Before we get started with outlining the Procter & Gamble (P&G) yearly business planning process,  I want to mention...although you may learn how to business plan like Procter & Gamble, it is doubtful you'll have the success of Procter & Gamble (sorry)....but you should drastically improve your business performance.
 
The first part of the P&G yearly business planning process is defining your business Objectives - Goals - Strategies and Measures (OGSM).
 
 
 

	Item	Description
1	Objective	Define the broad Objectives for the business within the next fiscal year
2	Goals	Define Numerical Goals for each objective within the next fiscal year   For example, +1.0MM in Net Outside Sales (NOS)
3	Strategies	Define Strategies to reach each Goal to be executed within the next fiscal year
4	Measures	Define Numerical Measures for each Strategy within defined timeframes that are in line to deliver the Numerical Goals   For example, X number of sales from a strategy.

 
Now after you have laid out the OGSM (Objective - Goals - Strategies and Measures), now it is time to make it real for your organization.
 

	Item	Description
1	Assumptions	List out all assumptions influencing the OGSM including economic environment constraints that could significantly impact results
2	Tactics	List out tactics for each strategy that you can implement within the next fiscal year that are in line with the numerical Measures
3	Targets	Set targets for the strategies and tactics to make the plan actionable.  A plan that is not actionable is USELESS!!!  Some targets might be something that is measurable each week, month or quarter so you have an on-going way to measure your progress toward the larger goals.

 
 
Now that you have an actionable plan that you should keep in front of you each day.  Periodically, you have to REVIEW the plan:
 

	Item	Description
1	Results	Periodically have an Action Plan & Review Form to summarize results versus your targets.  Simply put, did you do what you said you were going to do?  List out these numerical results because what you measure you can control.
2	Gap Analysis	Analyze why you were able to surpass some targets, barely meet some targets and not meet other targets.
3	Plan Adjustments	From your Gap Analysis, what are the plan adjustments that you will make to get on track to meet the larger goals between now and the next plan review.

With these steps you will be able to Yearly Business Plan like Procter & Gamble, but the key is making sure your plan is something that you USE every day, that is ACTIONABLE and is PERIODICALLY REVIEWED and ADJUSTED.
 
Happy 2009 Planning,
Ben Moore
Agent Technologies, Inc.