No matter whether you are planning for a clinic, a region, a program, a department, or an organization, the questions that you ask in the planning process are the same. However, the terms used to define the responses to these questions vary widely among organizations, countries, and regions. What one person calls a "goal," the next person may call an "objective." What one person calls an "objective," the next person may call an "activity." Whatever language you use, the terms should be clearly defined and must respond to the questions listed below. They must be used consistently throughout your planning process. In this handbook, we have set the definitions below for common planning terms:
| Questions | Response in the Planning Process |
|---|---|
| What are we here for? | The mission statement: A general statement of the type of organization, its main purpose, and its values. Often called "statement of purpose." Some organizations also state the values that guide their work. |
| What are we trying to achieve? | The goals: Service goals define, in general terms, the proposed benefit of the program for its clients or constituency. Organizational goals define the changes and improvements that the program should make in order to achieve its goals effectively and efficiently. |
| How will we achieve it? | The strategy: A statement which describes how the organization's goals will be met, that is, which types of services or intervention methods will help the organization to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals most effectively and feasibly. |
| What will each strategy achieve? What activity does each strategy call for? | The objectives: Quantifiable outcomes or benefits that are the expected results of implementing a strategy. The activities: A list of the interventions which are necessary to accomplish each objective and a work plan that details the activities and the division of responsibilities for these activities for the coming year. |
| What resources will we need? How will we pay for them, and what will the activities cost? | The financial plan: A statement of the expected capital purchases, revenues (with sources specified), and expenses in the coming three to five years. budgetary objectives for each major managerial unit for each year. and is based on the activities of the work plan. |