OLS-North Conference 2012Project Planning

September 26, 2012A mission with Nancy Recollet

Let’s enjoy this morning!!!

Your first mission:• Interview your partner (the person next

to you). You have two minutes a minute for each of you:– Ask where they are from?– What their expectation is from this session?

Your Next Part of your Mission

You are a member of the Way Team:• You will then proceed to introduce your

partner and he/she you.• You will tell who they are and what they

expect from the session.• You will need to do it quickly or you will get

assimilated into the Borg!!!

The Job of Planning

Verify what you perceive is needed!!!!• Clearly define “The Why”• Who is “My” target client• What information needs to be gathered, the

how:– Coffee groups– Evaluation sheets / questionaries'– Opinion polls– Suggestion box

The Job of Planning

– Brainstorming sessions with groups (youth, elders, young adults, parents)

– Hosting a suggestion symposium

The First Job of Planning

Evaluate information collected and gathered, what you see has been needed may not be what your client needs. Will you need to adjust your thought on the project?• Categorize• How do the categories connect• Put them in order of priority• Identify what the key issue is

You are now ready to “Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before”!!!!

(or have you?)

You are now able to specify, identify, set priorities and clearly state the need (a project that gains support and creates momentum to be successfully completed).

Planning

• Outline the process (for yourself)• Do you need collaboration / partnerships /

alliances• Investigate the content of the project

(relevancy)• What methods will be used• Estimate costs and time (be realistic)• Build in an evaluation – the process & outcome

Planning

• What are the necessary arrangements• How will I market the project• The steps and deadlines for completing each

job / planning steps• What are alternate plans to prepare (the in

case)• Evaluate the progress of the plan (where do

you need to modify?)

Planning

• What follow-up will be required?• What are the future possibilities – how will

this build integrity into the First Nation Library and value you as a resource?

“You can now explore new worlds and new civilizations”.

Establishing Alliances

• Why? Here is were all of your information gathering pays off.

• You have identified the need and the factors.• You can now look at the existing human

resources in the community? Who could assist in moving this agenda forward and how can I get the individual to participate?

• What is the strategy within the plan to recruit assistance – senior’s group, youth group, health centre, administration staff, concerned citizens, regular Library users.

• How can I promote the project?– Newsletter– Notice in the mail of a gathering on the project

goal

What’s the big to-do about Evaluation?

• Are the goals in line with the project aim?• Are they acceptable aims and stated in

language that is understandable?• Are they clear enough to be practical?• Are the goals in line – are they too high or too

low?• Are they attainable and measurable.

Evaluation Techniques!!!!!

• Noting opinions – remarks / surveys.• What is important? You may need to do a

comparative analysis from information collected using various approaches.

• Some methods include:– Discussion groups– Café night – with clear and concise question for

discussion.– Survey of the project

Evaluating the Planning

• Evaluating the presentation process.• Evaluating the opportunity for involvement.• Continuous evaluations provides warnings and

suggested ways to avoid some steps.• Functional evaluation leads to a change in

project content.

1. What is the target of the Project?2. Where are we now (progress recorded)?3. What activities will lead toward the goal?4. How are we doing?5. What do the collected (collective) evidence

mean?6. Are we doing what we should be?7. Can we reach our objective?

Try the process outlined!!!

Your final mission: Report!!!

How did the exercise go?• Was the process difficult?• What was you experience in the project

planning?• Did you get the information you were seeking

when we started this morning?

Project Planning in Summary

• It is creative problem solving• More heads are better then one• Has someone had a similar project and could

they be a resource• Visualize the results of the project:– Use– Number of card holders– Number of new books