The Planning Process

Health planning involves a series of steps that move the process from the first organizational meeting to a finalized plan (and beyond). The process for community-wide planning is different from that for organization-level planning, and each type of plan calls for variations in the planning process. Internal factors and external factors are reviewed to determine the difference between the existing situation and the desired situation (the “planning gap”). The planning process begins with planning for planning and proceeds through a systematic sequence of activities through assumption formulation and data collection and analysis. The process typically includes a comprehensive needs assessment at the community level and both internal and external audits at the organization level. A SWOT analysis may be used to generate an overview of the community or organization’s situation and highlight any gaps between health-related needs and resources. The plan generated through this process should include goals, objectives, and action steps codified in an implementation plan. As with any plan, an evaluation component should be included.