Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan

PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN

by Antonio C. Antonio

January 2, 2015

Planning is the process of making plans for a specific goal and objective.  While some think that there is not much difference between business planning and upland ecosystem management planning, there remains to be some unique and/or peculiar differences.  To highlight these differences, please allow me to detail some of the notable issues and concerns or steps and stages in upland ecosystem management planning…

Step 1: PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING – After the initial conceptualization of the upland ecosystem management project or program, the most important step is the preliminary organization and planning stage.  In this step, preliminary issues, the preliminary planning area, and priorities for the next step for the next larger area, the stakeholders, and commitments are identified.  The organization of the planning team and contact stakeholders who are to be involved are also identified and organized.

Step 2: PLAN INITIATION – Using the participatory approach, the identification and selection of participants is made in this step.  Other tasks in this step are to confirm the issues and planning area, determine the budgetary requirement and schedule for the planning activities.  The statement of principles, systems and procedures, processes and the expected product and results are also identified.

Step 3: INFORMATION ASSEMBLY – In this step, the following should be identified and made: (1) Inventory of resources; (2) Analyses of resources; (3) Draw the linkages to other land uses; (4) Define unit boundaries; and, (5) Determine problems and opportunities… a SWOT analysis of the project or program.

Step 4: FORMULATING MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES – With all the pertinent information and resources identified, formulating the management objectives and strategies will have to be made at this stage.

Step 5: SCENERIO DEVELOPMENT – Scenario development is nothing more than summarizing all alternative land and resource management objective and strategies based on environmental, economic and social situations.  Such scenarios will always have to be based on sustainable principles consistent with existing public policies.

Step 6: BUILDING AN AGREEMENT THROUGH CONSENSUS – Participatory management principles will again have to be adhered to in this step.  A majority of the stakeholders will have to agree to the upland ecosystem management plan while continuing communications with those who are not yet sure of their approval and/or totally disagree with project and program.  Goodwill, cooperation, communication and strong commitment to reaching a common ground will also be ideal.  All stakeholders should be treated as equals and even majority decisions must not be imposed on the minority.  Various techniques could be employed, including: (a) negotiation; (b) consultation; (c) compromise; (d) facilitation; and (e) fact-finding and mediation.

Step 7: APPROVAL – Ideally, approval of the final upland ecosystem management plan must be unanimous.  This will ensure smooth implementation which is the longer and larger portion of the entire project or program.

Step 8: IMPLEMENTATION – Implementation shall strictly follow pre-planned systems, processes and procedures.

Step 9: MONITORING AND REVIEW – A review and monitoring system will firmly have to be in place.  This is the “red flag” system that will prevent the upland ecosystem management plan from veering towards total disaster.  This also conforms to ideal management principles.

Step 10: AMENDMENT AND RECALIBRATION – Equally important is the institutionalization of an oversight mechanism.  When deviations from the set upland ecosystem management plan are determined, corresponding amendments and recalibration of plans will have to be undertaken.

Upland ecosystem management planning, in plain and simple terms is nothing less than adhering to this old management planning adage that says: “Plan your work and work your plan.”

Just my little thoughts…

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