Take Action

The final stage in the Team Work Process is Take Action.

1) This element guides the team through the actions

  • Of planning, implementing, communicating, monitoring, and adjusting the agreed upon decision from the meeting
  • Of incorporating all information into an Action Plan

2) These steps are essential for

  • Gaining and maintaining team commitment
  • Achieving ultimate and desired results
  • Ensuring that the Action plan being implemented will delight customers within cost, quality, and⁄or time requirements

Process Flow Diagram

Procedures

The goal! To evaluate Actual Results versus Desired Results.

Why do it?
Evaluating Actual Results sets next steps for:

Continued actionDevelopmental opportunitiesProcess improvement

What to do:

  • Review the agenda Desired Results Topics at the end of the meeting and determine if the level of result was achieved. If the level was not achieved, define what needs to be accomplished and incorporate it into the Action Plan.
  • Conduct a quick meeting survey using the Meeting Evaluation Frame in the AgendaTEC. Ask and record: what went right?; and, what needs improvement?
  • Identify improvement actions and record in the Meeting Action Plan.Decision:
    How can Actual Results, Achievement, and Agreements take place?
    Focus on how to:
  • Handle unachieved Desired Results
  • Develop needed skills and capabilities
  • Improve effectiveness
  • Follow up to ensure ongoing results

Responsibility

Team Facilitator

Procedure

Follow these steps for evaluating whether the desired level of result was achieved:

Step

Action

1

Press ALT + TAB to your AgendaTEC document.

Result: You move between your browser and the meeting agenda.
2

Scroll to the Meeting Evaluation tool.
3

Conduct a quick meeting survey by asking and recording:
What went right?
What needs improvement?

Example 

Tools

AgendaTEC-MS Word

The goal!
To frame an Action Plan so the Content, Process, and Developmental Actions identifies:

Who is responsible for follow up actions.

Includes clarified time lines for completing the required actions.

Why do it?
Action Planning encourages a shared commitment to act with results accountability.

What to do:
Establish commitment to the actions to ensure implementation and then record in the Action Plan Frame.

Decision:
What are the necessary actions required to implement:
1) Decisions made during the meeting?
2) Next Steps for Desired Results Topics not achieved?
3) Needed Skills and Capabilities for improvement for the team?
4) Other actions required to implement content decisions and process steps?

Responsibility

Team Facilitator

Procedure

Follow these steps to frame an action plan:

Step

Action

1

Press ALT + TAB to your AgendaTEC document.

Result: You move between your browser and the meeting agenda.
2

Scroll to the Meeting Action Plan tool.
3

Have results been met?
If yes, move forward to Implement Actions.
If no, document plans for follow-up on specific topic areas including, Action Required, Action Owner and Timing for action completion.

Example
 

Tools

FrameTEC-MS Word

The goal!
Implement the Action Plan, based on carrying out the ‘committed to’ actions that meet or exceed cost, quality, and time requirements.

Why do it?
The Action Plan reflects a level of achievement needed to delight customers.

What to do:
Focus on how the Action Plan can be implemented to the delight of customers within the profit, revenue, and expense budget, while encompassing quality and time requirements.

Decision:
What are the Required Actions?

  • These actions achieve customer levels of quality expectation within cost constraints.
  • Time-driven implementation takes into account implications for the customer, including their time requirements.

Responsibility

Team Members

Procedure

Step

Action

1

Press ALT + TAB to your FrameTEC Document.

Result: You move between your browser and the framing document.
2

Ensure commitment from and implementation of:

· Actions Required,
· Action Owners, and
· Timing for Action Completion

Example

Tools

FrameTEC-MS Word

The goal!
Communicate the Action with stakeholders (after-the-meeting) concerning:What is required to achieve work results.What is required to implement next process steps.What is required to continuously improve capabilities.Why do it?
Communicating Action productively involves people in follow-up action.What to do:

  • Ask action owners to report their progress to the team leader as assignments are accomplished.
  • Determine if further help is required to achieve desired results.Decision:
    How will the Action Plan be communicated?

Responsibility

Team Leader

Procedure

Follow these steps for communicating the action(s):

Step

Action

1

Press ALT + TAB to display your AgendaTEC document.

Result: You move between your browser and the meeting agenda.
2

Scroll again, to the Meeting Action Plan section.
3

Has the Action item been achieved?
If yes, type Complete in the Status column of the Action Plan.
If no, adjust Action Required, Action Owner and Timing to reflect necessary changes.

Example

Tools

FrameTEC-MS Word

The goal!
To determine:

Progress-to-date

Highlights variance of actual verses plan

Why do it?
Monitoring Action identifies potential impacts and opportunities for increased profitability, so that necessary adjustments can be made.

What to do:
Check in with action owners periodically to ensure that the Action Plan being implemented will delight customers within cost, quality, and ⁄ or time requirements.

Decision:
What is the variance between cost, quality, and time?
Compare levels to date with actual budgeted expenditures, along with implications and downstream impacts.

Responsibility

Team Leader

Procedure

Follow these steps for monitoring the action plan:

Step

Action

1

Press ALT + TAB to your FrameTEC document.

Result: You move between your browser and the framing document.
2

Scroll to the Action Plan.
3

The team leader needs to check in with every Action Owner prior to the timing date to facilitate getting results.

Example

Tools

FrameTEC-MS Word

The goal!
Continually adjust the Action Plan to overcome variances on an ongoing basis for continuous improvement.

Why do it?
Adjusting the Action Plan takes advantage of opportunities for getting back on track and delighting customers.

What to do:
Implement the chosen adjustments that will minimize or overcome the cost, quality, and ⁄ or time variances and delight customers.

Decision:
Where are the required actions and carry out Adjustments to the Action Plan and budget?

  • Negotiate to overcome the cost, quality, and time variances.
  • Clearly communicate these adjustments.

Responsibility

Team Leader

Procedure

Follow these steps for making adjustments to the action plan:

Step

Action

1

Press ALT + TAB to display your FrameTEC document.

Result: You move between your browser and the framing document.
2

Scroll to the Action Plan.
3

Edit the Action Plan to reflect necessary adjustments.

Example

Tools

FrameTEC-MS Word

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles
General Responsibilities
Leader
  • Secure commitments from the team that will produce results
  • Debrief the session:
    – Evaluate the team’s effectiveness
    – Provide feedback for continuous improvement and skill development
  • Monitor and ensure that results are achieved
  • Carry the team’s work forward
Facilitator
  • Ensure that an action plan is developed with the team and secure personal commitments to a time line for implementation
  • Get the team’s agreement on next steps to further their work
Technographer
  • Ensure complete and accurate session documentation
  • Distribute the session documentation to all team members
Member
  • Implement action plans to achieve results
  • Put in place implementation plans in own area of responsibility and authority; ensure follow-up
Consultant
  • Support debriefing the session and the ongoing process
  • Help to evaluate the team’s overall effectiveness
  • Provide expert feedback for continuous improvement and skill development