Plan

Plan (Strategic Level)

The planning step of the performance management process is of key importance to the application of a performance-based approach. 

Success during the planning step is best ensured by the following steps:

•    Establish the leadership team (link)
•    The leadership team establishes the project team (link)
•    Engage with the relevant stakeholders
•    Establish performance ambitions
•    Based on data and information, define:

•    The performance objectives or system deficiencies  
•    The size and scope (for example the airspace regions, aerodromes, stakeholders)
•    The time frames: short, medium, long

Plan (Technical/ operational level)

The technical plan ensures the strategic plan is properly carried out.  The approach involves assigning appropriate resources, outlining specific steps and timelines to realise the strategic plan. The technical plan:      

•    Defines the performance objectives to be provisioned within the scope
•    Defines performance indicators and proposes performance targets for endorsement by the leadership team
•    Assesses current ATM performance through data analysis
•    Identifies and understands the performance gaps
•    What is the issue?
•    Where is the issue?
•    What is the magnitude of the issue?
•    Identifies the solutions required to achieve the performance objectives
•    Defines the speed of progress in terms of baseline and target performance

To effectively develop the technical plan, the project team identifies and applies relevant data and methodologies (e.g. SWOT, SMART) to measure performance and identify solutions.

Note.- The ASBU framework provides some solutions.

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) framework:

•    The SWOT analysis plays a key role in identifying and addressing factors that can prevent the implementation of operational improvements. These factors can be either within or outside the control of the project team
•    The SWOT analysis can also assist in the “practicality” of realizing an operational improvement. The more the strengths and opportunities, and the less the weaknesses and threats, the more likely a performance objective can be met. The likelihood of meeting the performance objective often influences the priority of implementing performance improvements.

S-M-A-R-T

SMART is a framework to establish criteria for effective goal setting and objective development.  S-M-A-R-T stands for:

•    Specific – targeting a particular area for improvement
•    Measurable – ability to identify a set of quantifiable indicator(s) to determine progress and achievement
•    Achievable – defining attainable results with available resources
•    Relevant – ability to gauge benefit relative to other projects and establish priority. Ability to stakeholders to take advantage of the improvement.
•    Time-bound – including a timeline for expected results

The S-M-A-R-T framework is valuable for the leadership team to keep the implementation of the project on track and achievable.