IV. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This sub-section outlines the Development Program. It is divided into five sections covering Decision Elements, Action Items, Timing, Resources, and Planning. At the end of the sub-section are an Action Table and multi-year Gantt Charts. These will provide a framework for showing Action Items, Timing, and Responsibilities. The Development Program should give you a path for gathering the additional information you need and for determining if you have a viable Business Concept. This is a Development Program for defining a Business Concept. It is a screening device.

A. DECISION ELEMENTS

What are the key decisions that must be made to continue this business concept?

Decision Alternatives
1.
2.
3.

B. ACTION ITEMS

What information is necessary to make these decisions?

Decision Information Needed
1.
2.
3.

C. TIMING

When must that information be available?

By convention, we use 24 timing checkpoints per year where great precision is not available or required. This convention uses numerical split months, either A or B. For example, early September is 9A, late September is 9B, etc.

Moving from split month Action Plan Timing to split month or weekly Gantt Chart Timing is generally easy. Some imposed timing may be very precise and this should be noted.

Information Item Timing
1.
2.
3.

D. RESOURCES

What resources are necessary to obtain that information?

Information Item Resources Needed
1.
2.
3.

E. PLANNING

1. Methods

How will the information be obtained?

It should be noted that the results of the projects may not provide the desired information in the form originally planned.

Information Item Method
1.
2.
3.

E. PLANNING

2. Responsibility

Who is responsible?

For each project element, someone should be assigned responsibility. The person assigned must be held responsible for obtaining the desired information within the time frame and resource constraints. Where possible, link authority for the execution of the project element with the responsibility of reporting results.

Item Description Responsible
1.
2.
3.

E. PLANNING

3. Action Table

How will the program come together?

Topic Action Timing Responsibility
1.
2.
3.

E. PLANNING

4. Gantt Chart

How to track the progress of the program?

5. Gantt Chart