Direct, Plan and Improve: direction, prioritization and continual improvement
Three verbs, three questions
Direct, Plan and Improve is the strategy-and-governance module: how an organization sets direction, plans how to get there, and improves continuously. Learn the verbs separately.
- Direct: governance, strategy, policy, decision rights, and consistency of direction across the organization.
- Plan: translating direction into portfolios, roadmaps, priorities, budgets and risk treatment.
- Improve: the continual improvement model and the measurement that drives it.
Distinguish governance (evaluate, direct and monitor - the governing body's accountability) from management (plan, build, run and deliver). They are not interchangeable, and many scenario questions turn on the distinction.
Practices and tools
Know continual improvement, measurement and reporting (leading versus lagging indicators, KPIs), risk management, portfolio management, organizational change management, and communication. Value stream mapping belongs here as an improvement tool, alongside Lean and Agile methods applied within ITIL.
Traps
The continual improvement model is often mistaken for a linear project lifecycle - it is iterative, and its starting point varies with the problem. Another trap is assuming 'improve' means a large transformation programme; many correct answers are small, continuous, team-level improvements. Watch also for plans that ignore the human side: organizational change management is frequently the missing element.
Rule of thumb
If the scenario asks 'how do we make sure everyone heads the same way?' the answer is Direct. If it asks 'what should we do first, and with which resources?' it is Plan. If it asks 'how do we get better?' it is Improve.