Planning and Decision Making

Syllabus

Unit 1: Effective Planning

Contents:

Why planning is important

Management styles

The features of effective plans

The planning cycle

The control loop

Unit 2: Types of plan

Contents:

Strategic plans

Operational plans

Budgets

Project plans

Unit 3: Ideas into action

Contents:

Keeping the organisation on course

Policies

Planning in large organisations

Planning in small businesses

Planning in the public sector

Unit 4: Planning for change

Contents:

The pressure for change

External influences

Internal influences

Analysing strengths and opportunities

Building a risk window

Unit 5: What decision making involves

Contents:

The importance of decision making

Types of decision

Styles of decision making

Key steps in decision making

Unit 6: Obtaining information for decisions

Contents:

The need for high quality information

Types of information

Sources of information

Information flow and organisational structure

Unit 7: Creative approaches

Contents:

The need for creativity

The creative organisation

Encouraging creativity

Techniques for creative decision making

Unit 8: Choosing between options

Contents:

Evaluating options

Choice and the individual

The choice process

Unit 9: Identifying contengencies

Contents:

Why is contingency planning important?

Approaches to contingency planning

Recognising contingencies

Unit 10: Coping with risk

Contents:

Risk analysis

Decision modelling

Dealing with contingencies

Resources

The pioneers who put people first

Fisons picks up the gauntlet

Study Hours

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 180 hrs.