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| Advanced Planning and Preparation |
Advanced Planning and Preparation
When dealing with large and complex systems, advanced planning and preparation can also help you avoid, or at least reduce the impact of potential problems.
Dealing with complexity
When you are dealing with any project that is large, complex, and/or expensive then careful planning is the best way to avoid significant problems. Careful planning should include a detailed written plan, consultation with experts, and the creation of stepby- step procedures. It is far easier to deal with a potential problem at the beginning of a project than it is to make major modifications after the project has been partially completed. It is far easier to conduct a careful survey and then build a wall in its correct location, than it is to try to move the wall after it has been built.
Timing and scheduling often play a role in major projects. Projects grind to a halt if supplies, equipment, and/or workers are not available when needed. Costs mount rapidly if supplies, equipment, and/or workers are sitting around before they are needed.
On a personal level, two examples of endeavours that can benefit from careful planning are your educational career and your vacations.
In education you should look ahead several years to find a direction that will best satisfy your needs, ambitions, interests, and abilities. Once you have decided on an educational goal, you should work backwards from that goal to your present situation and make lists of courses you need and standards that you have to meet, since most advanced programs require prerequisite courses with minimum academic standards.
Without adequate planning, you can end up spending an extra year or two at school making up for missing prerequisites.
When going on vacation, you often have to plan several months in advance in order to get the flights and accommodations that you want. Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, and chances are that thousands of other travellers want to visit the same places that you do. You can also enhance your vacation experience by learning more about your travel destination.
Carpenters have a saying that sums up the essence of this section, ‘measure twice, and cut once’. In other words, plan carefully and you will not have to repeat your efforts or waste material.
Contingency plans
Contingency plans are plans that you make for situations that are unlikely to occur, but are very serious if they do. When making a contingency plan you can carefully consider alternatives and identify the essential steps of the best plans.
Fire drills at home, at school, and in industry; life-boat drills on cruise ships; and the pre-flight review of emergency procedures on airplanes are common examples of contingency planning. Note that contingency planning requires the development of procedures, the design and provision of equipment, and step-by-step rehearsals. Then
if an emergency situation does arise, people can quickly react by following the recommended procedures.
A clear thinker should anticipate, make contingency plans, and be ready to act in response to situations with high stakes and limited response times.
When dealing with large and complex systems, advanced planning and preparation can also help you avoid, or at least reduce the impact of potential problems.
Dealing with complexity
When you are dealing with any project that is large, complex, and/or expensive then careful planning is the best way to avoid significant problems. Careful planning should include a detailed written plan, consultation with experts, and the creation of stepby- step procedures. It is far easier to deal with a potential problem at the beginning of a project than it is to make major modifications after the project has been partially completed. It is far easier to conduct a careful survey and then build a wall in its correct location, than it is to try to move the wall after it has been built.
Timing and scheduling often play a role in major projects. Projects grind to a halt if supplies, equipment, and/or workers are not available when needed. Costs mount rapidly if supplies, equipment, and/or workers are sitting around before they are needed.
On a personal level, two examples of endeavours that can benefit from careful planning are your educational career and your vacations.
In education you should look ahead several years to find a direction that will best satisfy your needs, ambitions, interests, and abilities. Once you have decided on an educational goal, you should work backwards from that goal to your present situation and make lists of courses you need and standards that you have to meet, since most advanced programs require prerequisite courses with minimum academic standards.
Without adequate planning, you can end up spending an extra year or two at school making up for missing prerequisites.
When going on vacation, you often have to plan several months in advance in order to get the flights and accommodations that you want. Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, and chances are that thousands of other travellers want to visit the same places that you do. You can also enhance your vacation experience by learning more about your travel destination.
Carpenters have a saying that sums up the essence of this section, ‘measure twice, and cut once’. In other words, plan carefully and you will not have to repeat your efforts or waste material.
Contingency plans
Contingency plans are plans that you make for situations that are unlikely to occur, but are very serious if they do. When making a contingency plan you can carefully consider alternatives and identify the essential steps of the best plans.
Fire drills at home, at school, and in industry; life-boat drills on cruise ships; and the pre-flight review of emergency procedures on airplanes are common examples of contingency planning. Note that contingency planning requires the development of procedures, the design and provision of equipment, and step-by-step rehearsals. Then
if an emergency situation does arise, people can quickly react by following the recommended procedures.
A clear thinker should anticipate, make contingency plans, and be ready to act in response to situations with high stakes and limited response times.
