Resources Plan begins with an analysis of the annual targets and the goals from the strategic plan. Normally you can develop the resources plan in conjunction with the operations plan since the two are so closely connected. The resources plan matches requirements to the overall plan.
The resources plan provides a great deal of information to the reader because it examines specific support requirements. It contains, at minimum, information on ten categories:
1. Staffing Levels. What are your short-term and long-term staffing requirements? What kinds of skills will be needed at each level, now and in the future?
2. Information Requirements. What is the volume and quality of your information?
3. Technology. Do you have the most effective technology to do the job? Is technology just around the corner that will put your competition in the advantage? What is the cost of staying up-to-date with technology?
4. Tools and Equipment. What supporting systems do you and your staff needs to get all the tasks completed?
5. Intellectual Capital. How smart are your people? How smart will they have to be in the future? What do they have to be smart about? How are you using the intellectual capital database that now exists?
6. Time. What critical milestones exist in your plan? Where are the important decision points in the plan? What can you do to use your time more wisely?
7. Relationships. What networks need to be developed? Can strategic alliances and strategic partnerships help your plan?
8. Image. What is your image in the public perception? What should it be? How will you develop this perception or change a negative one?
9. Facilities. Can you estimate the facilities requirements? Is the need for physical space increasing or decreasing? What effect has e-business had on your industry?
10. Financial. Have you considered the budget constraints for short-term requirements? What are the long-term capital investment requirements? Do the financial numbers make good business sense?