ABSTRACT
In any plan or forward-looking document, certain assumptions have to be made about the future. These assumptions should be supported, to the extent possible, by facts, not emotion. The actions to be taken should be specific enough so that is they are understood by the people responsible for leading the organization and for executing the plan. These are the “marching orders” for those who will execute the business plan. Executing the business plan will take place over an extended period of time—two to three years would not be unusual for some actions and goals. Milestones are interim accomplishments along the way to accomplishing the action or goal presented in the plan. Milestones demonstrate that the managers and the organization are making progress. The time frames are as the name implies—these are the self- imposed deadlines when an action or goal is to be accomplished.
