Communication Planning as a Process

This step provides the foundation for all the other steps in the problem-solving process, which helps to define the problem or opportunity.

Explores questions such as:

• Who is involved or affected?
• What is the source of concern?
• When does this opportunity or problem present itself?
• Where is it of concern/presented?
• Why is this an opportunity or problem for the command?
• Why is this an opportunity or problem for relevant actors?
• How does this opportunity or problem impact a command’s intent?

The information gathered in this step is used to make decisions about goals, relevant actors, objectives, strategies, tactics, activities, relationships, and messages.

• Identify intended stakeholders, organizations, relevant actors and audiences.
• Who does this opportunity or problem affect?
• Set goals and objectives.
• Focus on the impact or influence of knowledge, attitude or behavior.
• Determine strategies and tactics.
• Set out specific approaches and mechanisms for employment.
• Include drafts of all proposed material.
• Develop themes, messages and talking points.
• Identify differences in messages for various intended stakeholders, organizations, relevant actors and audiences.
• Create an evaluation plan.
• Discuss the evaluation of all metrics to assess the impact of the communication plan.

Use strategic implementation by focusing on stakeholder management, content management and organizational considerations to carry out the plan. Remember, implementation is about communicating with impact at the speed of relevance.

Consider:

Stakeholder Management

• Involve internal, external, proximity and career field stakeholders identified during planning.
• Proactively include career field colleagues to be current and ready to leverage opportunities.

Content Management

• Include creation, execution and adaptation of content calendars and production matrices.

Organizational Considerations

• Ensure leaders understand communication strategy concepts, vision, context, creativity, themes, narratives, messages and how they can participate.

Assess the progress and results of the program to answer the questions:

• How are we doing?
• How did we do?

To answer those questions, consider:

Measurable Objectives

• How will the metrics used relate to the research?
• How will you address the objectives and assess the impact?

Baselines/Benchmarks

• What are you using to base your success or progress?
• What is your starting point or reasonable comparison?

Plan

• What factors will determine your ability to carry out the evaluation?
• At what points during the plan will measurement and evaluation take place?