Work Planning - Action Issues
Work Planning assesses the strength of an organization's focus on the following Action Issues:
Action Issues #22
Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined throughout the organization.
DESCRIPTION:
Understanding individual roles and responsibilities in a company leads to clarity of purpose and minimizing confusion resulting in fewer organizational “turf wars”.
A high score here suggests the company has put effort into clarifying roles and is reaping the benefit of people understanding their individual responsibilities at all levels; a critical action issue when embarking on a significant change initiative as the changes need to be translated into specifics in order for the intended change effort to stick.
Action Issues #23
Work standards and objectives are established and monitored.
DESCRIPTION:
What gets measured gets managed is an old management axiom. If people know what is expected of them and have achievable goals they will be more successful that those who are not clear on what is expected of them.
A high score here suggests supervisors are doing a good job of providing employees with clear standards and implies the employees know what is important to the success of the organization. Another score to watch improve over time as supervisors become more skilled at goal setting.
Action Issues #24
Action plans are established and carried out.
DESCRIPTION:
This action issue probes the nature of planning at the working level. The success of an enterprise can be directly linked to the work performed by everyone within the enterprise. Many employees run on auto pilot – “keeping on keeping on” day by day. Those that have mutually established goals set with their supervisors perform better and therefore the organization tends to perform better as well.
A high score for this set of questions suggests a planful workforce with clear goals linked to the organizations overall goals. Another score to watch improve over time as supervisors become more skilled.
Work Systems Associates Canada 