Effective Monitoring & Evaluation is the final point of discussion in Part-3 (of our 3-Part series) of posts centered on establishing and implementing an effective Master Action Plan (M.A.P.). As you may recall, Part-1 focused on Strategic Planning, and Part-2 focused on Tactical Execution & Management. All three segments are essential components to the overall success of your M.A.P. As mentioned in our previous post, the three stages of an effective Master Action Plan include:
- PART-1 – Strategic Planning
- PART-2 – Tactical Execution & Management
- PART-3 – Effective Monitoring & Evaluation
OVERVIEW:
Regardless of ones title or position in a firm, most of us will at some point have limited to extensive management oversight and responsibility. It is therefore necessary to apply effective monitoring and evaluation tools and techniques within a Master Action Plan in order to effectively monitor and evaluate progress. Whether it be a sole practitioner, Associate, Partner or an Office Managing Partner, effective monitoring and evaluation must take place. It becomes MOST CRITICAL, if you have management oversight over employees and/or over practice operations and its’ overall success; effective monitoring and evaluation of progress is essential.
Caution on Information Overload
That said, at GMS we have found that in today’s digital world, we are often times overwhelmed with data, data and more data. When it comes to effective monitoring and evaluation our progress, often times the software we use produces such immense amounts of data, that it can also become too granular for our specific needs. This can often result in that age-long saying that “We can’t see the forest through the trees”. We then risk becoming locked into becoming micromanagers in terms of data evaluation and management, when in fact we may also need to be macro managers as well. This is where the challenge of merging or balancing these two functions becomes both art and science.
HOW TO:
Effective Monitoring & Evaluation
Each Master Action Plan (M.A.P.) should be standardized in terms of establishing parameters for goals and objectives, yet be designed to meet the specific needs of each intended user, and to provide management with effective monitoring and oversight. For example, Summary pages may be utilized to provide management with just enough information to measure the resulting effectiveness and progress of those he/she has responsibility for in terms of management oversight and mentoring. Yet for the manager’s specific goals and objectives for themselves, their parameters should also be designed to accommodate the appropriate detail they specifically need to effectively monitor and evaluate their own individual progress. As you drill down to the front-line workers, their Master Action Plan should also be designed to accommodate their specific goals and objectives in a more granular fashion, yet have the flexibility built in for any management oversight they may have. So how do you accomplish this balance?
- Assess the organization’s need of a Master Action Plan that reflects their vision and goals for the short/medium/and long term.
- Assess the vision of the organization in terms of the number and type of staff needed to successfully operate their organization.
- Assess each employees specific responsibilities, management oversight, and the goals and objectives they need to achieve in accordance as to how their performance will ultimately be measured.
- Assess what information you need to effectively monitor and evaluate others without getting too granular.
- Assess what information you need to have, and how it will be monitored and evaluated for YOUR performance.
- Combine all the above into a Master Action Plan wish list.
- Then begin searching for an existing Master Action Plan that meets your needs or design your own in accordance to the above stated guidelines.
CONCLUSION:
It comes down to three choices
- You can research, design and implement your own solution. This is certainly a feasible option, but it also comes at a price too…or
- You can research what platforms exist in the marketplace that would meet your needs in terms of: templates, relevance of templates and content to support your business, supported with experienced consulting/ coaching/ and mentoring. This option comes at a price too…
- You can consider speaking with us about our M.A.P. solution. You’ll discover what’s included, the pricing, and whether it is the best fit for you and your organization.
Our M.A.P. Solution
This sounds self-serving to say this, but we have designed and provide a Master Action Plan solution that accomplishes all that we have discussed in these past three posts, including: Strategic Planning, Tactical Execution & Management, and Effective Monitoring & Evaluation. We designed our Master Action Plan solution not by accident, rather out of necessity, based on several decades of experience working for national and international business consulting firms, helping businesses and business professionals across various industries on planning how to meet their goals. Quite honestly, we found nothing in the marketplace that comes close to meeting our organization’s needs and the needs of our clients, as the solution we provide (by God’s grace and leadership.). Our solution is called “M.A.P.“…it’s our Master Action Plan. We have specifically designed 6 versions of our M.A.P. solution in order to meet the needs of:
- Independent Lawyers
- Lawyers within Law Firms (Associates to Partners)
- Law Firms (for Managing Partners)
- Non-Profit Organizations (Presidents & CEO’s of Schools/Universities/Foundations etc.)
- For-Profit Organizations (Corporate CEO’s / Presidents)
- Entrepreneurs
Lastly, keep in mind that having Master Action Plan templates are extremely important, but it’s really only half of the equation for having a successful Master Action Plan. The other half of the equation is found in the quality of experience and the support provided by mentoring/ guiding/ and coaching clients throughout the process. From planning and strategy, to completion and implementation and from monitoring to evaluation. This is how an ordinary business plan becomes a successful, effective and powerful Master Action Plan. We have the M.A.P. solution, and we know every business and business professional has the need of one (whether they realize it or not!). The questions are: 1) Do you see your need of one, and 2) Are you ready for one? So once again, you have three choices…
As we always say, do your own research, if you’d like to…speak with us, great. If not, that’s ok too. Either way, you’ll put yourself in a better position to make a better informed decision… regardless of the choice you make. We’re here to help our clients and prospective clients, not to hassle them. We hope you have found our last three posts to be helpful and insightful.
GMS BUSINESS CONSULTING, INC. – Provides lawyers/law firms, for-profit & non-profit organizations, and other business professionals with Accounting Services, Business Development Services M.A.P., Business Optimization Services, and Digital Marketing Services. We help business professionals strategically manage and tactically grow their businesses more effectively and efficiently. We do NOT provide investment advice. Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about our services, and in particular about M.A.P. (our 3-phase business development & management solution), designed to help you strategically manage and tactically grow your business. We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
info@gmsbusinessconsulting.com
707-218-3135