Workplans: A Program Management Tool
Introduction

A workplan is a document, usually created in chart form, used as a program management tool to provide direction and guidance for the overall program as well as each National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) component (e.g., professional education, public education and outreach, and management). There are numerous program management models. This online training will focus on the model that is to be used within the NBCCEDP.

A workplan has eight recommended components that follow each other in the workplan development process and are designed to be used for program planning, implementation, and monitoring progress toward reaching program goals.

Let's look at how the eight recommended components of the workplan fit into the categories.

Program Planning

1. Goals
2. Measures of Success
3. Objectives
4. Activities
5. Data

Implementation

6. Time Frame for Assessing Progress
7. Team Members Responsible

Monitoring Program Progress

8. Progress Report

Below is a sample workplan template. It is also available in PDF format (PDF-82KB).

Workplan Template
Goals for This Year			Measures of Success
Objectives	Activities Planned to Achieve This Objective	Data	Time frame for Assessing Progress	Team Members Responsible

Each workplan component will be discussed in detail as you progress through this training. However, it is helpful to look first at the components of the template above to see how a workplan can serve as a blueprint for program management.

Developing a workplan should be a team effort where key staff members discuss the program's overall strengths and areas needing improvement. As part of this process, each NBCCEDP program component (see appendices) and relevant data should be reviewed.

In the next section, a case study of a mythical BCCEDP program, "Welcome to the Sunflower Program," is presented. This case study will be used as an example for developing a workplan throughout the remainder of the course.