This document introduces the 5W planning formula for developing effective action plans. The formula involves asking who, what, when, where, why, and how questions to fully plan a project. It can be applied at all levels of planning from overall goals down to specific tasks. Using the 5W questions ensures all necessary details are considered in developing and implementing a successful plan.

1. THE 5wh PLANNING FORMULA Brought to you by 5wh

2. February 20095wh Marketing2OBJECTIVEThe objective of this presentation is to impart to you our 5wh formula for planning personal, professional and organisational projects

3. February 20095wh Marketing3ACKNOWLEDGEMENTFiveWH Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited (“5wh”) is a relationship-based Business Services company which specializes in Internal Audits, Forensic Audits, Compliance Audits and Business Systems Consultancy.To know more about our company and our products & services and to start a relationship, here we are:- Cell: Caleb 0712 620 287/0912 466 540 Email: caleb@zol.co.zw, Other: P.O. Box 1361 Harare

4. February 20095wh Marketing4ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE ACTION PLAN When making any decision, great or minor, it will pay dividends to ask yourself these six very important questions beforehand: WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHY and HOW. These six questions are the 5wh formula and apply to every decision you will ever make.

5. February 20095wh Marketing5ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE ACTION PLAN The key to using the 5wh formula is the consistent questioning of each and every thought you have running through your mind. If you haven’t asked (and answered) the 5wh questions honestly for each area of your plan, sub plans, and sub-sub plans, then your plans are incomplete.

6. February 20095wh Marketing6ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE ACTION PLAN The 5wh formula can be drilled down infinitely - meaning that plans can be broken down into goals, which can be broken down into tasks and tasks can be broken down into steps. The 5wh formula is as important on the big plan-questions as it is to the small-step questions. The formula is a key to good management from the top down and the bottom up.

7. February 20095wh Marketing7ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE ACTION PLAN Here we present just one decision process area where the formula can be applied – planning. We believe that failing to plan is indeed planning to fail. Customized properly, the 5wh formula is a systematic checklist/tool which is applicable in all decision making situations.

8. February 20095wh Marketing8WHATWhat needs to be done?

9. What needs to be done first?

10. What might be done by others?

11. What resources are needed?

12. What is our goal?

13. What are the risks?February 20095wh Marketing9WHENWhen might we plan to start?

14. When might we plan to finish?

15. When might we know that we have been successful?