Planningstaken

Planningstaken is a term used in planning theory and project management to describe the practice of documenting and auditing actions that have already been taken relative to a previously formulated plan. The concept emphasizes the alignment between what was intended to occur and what actually occurred, with the aim of improving decision making and accountability.

Although not widely standardized, planningstaken appears in niche management literature and practitioner handbooks from the late 2010s onward. It is often discussed as a complement to traditional planning, rather than a replacement, providing a structured log of executed steps and deviations from the plan.

Implementation typically involves creating a taken log that records each planned task, its execution status, timing, responsible party, outcomes, and any deviations. These data are linked to the original plan items to enable retrospective analysis and future planning adjustments. Tools used can range from simple spreadsheets to integrated project management systems with audit trails.

Applications include project governance, software development, operations management, and urban or organizational planning where traceability between plan and action is important. Benefits cited include improved accountability, clearer learning feedback loops, and better risk management through early visibility of deviations.

Critics note that planningstaken can introduce overhead and potential confusion if not clearly defined or standardized. Success depends on clear definitions of 'plan' and 'taken', consistent data collection, and disciplined review processes.

Related concepts include planning, project management, execution tracking, traceability, and retrospective analysis.