The Pharmagen Corporation- An Exercise in Planning

In-box exercise: the Pharmagen Corporation.

This post is a response to an In-box exercise (posted above for reference)

I have chosen to organize my answer to this exercise as two sets of lists. The first list tells of the actions to be taken on each communication recieved, numbered in the order in which I received them. The second section sets out my plan for the day (and later in the week) with the actions to be taken at each time.

List 1: Actions to be Taken for Each Communication:
1. Ask Jennifer to handle space requirements. Important because it came from the Vice President of Administration, and because it is due in five days. Forward the memo on.
2. Ask Ben to get the forms from the admin office for the performance review. Due by Nov. 1 so it could be a less immediate priority.
3. Let's talk over lunch tomorrow over being pregnant. congrats. please check up on company policy and we can discuss changes as they come up.
4. Ask Ann to come up with a training plan. First training will happen in two weeks, then the next two will happen one and two weeks later.
5. Ben will handle this. (see #8)
6. Call Marketing back as a priority. We don't want people mad and think we don't care. Schedule an appointment to talk as soon as immediate priorities are finished.
7. Ask Jennifer to send him a nice response, priority level 2. file this away and read to our workers in next meeting.
8. Reply to Ben, telling him to handle a review of person from #5.
9., 10. Show up to the meeting!! Have a plan of action for self then. Ask for money to hire a temp to handle all the work. Use Ben's work and the backup mentioned by #6 as reasons why the temp is needed. Press for a lower reduction of budget at least. Mention the new training initiatives as well, or say that something must go. Make a pitch for why IT and training are particularly important for a thriving company.
11. When I talk to Ben, mention the trainings.
12. Start work on that budget tomorrow, after today's meeting.
13. EPA stuff doesn't become a priority until next week. But warn the staff about it now.
14. Talk with Ann about time off in a meeting tomorrow. Mention that this might not be the best time with so many things going on. Offer to be flexible if she is willing to work other hours.
15. Bills are important. Have this be a priority for an Jennifer.
16. This will be work for Ben.
17. This will be combined with the other money issue and given to Jennifer.
18. When you speak to Jennifer, say that is fine. We'll need her work, but the hours she works can be her own. Put her in charge of the finance problems.

List 2: Plan for the Day
1. Meeting with Staff members to catch them up to date and assign tasks
Jennifer: meeting Wednesday about pregnancy, change of hours ok, Finances (#17 and #15), nice note to #7 when she gets time.
Ben: #2 (quickly), #16, temp, mention Ann's trainings
Ann: #1, #4, set up a time to talk to her on Wed. about comp time.
-warn them about EPA stuff coming up. (#14)
2. Send note to company meeting asking for time to talk about my department
3. Think of pitch for staff meeting
4. Company Meeting (see #9)
5. Meeting with Marketing (#6) Right after the other two meetings.
6. Work on Budget issues.
7. Send note to my superior about meeting Tuesday to speak about all that is going on.