Annual Planning Calendar

PLANNING OVERVIEW

Planning Philosophy

ANNUAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES

PLANNING PHILOSOPHY:
☐ Strategy is ongoing, not annual
☐ Planning enables, doesn't constrain
☐ Involve the right people early
☐ Balance rigor with speed
☐ Plans change; planning matters

PLANNING OUTPUTS:
1. 3-Year Strategic Direction (updated)
2. Annual Company Priorities (3-5)
3. Department Goals (aligned)
4. Budget and Headcount Plan
5. OKRs for Q1

PLANNING RHYTHMS:
Annual: Full strategy refresh
Quarterly: QBR and goal setting
Monthly: Progress review
Weekly: Execution focus

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CALENDAR TEMPLATE

Annual Planning Calendar

ANNUAL PLANNING CALENDAR

Q1 - EXECUTION + KICKOFF

JANUARY:
Week 1: Company kickoff meeting
Week 2: Q1 sprint starts
Week 3: Department goals finalized
Week 4: Board meeting (Q4 results)

FEBRUARY:
Week 1-4: Q1 execution
Mid-month: Pulse check

MARCH:
Week 1-2: Q1 execution
Week 3: Q1 close preparation
Week 4: Q1 review, Q2 OKR setting

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Q2 - EXECUTION + MID-YEAR

APRIL:
Week 1: Q2 start
Week 2-4: Q2 execution
Month-end: Board meeting (Q1 results)

MAY:
Week 1-4: Q2 execution
Begin mid-year planning prep

JUNE:
Week 1-2: Q2 execution
Week 3: Mid-year review
Week 4: Q2 close, Q3 planning

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Q3 - EXECUTION + PLANNING PREP

JULY:
Week 1: Q3 start
Week 2-4: Q3 execution
Month-end: Board meeting (Q2 results)

AUGUST:
Week 1-2: Q3 execution
Week 3: Planning kickoff (market analysis)
Week 4: Collect department inputs

SEPTEMBER:
Week 1: Strategic retreat prep
Week 2: STRATEGIC RETREAT
Week 3: Q3 close, draft strategy
Week 4: Q4 OKR setting

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Q4 - PLANNING + WRAP-UP

OCTOBER:
Week 1: Q4 start
Week 2: Strategy refinement
Week 3: Department planning begins
Week 4: Draft budget, Board meeting (Q3 results)

NOVEMBER:
Week 1: Budget reviews
Week 2: Finalize headcount
Week 3: OKR drafting for next year
Week 4: Board budget review

DECEMBER:
Week 1: Final budget/plan adjustments
Week 2: Board approval
Week 3: Communication prep
Week 4: Q4 close, year-end

Monthly Planning Checklist

Month	Key Activity	Deadline	Owner
Jan	Company kickoff	Week 1	CEO
Feb	Q1 execution	Ongoing	All
Mar	Q1 review	Week 4	CEO
Apr	Q2 start	Week 1	All
May	Mid-year prep	Week 3	CoS
Jun	Mid-year review	Week 3	CEO
Jul	Q3 start	Week 1	All
Aug	Planning kickoff	Week 3	CEO
Sep	Strategic retreat	Week 2	CEO
Oct	Dept planning	Ongoing	VPs
Nov	Budget finalize	Week 3	CFO
Dec	Board approval	Week 2	CEO

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STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT

RACI Matrix

PLANNING RACI MATRIX

R = Responsible (does the work)
A = Accountable (decision maker)
C = Consulted (provides input)
I = Informed (kept in loop)

| Activity | CEO | CFO | CRO | CPO | Board |
|----------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-------|
| Market analysis | A | C | R | C | I |
| Strategy retreat | A | R | R | R | I |
| Company priorities | A | C | C | C | A |
| Dept goals | A | R | R | R | I |
| Budget | A | R | C | C | A |
| Headcount | A | R | C | C | A |
| OKRs | A | C | R | R | I |
| Communication | A | I | R | R | I |

Stakeholder Engagement Timeline

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

BOARD:
☐ Sep: Heads up on planning timeline
☐ Oct: Q3 results + planning preview
☐ Nov: Draft strategy review
☐ Dec: Budget and plan approval
☐ Jan: Q4 results + approved plan

EXECUTIVES:
☐ Aug: Planning kickoff
☐ Sep: Strategic retreat
☐ Oct: Department planning
☐ Nov: Budget reviews
☐ Dec: Final alignment

DEPARTMENT HEADS:
☐ Sep: Planning inputs due
☐ Oct: Draft department plans
☐ Nov: Budget finalization
☐ Dec: OKR finalization

ALL EMPLOYEES:
☐ Dec: High-level preview
☐ Jan: Company kickoff
☐ Jan: Team-level goals shared

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