Action Plan: Definition and Elements

An action plan is a written plan that an individual, or

organization, develops to guide and focus efforts to reach a

desired goal.

Every action plan should have the following:

• A goal—what you want to accomplish.

• Objectives—the steps you must take to reach your goal.

Read the action plan definition written on the slide.
Ask participants to share with each other what experiences they have had with action plans.
Actively monitor the table groups for the following situations:

Little to no experience with action plans so not much discussion. In this situation, bring the groups back to a full group and tell them today’s activities will help them become more comfortable with what an action plan is.
Experience is limited to MEP-related action plans. In this situation, when you bring the groups back to a full-group discussion ask participants to share out their experiences.

Click to display the second set of bullets.
Read the bullets to participants and ask them to write down the definition of a goal and objectives in their Outline (p. 2) so they can refer to it later.

It is important to understand what an action plan is and the elements that make up an action plan before understanding how it fits into the MEP.
Regardless of your previous experience with action plans, today’s training will build your knowledge and you will leave with a draft individual ID&R Action Plan.