Without a clear yearly plan, ambitions often remain loose intentions. Whether you are an entrepreneur, leading a team, or simply looking for more structure yourself: a strong yearly plan makes the difference. On this page you’ll find yearly plan examples, free templates, and a step-by-step guide to make your yearly planning effective.
OGSM.com has helped us a lot in setting up a clear multi-year strategy and effectively translating it to our divisions and business units. With their guidance, our MT has not only turned the strategy into action, but also implemented a process that allows us to continuously improve and continue to focus on our shared goals in a result-oriented way.
OGSM has really given us direction and structure. Our teams now understand better how they complement each other and where their own responsibility lies. The cooperation with OGSM.com went smoothly; they challenged us, got us excited and had a great eye for who we are as an organization. Thanks to their guidance, we now have plans that everyone supports and that really help us move forward in daily practice.
OGSM helps me and my teams transform annual plans into a clear, concrete framework that provides direction throughout the year and allows us to manage effectively. As a director at Port of Moerdijk and now at Leidingenstraat Nederland, I’ve experienced the power of this structured approach firsthand. Our OGSM.com advisor helps us refine our goals and ensures our plan remains up-to-date and results-focused. This turns it into a dynamic tool that truly drives our organisation forward.
Together with OGSM.com, we drew up a sharp and supported plan in a short time. The OGSM method helped us to make ambitions concrete and clarify priorities. She asked the right questions and provided structure without losing the pace. Prior to the process, OGSM.com also held interviews with internal and external experts, so that we could immediately include best practices. The result is a clear compass for our team in the coming months.
OGSM.com support was exactly what we needed. He not only helped us bring focus to our 2025 strategy, but also to make sharp choices that really fit where we want to go as an organization. The sessions were structured, energetic and gave us the clarity to continue building together. Thanks to his guidance, there is now a concrete plan that everyone feels ownership of. The implementation of our strategy is now in full swing!
With guidance from OGSM.com, our team has significantly improved its collaboration. By focusing on a single, clear, and ambitious Objective, we now have a clear vision and roadmap for the years ahead. OGSM keeps us on track during planning and helps us focus on what truly matters. The result is a goal-oriented approach that allows us to move forward with confidence. Highly recommended for teams looking to seriously improve their strategy and results.
Within our organisation, OGSM has been embraced as a strategic management tool. The fresh and independent perspective provided during the process was incredibly helpful in facilitating the right discussions without getting bogged down in lengthy debates. I would highly recommend OGSM.com if you’re looking for a partner and method to take your strategic planning and execution to the next level in your organisation.
At Crest, we strive for personal leadership in the maritime sector. Before our collaboration with OGSM.com, we struggled to define a clear strategy. Thanks to OGSM.com, we now have an inspiring and focused strategy that challenges us to think bigger and act with more purpose. They also helped us formulate measurable initiatives, enabling us to effectively engage our stakeholders in the mission and execution of our plan. If you're considering working with OGSM, I'd definitely recommend OGSM.com!
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Annual Plan Examples: The Complete Guide to Creating an Effective Annual Plan
A solid annual plan is essential for every successful company or organization. Whether you work in a large corporation, an SME, a start-up, or a non-profit: clear annual plans help you stay focused, set priorities, and achieve goals.
In this guide you’ll find the best examples of annual plans, expert insights on effective structure, and answers to frequently asked questions. You’ll also get practical tips, concrete examples, and links to downloadable templates (PDF).
What Is an Annual Plan and Why Is It Important?
An annual plan is a strategic document that defines the goals, focus areas, and actions for the coming year. It is more concrete than a multi-year vision and focuses on what must happen now to achieve ambitions.
Annual plans ensure everyone in the team knows where the organization is heading and what the priorities are. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that organizations with clear annual plans reach their objectives on average 20% faster than those without proper planning.
How to Improve Your Annual Plan: Tips and Examples
Improvement starts with clear, measurable goals and involving the right people in the process. Use the SMART method: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
Example: A marketing department goal could be: “Increase website visitors by 30% in 2024 through content marketing and social campaigns.”
Other best practices:
• Support your plan with data from last year
• Analyze successes and failures
• Involve different departments for broader support
• Assign owners and deadlines for every action
• Use a clear template and share access with your team (for example, as a PDF)
Where to Find a Good Annual Plan Example (PDF)
There are several reliable sources:
• Chamber of Commerce
• OGSM.com (templates and model examples)
• Industry associations with sector-specific examples
• Annual reports from large companies (sometimes published publicly)
Always adapt the example to your organization’s size and context. An SME needs a different setup than a multinational.
FAQs About Annual Plan Examples
1. How often should I update my annual plan?
At least yearly, with reviews monthly, quarterly, or mid-year.
2. Can I download a free annual plan example (PDF)?
Yes, via the Chamber of Commerce or our OGSM template page.
3. What if my organization changes during the year?
Create a flexible plan with room to adjust goals and actions.
4. Which tools are useful for making an annual plan?
Excel, Google Sheets, PowerPoint, or tools like Trello, Monday, Asana.
5. What is the biggest pitfall in annual planning?
Too abstract goals and unclear actions. Always use SMART goals and assign responsibilities.
Annual Plan Example: 5 Steps to Build Your Own
1. Define your mission, vision, and core values
2. Analyze your current situation (last year’s results, SWOT)
3. Set concrete, measurable goals
4. Break goals down into actions, responsibilities, and deadlines
5. Capture everything in a clear template
Example: If you want to increase customer satisfaction, one action could be: “Every employee attends customer service training in Q1.” Assign responsibility and budget.
Annual Plan Example PDF Download
Want to get started right away? Free downloads are available from:
• Chamber of Commerce
• MKB Servicedesk
• Management platforms
Search for “annual plan example PDF” or “company annual plan template.” Use these as a foundation and adapt them to your own team, department, or organization.
Conclusion: Use Examples to Build a Stronger Annual Plan
Whether you’re creating your first plan or refining an existing one, it pays to work with proven examples. Always adapt the structure and content to your own needs, and involve colleagues in the process.
A good annual plan example is inspiring, practical, measurable, and aligned with your goals. Start today and set your organization up for success.
We have developed various OGSM templates for you for various formats that you can easily download here.
You fill out an OGSM by going through four parts step by step:
1. Objective — formulate a clear long-term ambition.
2. Goals — make that ambition measurable with 3 to 5 concrete goals.
3. Strategies — determine the most important choices to achieve those goals.
4. Measures — add KPIs and actions to measure and execute progress.
Preferably use a template and involve your team for support and ownership.
An OGSM cycle usually lasts 12 months and follows the rhythm of the annual plan. The OGSM itself is set up at the start, with quarterly reviews to measure progress, adjust actions and learn. Some organizations work with a biannual update, but the basis often remains valid for one year and is cyclically tightened.
OGSM and OKR are both methods for translating goals into results, but differ in design and application. OGSM stands for Objective, Goals, Strategies and Measures and provides a complete strategic plan on one page including direction, choices and actions. OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results and focuses primarily on ambitious, measurable quarterly results, without a fixed strategy or action plan. OGSM is suitable for organizations that want to connect direction and implementation. OKR is ideal for short cycle focus and alignment.
Yes, the OGSM model is suitable for companies of all sizes and industries. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, OGSM helps you clarify goals, implement strategies, and achieve results.
The OGSM model is popular because it:
• Provides structure: It offers a clear and easy-to-understand framework.
• Enhances effectiveness: It emphasises measurable results.
• Boosts engagement: Teams collaborate to achieve shared goals.
OGSM helps organisations translate their vision into concrete actions, driving improved performance and teamwork.
