33.1 Operating workplan and budget

Operational management and control uses two basic management tools: an operating workplan and an operating financial budget. Both documents are normally prepared annually, for the next planning and budgetary year, in a monthly or quarterly breakdown. This breakdown should take into account seasonal and other variations within the 12-month period, such as a reduced workload during the holiday period, and other events, including major payments to be made or received at a foreseeable time.

Operating workplan

The operating workplan should reflect the firm’s strategic choices and indicate how strategy will be implemented in the forthcoming year. It therefore determines:

–the volume of consulting and other services to be sold and delivered to clients;

–changes in the service portfolio (phasing out a service, introducing a new product, starting work in a new sector, new foreign operations);

–staff recruitment and training required;

–staff retirement and departures;

–the volume and orientation of promotional and marketing activities;