More specifically, a milestone is a significant stage, event or deliverable that must be completed in order for the Initiative to move forward. You can set as many milestones to each initiative as you like. This way you can create a more detailed stepwise operational plan for how to deliver on the assigned initiative.

Milestones are characterised by:

1. An activity, less complex than an initiative, which runs for 1-2 months
2. Having the ability to give feedback with colors and comments
3. Only having an end date
4. Providing the ability to contain actions
5. If a milestone in itself contains several milestones, it should be created as an initiative instead

Where are the milestones located in ActionPlanner?

When you go the detail page of any initiative in ActionPlanner, the milestones are located just below of the initiative timeline inside the “Execution plan”

Tip: You can assign milestones to others so consider milestones as an alternative to sub-initiatives. This will reduce the work needed for keeping this updated and the plan alive.

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1. Using the + button in your header
2. Using the “Options” button on the execution plan

1. Create milestone using the + button in your header

Create your milestone by locating and clicking the pink + button in the center of your personal header:

2. Create milestone from the “Execution plan”

Creating your milestone

Once you click either of the options above, the system will open up a “Create milestone” box.

To create your milestone, you must fill in the mandatory fields: name and due date. This is the basic information. However, a description of the milestone would add more value to future revisions and to facilitate teamwork and knowledge sharing.

If relevant, you can repeat the milestone.

Actions for milestones

In ActionPlanner you can add actions to your milestones. They serve the purpose of allowing you to clearly define all the operational steps necessary to attaining the milestone.  To create an action while you are creating your milestone, click the pink + button located in the lower right hand corner, above the SAVE and CANCEL button.

You can also create them later, if you are not ready to add them at this stage. Do this by hovering the milestone and click on the “options”-icon located to the right the milestone.

Once you click; a new window will open requesting the necessary data for the action and the person responsible for the action.

When you have created your milestones and actions, you need to save the initiative and you are ready to commence execution.

This is how it should look after you save the initiative. Notice that the circles in your timeline are the visual representation of your milestones.

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To give feedback on a milestone, hover the name of the milestone and unfold the “options” button on the right side of the milestone:

Note that if you are not responsible for the milestone (or the initiative which it resides in) you will not be able to give feedback to the milestone.

A pop-up box will open, and you can now update on how the milestone is progressing.

This is done by first selecting a color – there are three color options:

• Everything is OK – which opens a comment window to explain what has
  been done, and why you believe the milestone is on target.
• Minor Challenges (when available) – Also opens a comment window and requires
  corrective behavior in the form of a description or actions. The corrective
  behavior describes how you are addressing the challenges.
• Attention needed – Requires reason for the feedback, comments and corrective behavior. In this case the initiative owner will be notified instantly (since you requested attention) and an outstanding is created to remind the owner about the attention you have requested.

Depending on the feedback, the time-box for the initiative will be updated in the corresponding color circle (milestones), allowing you to see in seconds if the initiative is evolving, as you have required.

Tip: When you create more milestones in ActionPlanner it can be a good idea to think in lines of “Reversed planning” and start with the end in mind (get a very specific picture of what you have succeeded with by executing this initiative). Now, either start planning backwards by creating milestones all the way to the starting point or by asking yourself, what you need to get started with the execution.

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1. Hover your mouse on the name of the milestone you wish to edit;
2. Click the “Options” button on the right side of the milestone;
3. Select the option “Edit milestone”:

   

Edit milestone content

When you click the edit button a pop will show, from where you can edit the:

• Milestone name
• Responsible
• Alignment
• Due date
• Description
• Priority setting
• Actions aligned to milestone (add, edit or delete)

  

Please note that if the milestone has actions aligned to it, these will become visible as well.

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1. From the initiative detail page
2. From “List view”
3. From “Priority list”

To comment on a milestone, follow these steps from the locations above:

1. Hover your mouse on the name of the milestone you wish to comment;
2. Click the “Options” button on the right side of the milestone;
3. Select the option “Comment”

   

Content of a comment?

Locating your milestone comments?

Find comments submitted on milestones, below the milestone name. Unfold the comments by clicking the “Comments” box on the “unfold” button on the right side:

TIP! It is good practice only to push comments that urgently need attention from users. You do not want your team to get their mailboxes cluttered with mails containing comments that are more or less irrelevant to them. Studies have shown that cluttered mailboxes are a source leading to increased stress levels among employees.

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1. Hover your mouse on the name of the milestone you wish to edit;
2. Click the “Options” button on the right side of the milestone;
3. Select the option “Copy milestone”:

   

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1. Complete as part of a milestone feedback
2. Complete from the “options” button

1. Complete as part of a milestone feedback

To complete as part of feedback, follow these steps:

1. Hover your mouse on the name of the milestone you wish to give feedback to;
2. Click the “Options” button on the right side of the milestone;
3. Select the option “Give feedback”;
4. Select a final feedback color and add your completing comment;
5. Mark the “Completion progress” to 100%

   

Complete from the “options” button

To complete from the “options” button, follow these steps:

1. Hover your mouse on the name of the milestone you wish to complete;
2. Click the “Options” button on the right side of the milestone;
3. Select the option “Complete”:

   

Note: Please note that if a user has incomplete actions aligned to the milestone you are completing, the milestone will be marked completed yet the milestone will remain in the initiative details view until those actions have been completed.

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1. Hover your mouse on the name of the milestone you wish to delete;
2. Click the “Options” button on the right side of the milestone;
3. Click the selection “Other options” and select the option “Delete milestone”:

   

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