Business Plan Guide: 13. Implementation

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This is a critically important section – use it to translate all your proposals into clear, realistic and implementable plans.

Highlight the major decision points, time scales, milestones and actions required by management and others to progress the plan. Explain contingency plans to cover shortfalls.

Be realistic about the likely rate of progress and make provision for slippages.

13.1. First Year

Summarize the key tasks to be completed during the first year, use a simple Gantt chart or table. Avoid going into too much detail or being too tactical.

13.2. Subsequent Years

To discuss implementation for subsequent years, use a simple table or bullet points and concentrate on high-level, strategic issues.

13.3. Contingency Plans

Discuss contingency measures to cover the possibility of plans going astray for internal reasons or due to external factors. These could include the following:

• Delays in raising external finance or only raising a proportion of the required amount.
• Undershooting of sales projections due to competition, changes in demand or problems with marketing or distribution.
• Delays in completing major R&D or capital expenditure programs.
• Non-availability of materials or unexpected cost increases.

It may be useful to refer back to the results of 11.6 Sensitivity Analyses in 11. Financial Projections.

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