Tree of the purposes – a concept quite widespread among managers and owners of the business. It is one of the most effective methods of planning. It does not represent anything supernatural, and is reflection of all general principles of planning.
The tree of the purposes of the person almost always has the same structure – the main goal is a trunk from which sub-goals "grow", and on each "branch" of sub-goals also tasks can grow. As a rule, when planning achievements by means of this graphic method, the tree of the purposes in the end result has the turned appearance, i.e. a trunk up and krone down.
How to construct a tree of the purposes?
The technique of creation of a tree of the purposes was offered in 1957 by the American researchers R. Akoff and Ch. Cherchmen. It helps to put the person the plans in order, to see in a graphic look all the purposes and daily tasks on the way of their achievement. Also drawing up a tree of the purposes helps to reveal possible combinations in the course of goal-setting to receive the greatest return from result. Today the method of a tree of the purposes is used in forecasting of various directions of science and technology and also for drawing up the personal purposes or when planning future activity of any organization or company.
Rules of creation of a tree of the purposes are rather simple: main or as it is accepted to call it, the general purpose has to be tree top. The local purposes which help with achievement of the goals of the top level become branches. The main rule is a completeness of the described purposes. Each purpose has to be presented in the form of sub-goals of the following level. Thus, association of all purposes has to characterize the main, general goal completely. That it became more clear how this method is put into practice, we will review an example of creation of a tree of the purposes.
Let's say that the large producer of baby food is going to release a new type of goods. The main goal of the company is to increase the sales volumes. In a graphic look it will be a trunk of our tree. If to begin release of new goods, then at the same time it is necessary to reduce the volume of those goods that were made earlier, so and profit will be reduced. On a tree of the purposes this fact will be simply obvious. However the purpose can be corrected, thereby having increased sales volumes. For example, before entering a new type of goods into sale, it is necessary to make the analysis of profitability of already available types. And those, goods which give the smallest profit it is necessary to replace new.
It is possible to give one more, simpler example of creation of a tree of the purposes. Let's allow your main goal – to become the student. At the same time you possess certain resources. For example, good education and wealthy parents. At the same time you estimate the probability of your receipt as high – a gold medal, communications in HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION, etc. Occupations with tutors, capture of the credit in bank, employment, or communication with acquaintances from HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION with the purpose to ask about the help in receipt will be sub-goals in this case.
Species of trees of the purposes depend on the fact that how difficult and multilevel will be the process of implementation of the conceived plans. However regardless of complexity of planning, the principles of creation of a tree of the purposes remain the general:
- Right at the beginning the purpose is formulated in the form of several offers which have to answer the question "what?". That you will see when the objective is achieved that will be represented by the company that will be prepared by people, etc.
- Definition of a concept of the purpose has to help to establish criteria by which it will be in the future possible to be convinced whether there is a progress in the movement to the planned results. The more strictly it will be possible to define a concept of the purposes the more simply will be to set to them criteria and restrictions. An important stage of goal-setting is definition of a strategic objective. It provides such quality as concreteness and measurability of the purpose.
- The strategic objective is carried in rather distant future and differs from what is in the present. Therefore on a question what events will be developed between the present and future decomposition of a strategic objective on a sub-goal has to give.
Knowing how to build a tree of the purposes, it is possible to look forward and plan surely what will lead that to, or other action. To try to obtain success it is necessary to be able to formulate the purposes accurately. They have to be concrete, measurable various terms and achievable. It is possible to realize only that purpose which can do to you and corresponds to your abilities. All the rest – only waste of time.
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