a detailed and efficient operational plan is pivotal. 

From the business-centric to the minimalist approach, every operational plan serves as the backbone, guiding team members and ensuring that day-to-day activities align with the long-term vision and strategic goals.

By knowing what should be included in these plans and how to craft them, businesses can navigate the complexities of their operational environment with greater confidence.

For those looking to refine their planning process or start from scratch, the world of digital tools has made it significantly easier. Venngage offers business plan maker and operational plan templates designed to simplify the process. 

Whether you need to create an operational plan or draft a business strategy, their intuitive platform can guide you every step of the way.

What is an Operational Plan? A Complete Playbook (+ Examples, Tips & More)

Introduction.

Without a plan, your business operations are as good as a children’s playground—everyone’s doing their own thing with no care in the world. 

An operational plan brings order to your organization. It defines the functional aspects of your long-term strategy, like goals, milestones, responsibilities and timelines, to build collaboration and make real progress toward your vision. 

Teams often overlook the importance of operational plan management, leading to miscommunication, unnecessary roadblocks and slow growth. 

If you don't want to end up in a chaotic playground with everything going south, read this start-to-finish guide on operational planning. We'll share a 6-step process of making your own operational plan with a few examples to inspire you.

TL;DR: What is an operational plan?

• An operational plan clarifies the details of your strategy, assigns responsibilities, and sets milestones and timelines.
• Use an operational plan to create a roadmap, assign roles, track progress, establish criteria for success, and minimize errors.
• To develop an operational plan, create a fail-proof strategic plan, establish clear goals and budgets, define the project scope, create the operational plan, get stakeholders' buy-in, and publish the plan using the right tool.

What is an operational plan?

An operational plan is a roadmap designed to implement your business strategies. It operationalizes your strategic plan by defining:

• Vision and objectives behind a strategy.
• Budget and resources required for execution.
• Weekly, monthly and quarterly milestones. 
• Relevant metrics to track progress consistently. 

‎An operational plan clarifies all the finer details about your strategy—like what, who, when and how—to help you realize the bigger vision. It’s a work plan for transferring the available inputs into the desired outputs. 

Operational planning vs. strategic planning

While operational and strategic planning might sound the same, they have significantly different meanings. Let's take a quick look at these differences to understand what an operational plan stacks up against a strategic plan.

5 reasons why you need an operational plan

Only setting goals without a solid operational plan to implement them is like making new year’s resolutions that never come true. 

Without a clear direction of what to do and how, you’d end up wasting your resources with little to no progress to show for it. An operational plan helps move the needle for your company by clarifying the steps to success and bringing more accountability. 

Still wondering how an operational plan can keep you on track? These five benefits will clue you in:

1. Creating an airtight roadmap

If a strategic plan defines the destination, an operational plan chalks out the itinerary to reach that destination. This actionable roadmap covers all bases to streamline collaboration within the team and set up the right systems to hit your milestones. 

2. Attributing roles to all stakeholders

Making an operational plan allows you to assign responsibilities to all internal and external stakeholders. It clarifies who’s responsible for what and sets expectations from the start. This is key for bringing everyone on the same page and avoiding roadblocks once the work is underway. 

3. Tracking progress & making strategic changes

Timelines and milestones are two of the most crucial components of an operational plan in business. They empower teams to analyze their performance and review progress objectively. You can use these insights to tweak your game plan for greater success and to improve operational efficiency .

4. Establishing criteria & metrics for success 

An operational plan outlines the parameters for success and metrics to monitor the same. These metrics give you a clear picture of your progress at every stage to ensure you’re moving as per the plan. They also highlight any potential red flags that can potentially derail the plan and need your attention. 

5. Minimizing discrepancies & errors

One of the most important benefits of making an operational plan is the clarity it brings to everyone. Instead of leaving your team clueless about the next steps, this work plan clarifies how and where they can start. It also reduces errors by laying down the ground rules for every task and process.

📌 ‎ Related resource: Operations Teams: How to Assemble and Lead a High-Performing Team

How to develop an operational plan strategy

There’s no standard rulebook for creating an operational plan. It’s a fully customizable document that depends entirely on your company’s goals, resources, timelines and overall approach. 

For example, a fast-paced team can work with shorter timelines and hit more goals than a large-scale organization with more levels of checks and a bigger hierarchy.  

So, instead of replicating other companies’ operational plans, let’s help you create your own plan with this 6-step process:

• Draw out a fail-proof strategic plan.
• Establish clear goals and budgets.
• Dig deeper into the project scope.
• Create your operational plan.
• Get all stakeholders’ buy-in for the plan.
• Publish the plan using the right tool.

1. Draw out a fail-proof strategic plan

A strategic plan is to an operational plan what a storyline is to a movie—it conveys the essence and creates a direction for the operational plan to become a masterpiece. 

So, naturally, the first step to operational planning is creating a strategic plan; here’s how:

• Define what success looks like for the entire organization. 
• Evaluate organizational readiness to implement this strategy. 
• Take inputs from people in the senior leadership. 
• Assign responsibilities to different stakeholders. 
• Prioritize goals against timelines. 

Once done, you can rely on this strategic plan throughout the operational planning process to prepare for what lies ahead. 

💡 ‎Use these 14 free customizable project plan templates to enhance communication, save time and achieve your strategic planning goals.

2. Establish clear goals & budgets

The next step is breaking your high-level goals into shorter, more actionable objectives. For example, you can divide the goal of achieving an X% growth in revenue into smaller targets, like increasing inbound leads, doubling down on cold outreach and rolling out a referral program. Implementing effective referral tracking within the program will allow you to monitor and optimize the success of your referral initiatives, providing valuable insights into the sources and impact of referred business.

Goal-setting makes your operational plan realistic and feasible. You're ideating the means to realize the long-term vision by hitting the right milestones. 

More importantly, once you have a list of goals, it's easier to determine the budget and resources required to achieve them. Before moving ahead, do your homework to set a solid budget that allows you to implement your strategy without splurging too much. 

3. Dig deeper into the project scope

Once you’re clear about your goals and resources, it’s time to define the finer details of your plan—specifying who’ll do what, when and how. 

Create a comprehensive project scope by outlining:

• Department-wise goals and tasks according to the goals.
• Different stakeholders involved within and outside your company. 
• Responsibilities for each stakeholder with primary KPIs for their role.
• SOPs  and  workflows  to perform a task or complete a process. 

This step brings more specificity to your operational plan. It concretely spells out each goal with details about milestones within each goal, roles and teams responsible for fulfilling these milestones and how they will work toward the end goals. 

💡 ‎ Scribe top tip: Creating a project scope document is a breeze when you use Scribe. You can use Scribe's project scope template to get cracking at the earliest. 

4. Create your operational plan

By this point, you've done all the legwork to get to work and start writing your operational plan finally.

Make it as actionable and value-packed as possible by answering these five main questions:

• Who: People involved in different tasks. Include a list of teams and specific roles involved in the business operations and clarify what’s expected of them. 
• What: Plan of action and targets to pursue. Create a milestone-based roadmap of the high-level goals to achieve and the smaller goals involved in the process. 
• Where: Platform(s) where daily operations will happen. Add all the tools and frameworks you'll use to run business operations through this plan seamlessly. 
• When: Deadlines for different tasks and activities. Map out the timelines for each job to ensure your team is on track for timely completion. 
• ‍ How much: Costs involved in hitting the designated goals. Mention your final budget and resource allocation for different tasks.

Use Scribe's free AI Writer for Operations tool to capture and document operational procedures.

‎Additionally, a good operational plan also lists the metrics to track your progress. Pick and explain relevant metrics in your plan to show employees how you'll analyze their efforts.  ‍

5. Get all stakeholders’ buy-in for the plan

No plan is perfect and there's always scope for improving your operational plan to make it perfect. So, once you've drafted the plan, don't forget to run it by a few select stakeholders to identify the gaps you can cover. 

Actively seek feedback from people in different ranks and departments to understand the missing links in your plan. Your plan will go through 2-3 rounds of iterations before it’s finally ready to roll out. 

6. Publish the plan using the right tool

The final step in the process is publishing the plan. The most important thing to remember is that your plan should be:

• Reader-friendly.
• Easily accessible.
• Quickly shareable. 

Clueless about the best way to hit all three points to roll out your operational plan? We have just the solution you need — Scribe . 

‎Scribe is a documentation tool designed to create intuitive documents, like an operational plan, in a few seconds. It significantly reduces the time spent on creating such documents and improves team efficiency in more ways than one.

‎You can create a single Scribe to explain a process or compile instructions with SOPs in a single place with Pages. You can even ask the AI to write your operational plan — just add a simple prompt and your Scribes, and the AI will build a customized document!

‎It's the easiest way to bring your team on the same page and power up your operations! 

✨ ‎See how operations teams use Scribe to tackle even the most daunting operational challenges.

3 operational plan examples (& why they work)

If you’re looking for some inspiration to get cracking with your planning process, looking at a few operations plan examples can help big time! Let’s look at three great examples, see why they work and how you can replicate the results. 

1. Carter Supply’s risk management plan

This detailed risk management plan by Carter Supply covers several aspects of managing risk at the organization. This 10-page document lists the key components of this plan, like a summary, the approval process and the end-to-end risk management process. 

As an operational plan, it gives the entire team clear insights into the risk management plan, highlights why it’s in place and explains how this plan will be used. 

This plan also covers different aspects of the plan and lays down the process of working on each element. For example, for risk quantification, the plan specifies that the risk manager will work with the risk owner to understand the exposure. 

2. Upscope’s go-to-market plan

Upscope ’s go-to-market (GTM) plan is another excellent example of operational planning. The SaaS company created this plan to execute its strategy for breaking into the co-browsing market. 

Pursuing this goal, the team created an airtight plan with a rundown of its target audience, pain points the product solves and the buyer journey. 

The Upscope marketing and sales teams could use this GTM plan to launch targeted campaigns and reach the right people. They were also well aware of the main value propositions to share with the target buyers, nudging them towards a purchase. 

📌 ‎Related resource: How Product Operations Can Help Your Team Build Better Products 📌 ‎

3. SmartNet’s project quality management plan

The quality management plan by SmartNet is a detailed document explaining the company’s entire operations framework, from the management structure to project reporting, risk assessment, deliverable production and more. 

Instead of a single department, this operational plan documents the complete business operations. Despite being so lengthy, the document is easy to read and understand—exactly how the plan should look like.

It also includes all the critical information to guide new employees about the company's operations from scratch.

Make operational planning your road to success 

When done right, operational planning can be a game-changer for streamlining your operations. It’s an in-depth roadmap to work toward your vision and hit all goals. 

Even though making an operational plan isn’t the most exciting task and it can get extremely time-consuming, the right process and tools can do the trick for you. Follow the six steps we’ve highlighted in this guide and when you’re ready to roll, use Scribe to put the plan in place. 

Scribe takes the pain out of documentation to empower teams for seamless operational planning. Try it today to see how it works!

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Operational Plan Templates to Master the Art of Execution!

Naveen Kumar

An online bookstore evolved into a global powerhouse with a net worth surpassing $1.5 trillion, dominating a substantial portion of the e-commerce market. We know this brand as Amazon. Its journey has been punctuated by significant milestones. It introduced Amazon Prime's two-day shipping that redefined customer expectations, and the company also ventured into cloud computing services with Amazon Web Services (AWS), transforming the digital landscape. With a market share that continues to grow and at a remarkable Return on Investment (ROI), Amazon's meteoric rise to become an e-commerce behemoth didn't happen by chance. It is the result of meticulous business management, strategic foresight, and impeccable execution.

Across industries, the synergy between effective business management, strategic planning, and precise execution remains a cornerstone of success. Every organization aspires to translate its strategic vision into tangible achievements. Yet, this bridge from strategy to reality is where complexities arise.

Enter the role of a well-structured operation plan.

At the heart of effective business management lies the operation plan, a comprehensive blueprint that bridges the gap between strategy and execution.

From Vision to Execution

An operation plan is a strategic document delineating specific actions, resources, and timelines necessary to translate an organization's broader goals and strategies into tangible outcomes. This dynamic plan encompasses a spectrum of vital business components, orchestrating them in harmony to achieve desired results. From articulating clear objectives and outlining actionable steps to allocating resources in a reasonable manner and defining responsibilities, an operational plan is the essence of how an organization intends to achieve its objectives. It incorporates tactical details, performance metrics, and contingency strategies, enabling teams to synchronize efforts, maintain focus, and adapt as circumstances evolve. It guides day-to-day decisions and activities that steer a company toward success.

Outsmart Challenges with Operational Plan Templates

Navigating the intricate web of multiple complex business components poses a formidable challenge when developing and executing a flawless operational plan. The convergence of diverse factors such as personnel management, resource allocation, financial considerations, and strategic alignment demands attention and strategic coordination. The potential for miscommunication, resource bottlenecks, and deviation from objectives can hinder seamless execution. This is where our operational plan templates emerge as a beacon of support.

These content-ready slides provide the much-needed structured framework with years of expertise, best practices, and proven strategies to streamline the process. By offering pre-designed and 100% customizable sections for objectives, action plans, timelines, responsibilities, and performance metrics, these operation plan templates empower businesses to bypass the complexities of starting from scratch. With these PowerPoint Designs, operation managers will get a head start in crafting a comprehensive plan that ensures effective alignment, resource optimization, and achievement of strategic goals.

Let's explore these operation plan templates to find a roadmap that leads to your business objectives and success.

1. Operational Plan PowerPoint Presentation Templates Bundle

This PowerPoint Slides collection is a comprehensive resource and the ultimate operational planning toolkit to empower professionals across industries. The versatile bundle is a home for insightful slides, each catering to specific operational planning needs. Ideal for project managers, business strategists, safety officers, entrepreneurs, and more, this bundle equips users to navigate the intricacies of operational planning with ease. It offers PPT Templates with a wealth of information covering a detailed short-term goal attainment operation plan to a safety management strategy. Dive into a goal-setting process with strategic, tactical & operational needs. Use this slide to master the dynamics of sales and marketing operational plans and access construction project checklists and execution plans for smooth operations . Embrace operational excellence with presentation layouts catering to production units, coffee businesses, clothing retailers, and more. Use these slides to describe and develop key operational plan components with your teams and drive success for business strategy. Download it now!

Download this template

2. Operational Planning PowerPoint Presentation Deck  

This comprehensive presentation equips you with an engaging toolkit to convey operational planning elements. It is an indispensable asset for professionals across industries to present quality standards, desired outcomes, resource requirements, and implementation timelines. The integrated operational planning deck empowers your strategy, from monitoring progress to analyzing financial data. Use it to navigate executive summaries, operating highlights, key performance indicators, and more. Streamline day-to-day operations, illuminate team tasks, and foster consensus using easy-to-understand graphics. Get it now!

3. Business Development And Operational Plan Presentation Deck

With this all-inclusive PPT Bundle, unlock growth opportunities and enhance your business strategy to catalyze expansion and networking. It helps define financial goals and pivotal methods that impact a business proposal. Whether you seek to convey organizational procedures or drive growth, these pre-designed slides offer an ideal canvas. Navigate through operations summaries, strategic alliances, risk mitigation, revenue sources, company setup, and more with confidence. The expert-designed organizational development templates cover corporate strategy and innovation management, along with customer relationship administration. Pave the path for growth, innovative strategies, and enduring success with this PowerPoint Set. Grab it today!

4. Business Operational Plan PowerPoint Presentation Deck

This comprehensive PPT Deck offers a readymade resource to depict your sales and marketing strategies. Strategic minds can leverage this presentation set to articulate the blueprint of future growth processes to stakeholders and partners. It empowers you to highlight bottlenecks that may arise during goal attainment. Explore this exclusive PowerPoint Design covering sales and operations planning facets, including shifts in the competitive landscape, revenue sources, annual objectives, and more. Download it now!

5. Annual Marketing Operation Plan With Timeline PPT Template

Elevate your operational planning with our presentation design that streamlines the journey from vision to results. This versatile template offers a systematic approach to enhancing operational efficiency. Ideal for business strategists, managers, and marketers, the deck provides a strategic framework to manage tasks and goals over a twelve-month timeline. It highlights tasks such as setting business objectives, conducting market research, competitive analysis, defining strategic marketing goals, and devising key marketing metrics. The standout feature lies in the dynamic timeline chart, showcasing task initiation, progress, and completion durations through arrow-shaped bars. Use this PowerPoint Layout to harmonize your operational plan, steer marketing strategies, and arrive at milestones. Get it now!

6. One-page Operation Plan Summary Presentation Template

This one-page template has well-organized segments on an organizational plan. Starting from the top, it has an easy-to-read table that presents a monthly marketing operations budget with price/unit, unit sold, and revenue columns for three months. Below that, this PPT Design showcases a quarterly marketing operational plan and its key elements using graphics like a flowchart and circular diagram. In the center of this one-page operational plan summary lies a timeline or step-by-step procedure to implement the operational plan without wasting time and resources. The presentation layout shows how daily operational activities create a weekly operational plan, how a weekly plan creates a monthly operational plan, and so on to an annual operating plan. Using the space at the bottom of this one-page PowerPoint Slide, operation managers can share insights or about these five short to long-term operation plans. Grab it today!

7. Strategic Operation Plan One-page Summary Presentation Template

This concise operational plan design caters to a spectrum of users, from executives to project managers, seeking a streamlined approach to operational plan communication. Designed for efficiency, it condenses the six vital components of an operational plan with elegance, offering a comprehensive view of its creation, requirements, strategic intersections, and implementation. The strategic timeline showcases operational activities, along with an outline of the six-stage sales and operational planning process. The operational plan framework addresses strategic and tactical elements to provide a holistic perspective to viewers. At the bottom, discover the strategic assessment that shows the alignment of long-term plans with annual operational goals. Concluding with a donut chart graphic depicting the execution cycle, from planning to analysis, this one-page PPT Layout empowers users to communicate complex operational plans in a succinct way. The critical goal is to offer strategic clarity and actionable insights. Download it now!

Simplify. Optimize. Align. Achieve!

In business, adaptability and strategic foresight reign supreme, and operational plans play a pivotal role in growth and success. Studies show that organizations with well-defined operational plans have 56% more probability of achieving their goals and objectives on time against enterprises that don’t make the effort to draw these plans. These plans simplify execution, ensure resource optimization and effective use, team alignment, and efficient milestones achievement.

Our operation plan templates emerge as your ultimate partners in success. These PPT Layouts are home for proven strategies and best practices, empowering you to turn vision into reality.

With our operation plan templates, take your first step towards streamlined achievements and calculated triumphs. Your success story begins here!

FAQs on Operational Plan

What is an operational plan.

An operational plan is a detailed and strategic document that outlines how an organization will achieve its short-term objectives and goals. It focuses on day-to-day activities, processes, and resources required to implement broader strategies defined in the organization's strategic plan. Operational plans provide a roadmap for departments or teams to coordinate efforts, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that the organization functions smoothly. 

What are the seven things the operational plan should contain?

An operational plan contains the following components:

• Clear Objectives: Defined, measurable, and achievable objectives that align with the organization's strategic goals.
• Action Plans: Detailed descriptions of specific actions, tasks, and activities required to achieve stated objectives.
• Timelines and Deadlines: Specific timeframes for completing each action or task, ensuring that activities are on time.
• Resource Allocation: Identification and distribution of necessary resources, including budget, personnel, equipment, and materials, to support the execution of the plan.
• Responsibilities: Designating duties and roles to individuals or teams involved in carrying out the plan, along with clear lines of communication.
• Performance Metrics: Measurement criteria and KPIs that allow the organization to monitor progress and assess the success of the plan's implementation.
• Contingency Plans: Strategies and measures to address potential obstacles, risks, and unexpected events that disrupt the plan's execution, ensuring flexibility and adaptability.

What are the three types of operational plans?

The three main types of operational plans are:

• Single-Use Plans: These plans address a specific, one-time objective or project. Once the goal is achieved, the plan is no longer needed. Examples include strategies for hosting a special event, launching a new product, or conducting a marketing campaign.
• Policy: It outlines general guidelines and principles that guide decision-making and actions within the organization. These plans provide a framework for consistent behavior.
• Procedure: It details step-by-step instructions for performing routine tasks or activities. These offer a standardized approach to ensure efficiency and consistency
• Contingency Plans: These plans address unexpected events, crises, or emergencies that could disrupt normal operations. They outline how the organization will respond to scenarios and ensure business continuity. Examples include disaster recovery, cybersecurity incidents, and pandemic response plans.

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• It’s Really Really Hard to Make a Half-Decent Business Presentation on a Mobile Device (and Why It’s Unlikely to Change Anytime Soon)
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Operational Planning: Meaning, Examples And Benefits

Adil holds a managerial position at an organization that manufactures railway wagons and is looking to increase production and revenue…

Adil holds a managerial position at an organization that manufactures railway wagons and is looking to increase production and revenue by 50% over the next five years. Adil and his team are tasked with creating a plan that includes marketing, sales and operations goals. He understands that the operations section of the plan will involve several components, including manufacturing, procurement, warehousing and transportation.

Adil has a clear strategy for the operational planning segment. He entrusts Shalini with opening up two more production lines at the company’s Chennai facility to increase production. He puts Harsh on building a new factory at Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, with a total capacity of making 50 passenger cars every month to support production increases over the next five years. Saba is given the responsibility of diversifying the supply chain to ensure all materials are procured from no less than three vendors. Roshan is tasked with increasing warehouse space to accommodate supplies and product output from the new production lines. Finally, Heena is entrusted with expanding transportation partnerships to fulfill the goal of increasing shipping volumes.

Owing to Adil’s meticulous operational planning and his team’s efficient execution, the firm is able to increase its production and revenue according to its goals significantly.

What Is Operational Planning?

Examples of operational planning in management, benefits of operational planning.

Before we delve any deeper into the subject, it’s important to understand the meaning of operational planning and what it involves.  Operational planning is a method a department or team uses to take the company’s strategic plan and turn it into a detailed map broken up into various components. This map, called the operational plan, documents the team’s exact steps within specified time periods to reach each goal. Such a plan is made with a focus on the future to outline budget allocations, departmental activities and targets for the next year to three years. The operational planning meaning becomes clearer when we understand that the operations segment is but one component of a larger strategic plan. Adil was well aware of this as he has years’ worth of experience in operational planning in management .

In operational planning , it’s essential to record each team member’s responsibilities for the fiscal year in detail. How detailed the plan is will depend upon the projected timeline for goal completion and how fast the team works. For businesses that need to hit their targets quickly, the plan should be designed for a six-month timeline. For long-term goals, operational planning should be done for the whole fiscal year.

Now that we’ve covered the meaning of operational planning , let’s look at some examples of operational planning in management and what they entail.

Organizations can’t function without operations. Let’s explore some examples of operational planning which many companies are incorporating into their business models.

Production Planning

This type of operational planning in management is geared towards mapping a business’s output. Here the focus is primarily on using labor and capital intelligently to make products that can be sold profitably. Take, for instance, a frozen yogurt manufacturer that creates 10 different flavors within just one facility. Operational planning here will involve organizing supplies and streamlining production lines, work shifts and warehouse space to maintain manageable overhead costs.

Capability Planning

Operational planning is required to identify the purpose of a business and then create a roadmap for building on its capabilities. For example, a private taxi company evaluating its own business capabilities will devise a plan to maintain its fleet better and upgrade operations to enhance the safety of women passengers.

Sales Planning

Operational planning is crucial for matching sales targets with production capabilities. For instance, if a makeup brand wants to run a promotional campaign that could grow sales by 150%, only tight operational planning will be able to determine whether the company’s factories can boost production to such a degree.

Going over a few key examples of operational planning in management would be helpful to examine how the process actually helps. Let’s look at a few benefits of operational planning .

Without operational planning in management , businesses would run inefficiently and incur losses. Planned operations are a company’s lifeblood. Here are some key benefits of operational planning .

Provides Clarity

Among other things, operational planning ensures everyone on the team has a clear idea about the work to be done on a monthly, weekly and even daily basis. This helps maintain focus and increase efficiency.

Provides A Roadmap

Achieving long-term goals becomes much easier with operational planning . Productivity increases when team members have a detailed plan to follow; this also helps maintain accountability.

Reduces Delay

With a clearly charted-out path, employees know how much ground they have to cover by the end of each day. This helps them manage their time better and stay on schedule, thereby producing quality and timely work.

Good operational planning benefits organizations greatly. Harappa’s Rise In An Organization program is designed to help ambitious professionals become ace planners of operations. Under the guidance of a stellar faculty that takes you through 17 in-depth lessons, you’ll learn to inspire trust, lead with influence and become a reliable team player who gets things done. With the help of frameworks such as The Trust Equation and The Flywheel Effect, you’ll develop skills that equip you to manage projects expertly, adapt to situations instinctively and foster trust.

The Rise In An Organization pathway is the ticket to masterfully influencing decisions and outcomes and facing challenges head-on!

Four of the biggest problems facing education—and four trends that could make a difference

Eduardo velez bustillo, harry a. patrinos.

In 2022, we published, Lessons for the education sector from the COVID-19 pandemic , which was a follow up to,  Four Education Trends that Countries Everywhere Should Know About , which summarized views of education experts around the world on how to handle the most pressing issues facing the education sector then. We focused on neuroscience, the role of the private sector, education technology, inequality, and pedagogy.

Unfortunately, we think the four biggest problems facing education today in developing countries are the same ones we have identified in the last decades .

1. The learning crisis was made worse by COVID-19 school closures

Low quality instruction is a major constraint and prior to COVID-19, the learning poverty rate in low- and middle-income countries was 57% (6 out of 10 children could not read and understand basic texts by age 10). More dramatic is the case of Sub-Saharan Africa with a rate even higher at 86%. Several analyses show that the impact of the pandemic on student learning was significant, leaving students in low- and middle-income countries way behind in mathematics, reading and other subjects.  Some argue that learning poverty may be close to 70% after the pandemic , with a substantial long-term negative effect in future earnings. This generation could lose around $21 trillion in future salaries, with the vulnerable students affected the most.

2. Countries are not paying enough attention to early childhood care and education (ECCE)

At the pre-school level about two-thirds of countries do not have a proper legal framework to provide free and compulsory pre-primary education. According to UNESCO, only a minority of countries, mostly high-income, were making timely progress towards SDG4 benchmarks on early childhood indicators prior to the onset of COVID-19. And remember that ECCE is not only preparation for primary school. It can be the foundation for emotional wellbeing and learning throughout life; one of the best investments a country can make.

3. There is an inadequate supply of high-quality teachers

Low quality teaching is a huge problem and getting worse in many low- and middle-income countries.  In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the percentage of trained teachers fell from 84% in 2000 to 69% in 2019 . In addition, in many countries teachers are formally trained and as such qualified, but do not have the minimum pedagogical training. Globally, teachers for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects are the biggest shortfalls.

4. Decision-makers are not implementing evidence-based or pro-equity policies that guarantee solid foundations

It is difficult to understand the continued focus on non-evidence-based policies when there is so much that we know now about what works. Two factors contribute to this problem. One is the short tenure that top officials have when leading education systems. Examples of countries where ministers last less than one year on average are plentiful. The second and more worrisome deals with the fact that there is little attention given to empirical evidence when designing education policies.

To help improve on these four fronts, we see four supporting trends:

1. Neuroscience should be integrated into education policies

Policies considering neuroscience can help ensure that students get proper attention early to support brain development in the first 2-3 years of life. It can also help ensure that children learn to read at the proper age so that they will be able to acquire foundational skills to learn during the primary education cycle and from there on. Inputs like micronutrients, early child stimulation for gross and fine motor skills, speech and language and playing with other children before the age of three are cost-effective ways to get proper development. Early grade reading, using the pedagogical suggestion by the Early Grade Reading Assessment model, has improved learning outcomes in many low- and middle-income countries. We now have the tools to incorporate these advances into the teaching and learning system with AI , ChatGPT , MOOCs and online tutoring.

2. Reversing learning losses at home and at school

There is a real need to address the remaining and lingering losses due to school closures because of COVID-19.  Most students living in households with incomes under the poverty line in the developing world, roughly the bottom 80% in low-income countries and the bottom 50% in middle-income countries, do not have the minimum conditions to learn at home . These students do not have access to the internet, and, often, their parents or guardians do not have the necessary schooling level or the time to help them in their learning process. Connectivity for poor households is a priority. But learning continuity also requires the presence of an adult as a facilitator—a parent, guardian, instructor, or community worker assisting the student during the learning process while schools are closed or e-learning is used.

To recover from the negative impact of the pandemic, the school system will need to develop at the student level: (i) active and reflective learning; (ii) analytical and applied skills; (iii) strong self-esteem; (iv) attitudes supportive of cooperation and solidarity; and (v) a good knowledge of the curriculum areas. At the teacher (instructor, facilitator, parent) level, the system should aim to develop a new disposition toward the role of teacher as a guide and facilitator. And finally, the system also needs to increase parental involvement in the education of their children and be active part in the solution of the children’s problems. The Escuela Nueva Learning Circles or the Pratham Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) are models that can be used.

3. Use of evidence to improve teaching and learning

We now know more about what works at scale to address the learning crisis. To help countries improve teaching and learning and make teaching an attractive profession, based on available empirical world-wide evidence , we need to improve its status, compensation policies and career progression structures; ensure pre-service education includes a strong practicum component so teachers are well equipped to transition and perform effectively in the classroom; and provide high-quality in-service professional development to ensure they keep teaching in an effective way. We also have the tools to address learning issues cost-effectively. The returns to schooling are high and increasing post-pandemic. But we also have the cost-benefit tools to make good decisions, and these suggest that structured pedagogy, teaching according to learning levels (with and without technology use) are proven effective and cost-effective .

4. The role of the private sector

When properly regulated the private sector can be an effective education provider, and it can help address the specific needs of countries. Most of the pedagogical models that have received international recognition come from the private sector. For example, the recipients of the Yidan Prize on education development are from the non-state sector experiences (Escuela Nueva, BRAC, edX, Pratham, CAMFED and New Education Initiative). In the context of the Artificial Intelligence movement, most of the tools that will revolutionize teaching and learning come from the private sector (i.e., big data, machine learning, electronic pedagogies like OER-Open Educational Resources, MOOCs, etc.). Around the world education technology start-ups are developing AI tools that may have a good potential to help improve quality of education .

After decades asking the same questions on how to improve the education systems of countries, we, finally, are finding answers that are very promising.  Governments need to be aware of this fact.

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Consultant, Education Sector, World Bank

Senior Adviser, Education

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