Business planning
Business planning is an essential element in the good governance of an organisation. AFP business planning refers to a set of integrated internal planning processes which shape and align the AFP’s organisational capabilities and organisational structure. This enables the AFP to deliver desired organisational performance which accountably meets the requirements and expectations of the Australian Government as the AFP’s principal stakeholder.
The Australian Government’s requirements and expectations for the AFP, which ultimately seek to protect the Australian community from the impact of crime and its effects, are formally expressed through Outcomes (what the Government wants the AFP to achieve) and Outputs (what AFP services the Government will fund) against which the AFP is accountable for its performance.
Figure 1 summarises the context in which AFP business planning is set:
AFP business planning is served by a hierarchy of internal business plans which supports the alignment of all AFP planning processes. Those plans are:
- the AFP Strategic Plan
- AFP Business Plan
- AFP Action Plans
- AFP Member Performance Development Agreements.
Figure 2 shows the relationship between these plans:
The AFP Strategic Plan sets the AFP’s strategic direction over a 3-year period. It is the principal reference document for planning in the AFP at all levels. The AFP Business Plan guides implementation against the strategic direction through the AFP’s major business units, while AFP Action Plans refine implementation through the teams which make up the AFP’s major business units. Finally, implementation is refined to the level of individual AFP members through Performance Development Agreements.
AFP business plans are continually reviewed and adjusted in response to performance feedback; opportunities for improvement; changes to Government expectations; and, changes in the criminal, business and internal environments which affect the AFP.