Developing actions and setting targets

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Developing Actions Actions form the foundation of your APC action plan. Setting powerful actions that align with the organisation’s internal and external requirements as well as the relevant APC goals and KPIs has been identified as a key challenge for many signatories.

Organisations across all industries and sectors struggle to set powerful actions which facilitate the delivery of strategic objectives and ultimately enhance performance.

Powerful actions are fundamental to:

• Set direction, as they provide the organisation with a strong understanding of what it is doing, why it is doing it, when it needs to be done, and what resources are required.

• Drive strategy, as when effectively aligned with the organisation’s broader strategies or plans, they facilitate delivery of strategic objectives and help to guide responsibilities and accountabilities.

• Enhance performance, as when they are well planned, developed, implemented and monitored, they place the organisation on a path of continuous improvement in those areas of strategic importance for both the organisation and its stakeholders.

What is its purpose?

It is possible to develop actions that conflict with or neutralise efforts in other parts of the organisation. In order to align actions with broader internal, external and APC requirements, it is important to identify and understand any external obligations the organisation is required to meet, as well as any relevant internal responsibilities of the organisation’s various functions and/or departments.

How powerful are your actions?

Consider the actions in your APC action plan. Are they:

• Aligned Do they go beyond a ‘business as usual’ approach?

• Purposeful Do they address the company’s priority issues?

• Current Do they relate to a current issue? Are they forward looking?

• Accountable Has someone been assigned responsibility?

• Progressive Do they go beyond a ‘business as usual’ approach?

Remember the APCAP acronym when you revise or write your action plan!

Developing actions and setting targets

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Setting Targets Setting robust targets to deliver the actions in your action plan is also critical. Again, some APC signatories could improve the strength and effectiveness of the targets in their action plans. Good target setting allows an organisation to:

• Set direction, as targets place the focus on the desired outcomes of actions and ensures efforts are streamlined to reach desired objectives;

• Drive strategic outcomes, as targets are a commitment by the organisation to deliver results through strategic actions; and

• Measure performance, as targets provide a benchmark against which an organisation can evaluate achievement and ascertain the effectiveness of specific actions and initiatives.

SMART is a well-established approach to developing and setting targets for a range of business aspects. SMART targets are:

When developing targets for your action plan it is recommended that you make them SMART as this will enable you to effectively drive strategic outcomes and measure and monitor your performance.

Are your actions aligned?

Consider the actions in your APC action plan and see if you can answer ‘yes’ to any or all of the following questions?

• Do actions align with APC Goals and KPIs?

• Do actions align with other external initiatives and regulations affecting the Company?

• Do actions align with Company’s strategic goals and objectives?

• Are the actions supported by and aligned with well-defined targets?

Remember to check the alignment of all actions in your action plan!

Developing actions and setting targets

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Do you have SMART Targets?

Consider the targets set in your action plan. Can you answer ‘yes’ to any or all of the following questions.

• Are they direct, succinct and unambiguous? SPECIFIC

• Can they be quantified, assessed and reported? MEASURABLE

• Can they be acted upon and implemented? ACHIEVABLE

• Do they relate to the overall objective to be achieved? RELEVANT

• Do they have a timeframe for completion/achievement? TIME-BOUND

Remember the SMART acronym and make your action plan targets SMART!