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Transcript

Hello friends, in our last class we were discussing about the meaning and process of program planning. In today’s class we’ll be discussing about the program development and the steps involved in program development. So the basic elements of program planning include, the situation, the objectives, audience, strategy, tactics, calendar or timetable, budget and evaluation. Let us discuss all these elements one by one. Situation, basically it is an understanding of the situation leads to the conclusion that. Is there a problem or negative situation that needs to be addressed. That is what is the analysis of existing situation. And based on that, so what is needed to reinforce. An ongoing effort and introduction of new technology. That is where in the context of agriculture we are talking of development of the technology, development of new varieties, development of various processes to address the existing problems. Then the second element is the objective.

While setting the objectives, there are a good number of questions that we need to ask ourselves while setting the objectives, that include what is the desired outcome. Without that we cannot set the objectives. Then does it really address the situation. What we are going to talk about based on the analysis of the situation. And is it realistic and achievable. Whether it is only hypothetical or utopian. But it should be practical. And can success be measured in meaningful terms. Maybe, whatever the indicators that what we are referring to, in terms of increasing income, in terms of increasing production or in terms of development of the capacities of an individual, building the skills of an individual, so on and so forth. But whether we are going to measure the outcomes or in what way, so that’s another important question to be addressed while setting the objectives.

Then coming to the third element, that is audience wherein the extension program should be directed towards specific defined target communities. So that’s what is the core and essential input for extension professionals, wherein we are addressing a specific group. And that is what in one of our earlier discussion I have already shared with you. The audience or the receivers need to be segmented. There are various class and groups of our receivers, who are in need of a specific information, who are in need of a specific technology. And accordingly we are going to address their needs. Then the fourth element is the strategy which plays a very dominant role in the process of program planning and its implementation. How in concept is the objective going to be achieved. So that’s what is going to be our strategy.

So based on that we are going to select various processes and implement them. The key themes and messages that should be part of the program. That is part of the strategy, and plan should contain changes to be achieved in the target community. Then coming to the core issue, which we try to identify them as the nuts and bolts or the tactical issues. The tactics involves using of the tools of communication to reach the primary and secondary target communities with the extension inputs. Ultimately so in the process of transfer of technology, it is the concept of communication which is playing the role, which is acting as a nut and bolt. And that is what is essential part of your program also. What is your communication strategy so that ultimately you are reaching your end user, your receivers and they are going to accept your ideas, your innovations, your technologies.

Then the next element of the program planning is the calendar or the timetable wherein we are sequencing based on the needs, based on the priorities, availability of the resources. There are various criteria to develop these calendar or the timetable. And the seventh element of your program planning is budgeting. No program plan is complete without a budget because finance is one of the important resource as well as the essential input for planning, implementation and evaluation of a program. Then it is part of the strategy to ensure the flow of finance as per the program, because nothing moves without the financial support. Then the next element is the evaluation wherein the objectives must be measurable in some way to show the program accomplished its purpose. So we are paying enough emphasis on the concept of evaluation at different levels, may it be beginning of the program, before beginning of the program, may it be during the program and may it be after implementation of the program. So these are the things that we have already discussed about that is the ex-ante, concurrent and the ex-post facto evaluation.

Now coming to the actual steps in the program development. So the eight steps of this program development can broadly be divided into two major groups. The first part is the program development process. The second part is program implementation process. The program development process starts from step number 1 to 4, wherein the first thing is the collection of the facts, analysis of the situation, identification of the problem and determination of the objectives and goals. So this is what is the planning process. The moment we set the objectives. So then its actual implementation process starts. So the development of the plan of work. The implementation process starts with the development of the plan of work, wherein we are coming out with the calendar of activities and based on this calendar of activities, we are going to execute the program, implement the program for the benefit of our target community, the intended target groups. And accordingly it is evaluated after completion of the program. And during the program also the concurrent program.

The outcomes of the evaluation help us to reconsider and revise the program. If you look at the various programs that were planned and implemented before independence, after independence and till date. In all these programs which have been planned and implemented follow the same cycle. May it be your programs like the Intensive Agricultural District Program, Community Development Program, the training and visit system, NATP, NAIP; all these programs which follow the same cycle. So it completes one particular cycle, maybe of 2 years, 3 years; whatever it is. Then it ends up with certain outcomes. And it gives us some insights and inputs for reconsideration and revision, and based on the learnings of the previous execution of the program, we are going to start with a new program.

With this brief input, coming to the different types of planning. The process of program planning has been divided into different types. Number one is, it is based on the nature. So which involves four different types of planning, that is strategic planning, technical planning, operational planning and contingency planning. And based on the managerial level, there are three types of different plans that we come across; top level, middle level as well as lower level. Based on the time involvement, there are three types again, that is long term program, intermediate term programs and the short term program. And based on the use that is the single use and the standing use program. So let us have a look at them one by one. Coming to the based on the nature of the program. That strategic plan basically formulated by the top level of management for long period of time of maybe 5 years or more. And they decide the major goals and policies to achieve. Strategic program are basically are a long term, and decided by the top level management people. Or we can say that the top level administrators are going to be part of this strategic planning.

Practical plan concerned with the integration of various organizational and units, which involves the resource utilization to achieve the strategic goals. Basically the actual implementation of the program planning starts with the tactical plan, wherein good number of institutions are coming together for actual implementation of the program. The operational program the same thing which is being formulated by the lower level of management for short term of time. The strategic plan is divided into different operational plans, for its execution, so that it can be implemented in an effective manner. Then the contingency plan, if there are any unforeseen things or if any unwanted things, or modifications to be done at regular intervals based on the need. So we are going to come out with the contingency plans. Then coming to based on the time. There are long term plans, intermediate plans and short term plans. Long term plan as the title itself indicates determines the path of research and development institutions to reach their goals. We don’t know exactly what exactly the time that it is going to take up. Because it is a process, searching and researching and all.

Then the intermediate plan. It generally covers from 6 months to 2 years, because it is having the short nature. Then it outlines how the strategic plan will be pursued. And the next one is the short term plan which involves plans for a week or at most, at the most it can, the plan exists for about one year. It allocates the resources for the day to day activities and management within the strategic plan to achieve that immediate needs, and it continues with that. Then on the basis of use. Single use plan. Single use plan means plan connected with some special problems. These plans end at the moment the problem is solved. It depends on the situation wherein we need such type of things, we are going to use them, otherwise it is not of a regular in nature. Then the standing plan, formulated once and they are repeatedly used, because it has a long term implications. Continuously guide the extension professionals, include missions, policies, objectives, rules and strategy. So that the entire mechanism is being guided by this particular standing plan, and the extension activities are taken up.

Then coming to the conclusion. In the in practice, the steps provide us the insight regarding the planning program and program planning. It means planning as well as its execution, as well as its evaluation. Appropriate planning involves the holistic approach leads to the overall development, because one of the process of extension that is program planning, execution and its evaluation. And which gives strength to the extension professional for achieving his overall objective of the extension education. With this we are coming to the end of the discussion on the program development. In this particular week we discussed the issues associated with the dimensions of extension. Then the process of extension and the program development. And in the next week we will be discussing about the various programs that were planned and implemented before independence of the country, which were focusing on agriculture in particular and the concept of development in general.

Thank You