An action plan is a document that lists what steps must be taken in order to achieve a specific goal.

The purpose of an action plan is to clarify what resources are required to reach the goal, formulate a timeline for when specific tasks need to be completed and determine what resources are required.

In project management, a well-developed action plan can serve as a blueprint for the project manager to break a large project down into smaller, more manageable SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based) goals.

See also: business continuity action plan, project planning

22 Mar 2013