A Part of the Strategic Work Plan of Any Assigned Task - Essay Example

?Topic:  Operational Planning work Introduction: This paper seeks to discuss the study of operational planning in detail, by way of executinga security management task, in which adequate strategic and operational planning is required. Operational planning is a part of the strategic work plan of any assigned task. It is mainly done to describe the ways by which the task can be completed and determine the amount of budget that is needed to complete a task. The operational plan is required in order to link the resources that are needed to complete a task with an assigned budget. The situation where executive protection is needed: The situation for which security arrangement is required is the visit by one of a renowned author from the US to Peshawar in Pakistan, which has recently undergone severe security problems and has been labeled as a terrorist country. The author is a renowned dignitary and, thus, has an executive status. Therefore, he requires executive protection. “Executive protection is an approach, using common sense, awareness, personnel, procedures, systems and advanced technology to protect an individual or group of people. Executive protection is not a confrontation driven program, but rather an anticipated and projected response to an unavoidable situation. Stopping an attack, avoid confrontation and keeping the principal out of danger and harm’s way is the task of the executive protection officer” (Hunsicker, 2007, P.160). Even though Pakistan is known as a country which cherishes literature and poetry, and has a large number of renowned authors and poets in the country, the recent terrorist activities require that executive protection should be provided to the author. Here, the client is a VIP as he is a well known personality. Therefore, he requires executive protection. The task of executive protection requires that all types of security arrangements are made in such a way that the celebrity status of the personality and appropriate security arrangements, who is known to be very friendly and cordial among all his fans, is not compromised. The executive protection task deals with providing personal security to an executive. The task of executive protection is a topic in the public interest because the security of a renowned personality is very important as they are highly known public figures. The task of providing security begins from the New York Airport, from where the author begins his trip to Pakistan on March 1 2011 and last till March 5, 2011. The executive protection service needs to be maintained till the March 6, 2011 when the author is out of the New York airport at 8 am in the morning. Pakistan has the record of terrorists targeting foreign dignitaries’ and, therefore, executive protection is mandatory for the author who visits from the US. All expenses for the executive protection will be paid by the client himself and the author’s circle that he runs. Therefore, the security advisor’s role is imperative and it is very important to prepare an operational plan in order to execute the task in an organized manner. The task of providing executive protection needs careful planning and meticulous operation. This operational planning calls for an appropriate integration of manpower, equipments and carefully designed guidelines for execution. Definition of the Operational Plan: The operational plan is a portrayal of the mission, vision and goals of a task or an organization. In brief, the operational plan should have clear and well defined objectives of the task. The activities which are necessary to accomplish the task must be mentioned in detail. The operation plan contains the resources needed in order to complete the task like the manpower and other resources needed to complete the task. The operational plan also needs to analyze the risk involved in the successful completion of a task. Such a plan is the most important element of a business plan. It is also a strategic plan which explains to the reader in what steps, using what resources, the estimated budget required and a timeline when the task will be completed. The operational plan provides a landmark as to how to proceed with the task. “Operational planning refers to short term or day to day planning process. It is concerned with planning the utilization of resources and will be carried out within the framework set by the budgetary plan. Operational planning is also known as tactical planning.” (Walker, 2008, P. 305). The process of risk assessment involves the identification of external and internal threats involved. By the process of risk assessment the vulnerabilities can be identified and assessed. The risk management has become more diverse in the present days because of the fast pace in the international trade which has brought the world economies closer. The operational task: In the task of providing executive protection it is very necessary to have an answer for the five Ws and they are: ‘Who’ – who is the person who needs the security service? ‘What’ – what is the type of service required by the client? ‘Where’ - where does the client require the service whether at the airports only or at the airports plus within the country? ‘When’- for what period will the client require the service? The exact dates of starting the service and ending the service need to be mentioned. ‘Why’ – why such an executive protection is needed? Analysis of the task: The task is of high importance, as it is providing security to executives, which is of national as well as international significance. It is required to be well organized and operated and, therefore, an operational plan is a necessity. Being the security provider for my client there are a lot of matters which needs to be investigated like 1. What is the exact time schedule for which the client will need the service? 2. Where is the location that the client needs our service? 3. What are the adequate plans that need to be checked before the task is taken up? 4. What resources are needed in order to undertake the task? 5. Will the client make any suggestions as to how the task needs to be completed? 6. What are the known data that we have about the client in order to provide security arrangement? 7. To assess the limitations that we as security service provider has got with terms to manpower arrangements, equipments etc. 8. What are the restrictions that are imposed upon us in providing executive protection? 9. What are the implied tasks required in the execution of the task of ‘executive protection’? 10. What are the critical factors about the client that needs to be understood for providing the service of ‘executive protection’? Like his routines, the function that he intends to attend, the places and the persons he intends to visit etc. The operational plan: After understanding the necessities required for the conduction of operating task an operating plan is prepared. An operating plan is a step by step approach which deals with how the task can be executed and each stage level needs to be investigated. The operating plan is a section of a business plan. The operational plan should be with respect to the industry. The issues addressed in this operational plan for providing executive protection to the VIP author who visits the country which has been recently labeled as terrorist nation. This executive’s protection is very important because this dignitary is from US and previously some dignitaries of US have been a target by terrorists in Pakistan. In order to provide executive protection the operation plan was prepared two months back, to be more specific from January 1st operational planning started. A study has also been done to investigate as to who might be the possible threats to the executive in order to make the security arrangements more tight like whether the executive faces a threat from the tribes in the country or from the politicians etc. study has also been conducted to investigate what are the latest models of harming executives used by the terrorist operations. Like in Pakistan the case of suicide bombers is high. An evaluation was also conducted of the technology available to terrorists, vulnerable spots in the dignitary’s itinerary where possible attacks may occur and counter measures to be designed to obviate such eventualities. A profile study of all known terrorists was also conducted to understand their modus operandi, their current residential status, where available, and the possible dignitaries they may target etc. The viability of placing surveillance teams along the itinerary of the writer was done. Operational Plan: Manpower requirements at various levels have been deployed. An equipments arrangement has also been in place. 1) When the executive (author) boards the flight from New York Airport, 5 armed security personnel will escort him. The dignitary has chosen to use a private jet. The flight will be monitored carefully, sweeping it thoroughly for explosive devices or other harmful substances, using the latest technological standards before the executive boards the flight. Sniffer dogs will also be pressed into service for this purpose. 2) When the executive lands at the Peshawar airport, as previously arranged there would be a security team of 7 armed personnel. Since a huge crowd is expected to be waiting to catch a glimpse of the celebrity, the armed personnel will put a cordon around him and quickly escort the executive to his vehicle. 3) The vehicle, in which the dignitary will be traveling, has been thoroughly checked, again, using latest technology and sniffer dogs. The vehicle has been under tight security and away from public access. The staff car parking has been cordoned off accordingly. The 7 security personnel who will escort the writer form the airport will be with him in his vehicle, which is bullet proof. 4) The accommodation which the executive will be residing has been under supervision and tight security arrangements have been made. Security personnel have been posted at various vantage points and alarm arrangements have been set. The existing security operations are being regulated from time to time. At the accommodation at the doors 3 security personnel, wearing bullet proof vests, have been placed. Alarm arrangements have been made in the residence at various places which is not easily recognizable by any personnel other than the security staff. 3 guards have been placed at the front entrance and one at the rear. The security patrols will be conducted both at regular routines as well as at random periods. The building construction has been inspected previously before taking over to check whether any loophole in the construction might provide the terrorists a way to target the executive. 5) 5 undercover agents have been placed in the country from January 1, for collecting intelligence from local sources. 6) The executive’s tour diary has been thorough screened in order to make arrangements accordingly and to deploy the required staff. 7) The visitor control has been thoroughly scrutinized and rehearsed. The visitors of the executive have been registered previously and the visitor list is scanned in order to avoid unwanted visitors. The visitors go through a thorough scanning and monitoring system besides being frisked on entry, in order to enhance the security precautions and avoid any undesirable entries. Security at the entrance and inside the residence will be beefed up during the times visitors are allowed. All unauthorized access system will be prevented. 4 security personnel have been deployed to do this task. 8) Security cameras have been fixed in all vantage points around and inside the residence, to monitor the visitors and their movements. Other electronic devices like miniature cameras etc were placed in vases etc so that surveillance is possible without the visitors knowing that their activities are being monitored. 9) At meetings and functions the executive is provided with a bulletproof jacket as a part of the executive protection. 10) There would be one supervisor who would screen the telephone calls that the executive receives. Arrangements for cooking etc have been done using our own resources and any eatables from outside is discouraged. In case the client insists on ordering anything, it will be tasted by security personnel before it is served to the celebrity. 11) The security arrangements will be in place even after the executive winds up his visit in the country on the 5th march 2011 then the same number of 5 armed security personnel will be boarding with him back on the journey to New York. Conclusion: Therefore, in short the existing security system has gone under tight supervision and monitoring. “An EP Operations Plan (Ops Plan) is an essential tool for mission success and to ensure the desired end results (complete protection of the executive).” The operational plan has been well crafted considering all the security arrangements that are necessary for executive protection. The operational plan helped in the analysis of the internal and external security arrangements needed on the whole for the task of executive protection. Preparation of the operation plan helped a great deal in visualizing the operational requirements needed for the mission of executive protection. Reference List Walker, J. 2008. Fundamentals of Management Accounting. [Online] Elsevier, P.305 Available at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JOCEzatNsWcC&pg=PA305&dq=operational+planning+process&hl=en#v=onepage&q=operational%20planning%20process&f=false [Accessed 16 March 2011]. Hunsicker, A. 2007. The Fine Art of Executive Protection: Handbook for the Executive Protection Officer. [Online] Universal-Publishers, P.160 Available at: http://books.google.co.in/books?id=nxDyGK-iLiYC&pg=PA160&dq=can+executive+protection+be+provided+to+authors&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false[Accessed 16 March 2011]. Read More