Contents | 1. Essence | 2. Types | 3. Models | 4. Jargon | 5. Checklists | 6. Resources

There are many types of plans used in human service organisations. While the essence of all plans is the same - answering questions such as where we are going and how we are going to get there -
we often give them different names depending on what the plan is for.

For example plans can be made for:

• The organisation (e.g. strategic plan, service plans, financial plan)
• A project (e.g. project plan, financial plan)
• A team (e.g. team work plan)
• A worker (e.g. individual work plan)
• A client (e.g. individual service plan)

Some of the different types of plans and the questions they ask and attempt to answer are listed below.

The Organisation

Strategic Plan
Where are we? Where are we going? Why? How will we get there?

Service Plan
Who are the clients? What will be the benefits to them? How?

Operational Plan
What do we need to do to make it all happen and know we are on track?

Financial Plan
Where is the money coming from? Where is it going to? Will there be enough?

Evaluation Plan
How do we know we are doing a good job? How do we know how to improve what we are doing?

The Project

Project Plan
What are we trying to achieve? How will we make it happen?

Project Financial Plan
Where is the money coming from? Where is it going to? Will there be enough?

Project Evaluation Plan
How do we know we are doing a good job? How do we know how to improve what we are doing?

The Team

Team Work Plan
What are we on about? What do we need to do, when and why?

The Worker

Individual Work Plan
What am I on about? What do I need to do, when and why?

The Clients

Individual Service Plans / Case Management
What do I want to achieve? How can it happen?

A typical large organisation
In a large organisation there will be many plans, for example, a separate strategic plan, financial plan and operational plan. There will be project plans, team work plans, individual work plans. And if the organisation is a direct service provider there will be individual service plans or case management plans.

Very small organisations
A very small organisation many only require one plan which incorporates the answers to all the questions above.