Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Structure Tree

Structure tree method has became my integral basis of business planning. This method has been taught to me when I first started my insurance career as management trainee. It is very useful in tracking down and thinking out of the action plans.

Every action begins with end in mind, our objective in achieving at the end of the day. From there, we have planned each and every step. We rationalise the challenges along the way and come up with solution or alternative to move up the trunk, branch and towards the leaves and flowers.

In summary, we are looking at from starting point to the end.

Example;
End in Mind : Achieve RM10m production...
- what are the sources available : Agency / Direct / Brokers / FI / Franchise / Coinsurance
- who are the supporter under each branch ? list them down...
- what are their business volume for each of the leaves...said under Agent A - how much is he doing annually ? type of business whether is preferred or declined...
- what are the action plans to attract those business or build up the support ?
- what are the challenges along the way ?
- timeframe for doing it ?
the questioning will go on and on until we are satisfied every leaves are accounted for...it shall become our structure tree...in engineering term is a blue print for a new building to be constructed.

The success will come with how detailed our plans are and our discipline in keeping this structure tree updated over the time.

Try it and you will see the difference and from here you can also track your subordinates in their work planning and thinking.