1. chapter 9
The Program Plan
Russell & Jamieson

2. Purpose of Planning
Planning provides documentation that others involved in the implementation of the program service can use as a guide.
Planning outlines the specific details to accomplish in order to implement a program.
Planning provides accountability.
Program’s intended design

3. Decision Making
Decisions made at the program planning stage are crucial.
Decision making is the deliberate act of selection, by the mind, among alternative ways to accomplish certain goals (Russell, 1982).
Rational thinking is at the core of decision making.

4. Rationality
As a programming decision maker, rationality means that you do the following:
Set high standards for decisions.
Search as broadly as possible for alternatives from which to choose.
Investigate alternatives in order to have control of the outcome.

5. Group Decision Making
Groupthink is a disadvantage of group decision making.
In groupthink, group members overemphasize achieving agreement.

6. Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a way of producing many ideas to choose from in deciding the best design for a program.
Here are some important brainstorming principles:
Deferred judgment
Quantity produces quality
Multiplying effect

7. Criteria for Decision Making
Is there adequate staff, money, and facilities for this idea?
Does the broader community and your agency support this idea?
Is this idea safe?
Is this idea suitable?
Is it likely to lead to goal accomplishment?
Is it easy?
Is it timely?
Does it fit well with other program services offered?

8. Creativity
Creativity in developing the program plan means assembling new ideas from old, familiar, unrelated ones.
Creativity is important because the programmer faces the dual challenge of offering programs that meet the needs and interests of their patrons as well as establishing new ideas.

9. Enhancing Creativity Read about a wide range of topics.
File your ideas.
Watch what is going on around you.
Listen to what is going on around you.
Meet people and mimic their originality.

10. Types of Program Plans Long-range plans Comprehensive plans
Detail programming design for extended periods of time, such as five years
Typically focus on future goals
Comprehensive plans
Establish the design for all programming responsibilities of an organization
Individual participant plans
Daily, weekly, or monthly programmatic approaches for individual patrons

11. Program Plan A program plan is a plan for a specific program or event.
It outlines how a single program service should be carried out.

12. Elements of a Program Plan
Title
Goals and objectives
Activities and events
Marketing
Pricing
Budget
Facilities
Materials and supplies
Safety
Staffing
Registration procedures
Policies
Cancellation strategies
Required reports
Program evaluation plan
Structure of the program

13. Program Life Cycle
The natural process of a program’s duration is known as the life cycle.
Program plans must account for “shelf life” and indicate how changes will be made or how and when programs will be eliminated.
(continued)

14. Program Life Cycle (continued)
Program life cycles are a program management tool.
You will need a plan for addressing the maturation, extension, and elimination stages of the program.

15. Stages of the Program Life Cycle
Implementation
The program is initially offered.
Rapid growth
This is the takeoff phase.
Maturation
Interest has reached its plateau.
Extension
Interest begins to decline.
Decline
It is no longer feasible to continue the program.