In the business of training, like every business, competition for limited resources is fierce nowadays. That makes good ongoing resource planning more important than ever. There are several steps to keep in mind.
STEP 1: For every upcoming task, responsibility, and project, think ahead and brainstorm all the resources you will need. These include: work space, supplies, materials, equipment, transportation, information, operation, maintenance, people, talent, training, communication, and cooperation.
STEP 2: Determine turnaround time. This means allowing enough time to process, receive, and prepare every resource request.
STEP 3: For every needed resource, do the necessary “supply chain research.” This means you must figure out whether the resources are available, and if they are: From what sources and at what costs? What is the process? What is the expected turnaround time?
STEP 4: If a budget must be approved, put the request in the form of a proposal. This should include: what you propose; the benefits, to whom, when, and by what measure; the costs, to whom, when, and by what measure; the schedule (deadline and milestones); and the plan (including key measures and time budgets).
STEP 5: If you can’t get the desired resources, remember the precious “art of the workaround.” This can be one of several solutions: seeking a substitute source for your resource; seeking a substitute resource; innovating/devising a different way to accomplish the task that doesn’t involve the resource you originally felt you needed; or employing greater time and energy to make up for the missing resource.
