Devising a plan of action

Draw up a plan such as that below to clarify your thinking and to organise your time. Use the flowchart on pages 40–1 and checklists in this book to detail your plan. Set a realistic start and end date for each action. There are templates on the companion site you can use or adapt to make your own action plan and/or an actions reminder list.

ACTION PLAN	
Prepare and Plan	
Goal	What I will do	Start
by	Finish by	
1	Maintain good records, starting with a research file and/or project logs (see pages 15–16)	Set up research file and logs. Plan dates into diary to update these weekly.			
		Use the log to assist my thinking and as evidence of my process/work.			
2	Familiarise myself with what is expected (pages 25–36 and 79–82)	Go through the assignment brief carefully. Make notes on what I need to do.			
		Read examples of reports, research
projects or dissertations in my field.			
		Get a sense of what is involved in managing a project.			
3	Apply existing skills/ develop new ones (pages 17–24)	Complete a skills audit. Complete a skills plan to develop skills I need.			
4	Self-management: decide how I will keep myself on track (pages 53–66)	Decide how I will keep myself motivated.			
		Design a plan of self-care to support my well-being and help me get through.			
5	Gain ideas and inspiration for my project (pages 56 and 95–104)	Survey the field for ideas of topics to
pursue.			
		Come up with some ideas for possible topics/general areas to look into.			
6	Build and maintain
relationships (64–5 and
73–6)	Get to know my supervisor(s)/tutors and
what is expected both ways.			
		Arrange appointments with tutor/
supervisor and put these into diary.			
		Organise support, for ideas, social contact, motivation and well-being.			
		Let friends/family know what I need from them, so I can finish this on time.			
7	Start to schedule everything (page 46)	Map exactly when tasks, large and small, will be undertaken and completed.