The STOP Approach to Planning

There are three levels of planning and decision making required in developing a comprehensive plan: Strategic, Tactical and Operational Planning. Strategic Planning decisions are the broadest and most general, Operational Planning decisions are the most narrow and specific, and Tactical Planning decisions fall in between.

Leaders can use the STOP approach as a roadmap in developing and communicating plans, and ensuring the thoroughness and completeness of any planning process.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Strategic decisions should be made first as they set the vision and objectives of your plan, and may be described as:

1. Outcome Oriented

2. Future Focused

3. Ideation

4. Big Picture

5. 50,000 Foot View

6. General

7. Broad Objectives

8. The Why

9. Visionary

TACTICAL PLANNING

Tactical decisions add specifics to your vision and objectives and are designed to implement your strategic decisions. Tactical decisions are:

1. Methods/Methodologies Oriented

2. Short to Mid-term Focused

3. Innovation

4. Tree Top

5. 30,000 Foot View

6. Less General

7. Goals

8. The What, Who, When, Where & How

9. Identifying Obstacles

OPERATIONAL PLANNING

Operational decisions are the most specific and detailed and are designed to implement the strategic and tactical decisions. Operational decisions are:

Methods: Planning consistently happens in three areas, personal, ministry and organization and on three levels, strategic, tactical and operational