Planning and Organizing

The ability to determine goals and priorities and to assess the actions, time and resources needed to achieve those goals.

uses time management
works in a structured manner
separates essentials from side-issues

is able to draft a realistic time schedule for certain activities
drafts an action plan before entering a project
plans activities and places them in the right order
works neatly and precisely, uses adequate filing systems
adjusts plans when necessary

translates management proposals into feasible action plans
sets realistic budgets
sets strategic priorities for his/her department based on the organization's policy
finds the right moments for making decisions
allocates people and resources effectively

defines strategy and goals for the medium and long terms
drafts change initiatives, indicates a general time schedule
drafts various alternative future scenarios based on prognoses
drafts general budgets based on a desired profit and percentage loss
sets the right priorities in an organization-wide change process

Planning and organizing can be easily developed if the candidate has a more than average score (7,8,9) on the drives Order & Structure and Purposiveness.

How have you prepared for this interview?
Could you describe a regular working day or week? To what extent are all your activities planned on forehand?
Which goals did you have over the last year? Did you meet them? If so, how? If not, why?
Have you ever had to revise your planning because of an unexpected event? Could you give an example? What did you do?
Did you ever have to review a time scheme because of unforeseen circumstances? Could you give an example?

Take unexpected events into account in your planning.
Make sure your plans are attainable and your employees are informed about the deadlines.
Write agreements down.
Avoid putting things off.
Decide in what order activities should take place (long-term planning).

Encourage your candidate to ask others for 360º feedback regarding his planning and organizing skills. What are his strengths and what could be improved? Discuss the results with the candidate.
Investigate with your candidate what he has to learn in terms of planning and organizing his own work and, possibly, that of others.
Encourage your candidate to plan a large task (or several tasks) and ask him to explain how this task will be performed. Discuss the planning with the candidate. Ask for priorities, time management, costs, sub-tasks that will be delegated and so on.
Ask your candidate to define long term goals. Ask him to indicate what the priorities are and to make a planning based on those priorities.
Ask your candidate to check whether his time schedules are accurate. When did activities take longer than planned and why was that the case?
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