Topic 1: What is planning and organising ?

Planning and organising are essential for the success of a project, and this involves many other cross-cutting skills. Being able to organise means being able to clearly define the different tasks to be carried out, but also to prioritise them. This skill implies a good time management, an estimation of the result to obtain, and also the ability to adapt and to manage emotions. When this activity is performed in a group, it implies good communication, awareness and collective commitment.

Different points of attention are to be kept in mind:

• Develop a strategy: First of all, it is important to define the precise objectives and results, in order to estimate the results and their feasibility. Then, it is necessary to clearly identify the tasks to be carried out in order to have an overall view, and eventually establish operating rules. By taking into account the constraints and possible risks we then defined a process to follow.
• Plan the activities: Once the tasks have been clearly defined, it is important to prioritize them and to specify the different stages of realization: What, when, where, with whom, etc.
• Organise your time: Establishing a work plan, in the form of a formal schedule, allows you to be well organised and avoid unpleasant surprises. Do not hesitate to add intermediate objectives, without being too bold, and avoid being in a hurry. When establishing a work plan, it is also necessary to set deadlines by taking into account external constraints. This will allow you to be flexible.
• Managing resources and quality: Working in a team or in partnership, as well as the ability to delegate, will guarantee the quality. Good communication and emotional management are both essential to the successful in a completion of a project or activity. Intermediate evaluations and flexibility allow for adjustments throughout the project.