Within each of the primary
capacity areas, here are the knowledge competencies professional program
planners need to know.
I. Learning and Teaching
Know what self-directed learning is. Know how self-directed learning
principles impact a program. Know the four different characteristics of
adult learners. Be able to cite characteristics of a good teacher of adults.
Be able to prepare an outline for teaching a course or educational event. Be
able to specify various ways in which to involve learners and gain
participation and interaction. Define: enrollment/registration.
II. Finances and Budgeting
Be able to construct the Financial Format and determine its four unique
characteristics. Know the ratios for income, promotion, production,
operating margin for the service sector and individual Divisions or types of
programming. Know the four key formulas- Average Participants per
Event/Class; Average Fee; Response Rate/Brochure to Participant; and
Cancellation Rate. Be able to budget or forecast upcoming events/classes.
Know the Make Budget, Break Even, and Go-No Go points for an individual
event/class. Be able to analyze the effectiveness of Promotion. Be able to
determine the problem/how to improve a given Division or event/class. Know
how to list prices. Know how price impacts image and marketing. Know how to
price- market pricing. Define "refund rate." Define: direct costs;
indirect/fixed/administrative costs; operating margin; surplus; promotion;
production; income. Know ideal figures for: cancellation rate, promotion,
production, operating margin.
III. Brochures
Know how to design a brochure cover. Know how to design and write
introductory copy/pages. Know how to write a good course/session
description. Know how to write registration information, design a
registration form, write refund policies. Know how to get, write and enter
testimonials.
IV. Marketing
Define marketing. Know the traditional four "Ps" of marketing.
Know the difference between marketing and promotion. Be able to write an
outline for a one year marketing plan. Be able to write an outline for a
three-year marketing plan.
V. Promotion
Define repeat rate. Know how to track brochure distribution
methods/lists. Know how to track publicity and advertising. Know how to test
brochures, titles, prices and other program elements. Know how to do a test.
Be able to discuss various ways of distributing brochures. Be able to
discuss ways of target marketing. Be able to write a press release. Be able
to discuss ways in which to retain participants. Be able to define lifetime
value.
VI. Needs Assessments
Be able to conduct a needs assessment. Know how to conduct focus groups,
phone surveys, mail surveys. Be able to discuss ways to generate data on
potential audiences. Be able to discuss a way to determine whether a long
term program should be developed for a given audience. Be able to construct
a written survey. Discuss demographic customer data.
Discuss and construct a marketing database for customers. Know the six
levels of recognition for any consumer. Discuss ways to do environmental
scanning. Define and distinguish between: market potential; market share.
VII. Program Development
Learn the five strategies for new program development. Find out how to
tell if you have a wrong product. Discover techniques for creating
profitable new programs. Know the Ten Right Questions of Success!
VIII. Program Analysis
Know how to calculate average participants per event; average event fee;
cancellation rates; and brochure:participant ratio or response rates. Know
the patterns of registration behavior important to running a program.
IX. Pricing
Find out how to list prices. Know what price breaks are and how to use
them. Discover why market pricing is more effective than formula pricing.
Learn how to do diversified pricing.
X. Program Management Know how to develop a registration system. Know how to respond to a
customer inquiry. Discover techniques for marketing by phone. Be able to
handle customer complaints. Learn the three questions you need to answer to
explain your program to a potential customer. |