A good plan--
Provides for accomplishing the mission, which is the objective of all
planning.
Is based on facts and valid assumptions. All pertinent data has been
considered for its accuracy, and assumptions have been reduced to a
minimum.
Provides for the use of existing resources.
These include resources
organic to the organization and those
available from higher
headquarters.
Provides for the necessary organization.
It
clearly
establishes
relationships and fixes responsibilities.
Provides for personnel, materiel, and other arrangements for the full
period of the contemplated operation.
Provides for decentralization. It delegates authority to the maximum
extent consistent with the necessary control.
Provides for direct contact permitting coordination during execution
between all levels.
Is simple.
It reduces all essential elements to their simplest form
and eliminates those elements not essential to successful action.
A
good plan also eliminates all possibilities for misunderstanding.
Is flexible.
It leaves room for adjustments because of operating
conditions and, where necessary, stipulates alternate courses of
action.
Provides for control.
Adequate means exist, or have been provided
for, to carry out the plan according to the commander's intent.
Is coordinated.
All elements fit together, control measures
are
complete and understandable, and mutual support requirements
are
identified and provided for.
The outline plan is a preliminary plan that sets forth the important
features or principles of a course of action before the initiation of
detailed planning. You may use the outline to:
1.
Provide information to higher headquarters;
2.
Seek approval and allocation of means, when necessary;
3.
Obtain opinions and recommendations of subordinate commanders;
4.
Assist a commander in arriving at a decision;
5.
Initiate and make planning easier at lower levels.
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