Steps > Planning Workplace Physical Activity > Step 5: Developing an Action Plan

Before launching your program, summarize the information you’ve collected and plan your next steps.

At this point, you have

• gained support from management
• formed an employee committee
• assessed what is possible in your workplace
• found out what employees want and need

Based on this information, you’re now ready to develop your action plan to increase physical activity at your workplace.

With the employee committee, take the following steps.

• Combine the results of the employee survey with the workplace environmental assessment, and report to management and employees.

• Consult the list of practical suggestions in the “Ideas” section of this website. The “Success Stories” section is another source of inspiration.

• Prioritize the possibilities at each of the “levels” (individual, social, organizational, community, policy) in the workplace listed in “Keys to Success”. 

• Create a mission statement (one which aligns with your organization’s overall mission statement) to define your purpose and help guide your process. Setting goals and objectives will help you achieve your mission statement.

• Put together a plan or blueprint addressing what you have learned. Make program and activity recommendations with timelines, identify resources and assign responsibilities.

• Revisit the list of tasks outlined in “Step 2: Forming an Employee Committee.”

• Create a logic model to help with planning and implementation. A logic model is a diagram that describes what you are going to do, what resources you are going to use and what you hope to achieve. It’s particularly useful to show funders or decision-makers what you want to accomplish.

• Seek management approval to move ahead.

• Once your initiative is in place, it’s important to promote it to employees. Organizing a launch is a good way to do this. A formal launch also demonstrates management commitment. If employees don’t know about the initiative, they can’t take advantage of it!

• Decide what you need to track to show that you have reached your goals. Measure these factors before you start. This way, when you evaluate later, you will know if there has been a change.

Find out More

Logic Models Workbook: A resource from the Health Communication Unit at the Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto.

Tips on Launching a Physical Activity Event: Ideas from the Think Fit! initiative of the British Heart Foundation.

Logic Model (Program Development and Evaluation): A resource from the University of Wisconson - Extension. Here you can learn more about developing your own logic model.