Status
For Americans, a plan is an approach, a way to proceed. A good plan guides people who are collaborating toward a target. A plan is an important practical tool, but ultimately subordinate to results. Americans value a plan that is clear enough to provide direction and flexible enough to accommodate the unexpected. For Americans, a plan that constrains rather than enables has outlived its usefulness. Patterns
Contingency
Because Americans believe in flexibility, in being willing to go off plan, they do a significant amount of contingency planning. They assume that the primary plan will encounter obstacles and that conditions will change. For Americans, contingency planning is a sign of realism and professional maturity. No plan can anticipate every variable. Fallback positions give the team confidence and agility. Patterns
Horizon
Americans plan for the short to mid-term. Long-term action cannot be planned for properly. The variables are too uncertain, and the environment is too dynamic. Detailed planning for conditions that will almost certainly change is not worth the effort. Americans believe in planning for what they can see clearly, executing decisively, and adjusting as new information becomes available. Patterns
Detail
Americans believe in less detail. The degree of detail depends on the situation. Americans typically plan A to C in great detail and begin executing. They continue planning as they proceed and refine the later stages based on what they learn. For Americans, real-world experience is the best source of planning data. Planning in parallel with action maintains momentum. Patterns
Adjustment
Americans believe that a plan should be flexible. If the plan, or aspects of it, are not working, they make the necessary changes. Flexibility is a core competency. Recognizing when a plan needs adjustment and making that adjustment quickly is a mark of effective leadership. The information available when a plan is made is always incomplete. As conditions change, the plan must evolve. Patterns