Principles of Planning: The Seven Questions

by David N. Rasmussen

In the course of my career, I have written, or managed the development of, hundreds of plans -- business plans, program plans, project plans, test plans, strategic plans, tactical plans, and more. I have developed plans that comprised two pages, 20 pages, and 200 pages. Aside from the purpose of the plan, there is really only one difference between a business plan and any other type of plan, and that is the longevity of the endeavor. All project and program initiatives exist for a finite period, usually with one or more measurable deliverable results at the end of the period. A business plan, although written for a fixed period, applies for a business endeavor that is infinite -- that is, the business must have futurity in order to continue to exist. The business plan, then, must provide for continuation of the business beyond the current time frame of the plan. Otherwise, all plans share a set of common principles.