5W2H Analysis Notes
Topic: 2026 Annual Company Gala Planning
Date: 2026-08-30
Analyst: Admin Dept. · Li Ming
Version: v1.0
I. What — The Subject 📌
What needs to be done? What is the goal? What is the core content or event?
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Core task | Plan and host the 2026 annual company gala |
| Specific goals | Host a gala for 200 people with employee satisfaction ≥ 85%, budget within ¥150,000 |
| Scope | All 200 company employees: 150 at Beijing HQ + 50 at Shanghai branch |
| Key deliverables | A successful in-person gala, full recording, employee satisfaction survey report |
Supplementary notes:
- Gala theme tentatively set as "United We Go, Creating the Future Together"
- First year including Shanghai branch colleagues; travel arrangements need consideration
- Must complete before Spring Festival; suggested date: mid-January
II. Why — The Reason ❓
Why do this? What is the reason? What are the underlying motivations and objectives?
| Dimension | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Root cause | Annual tradition for summary and team building; strengthens employee belonging and cohesion |
| Importance | Company performance grew 30% this year; a successful gala is needed to recognize everyone's efforts; also marks Shanghai branch's first anniversary, promoting integration across locations |
| Consequences of not doing | Decline in employee morale and sense of belonging; new Shanghai team lacks integration sense; conflicts with company cultural tradition |
| Alternative comparison | ① Pure in-person gala (traditional, high engagement but costly) ② Hybrid online+offline (saves travel but compromises experience) ③ Cancel gala, give out red packets (lowest cost but no cohesion effect) |
Motivation checklist:
- Annual summary and recognition
- Strengthen team cohesion
- Promote Beijing-Shanghai team integration
- Thank employees for a year of dedication
III. Who — The People 👥
Who does it? Who is involved? Who is the target audience?
| Role | Person / Team | Responsibility | Participation level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Admin Dept. Li Ming | Overall planning, coordination, budget control | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Execution team | Admin Dept. 3 people + HR Dept. 2 people | Venue, process, performances, materials, people coordination | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Target users | All 200 company employees | Gala participants | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Stakeholders | CEO, department directors | Approve budget, participate in awards, speak on behalf of management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Supporters | Outsourced event company, hotel, photography team | Venue provision, event execution, video recording | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Key contacts:
- Event company contact: Manager Wang 138-xxxx-xxxx
- Hotel sales: Manager Zhang 139-xxxx-xxxx
- Department gala liaisons: 1 per department
IV. When — The Timeline 🕐
When does it start? When does it end? What are the key milestones?
| Milestone | Planned | Actual | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickoff | 2026-11-01 | 2026-08-30 | ✅ Started early |
| Phase 1 | 2026-11-30 (Plan finalized + venue booked) | — | ⬜ |
| Midpoint check | 2026-12-31 (All materials + performances ready) | — | ⬜ |
| Final completion | 2027-01-15 (Gala held) | — | ⬜ |
Timeline:
Start ────────┬─────────────────────┬───────────────┐
Plan+Venue Materials+Shows Gala
(11.30) (12.31) (01.15)
V. Where — The Location 📍
Where does it happen? What is the venue / scenario / channel?
| Dimension | Content |
|---|---|
| Venue / Location | 5-star hotel banquet hall in Chaoyang, Beijing (main venue) + Shanghai satellite venue (live-synced) |
| Usage scenarios | Gala dinner, awards ceremony, talent shows, interactive games, lottery draw |
| Channels / Platforms | Primarily in-person + online live stream (Shanghai colleagues join remotely) |
| Coverage | 150 at Beijing main venue + 50 at Shanghai satellite venue (online+offline integration) |
Scenario descriptions:
- Main venue: Hotel grand banquet hall with stage, LED screen, and round-table dining area
- Shanghai satellite venue: Company conference room with projector and video conferencing equipment
- Interactive segments: Both locations participate synchronously via online lottery system
VI. How — The Method 🛠️
How to implement? What are the methods and steps? What strategies and tools?
| Step | Method / Strategy | Tools / Resources | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finalize plan + submit budget for approval | Plan document, budget sheet | Li Ming |
| 2 | Venue + event company bidding | RFP, comparison sheet | Admin Dept. |
| 3 | Performance recruitment + rehearsal | Sign-up form, rehearsal schedule | HR Dept. |
| 4 | Materials production + on-site setup | Design drafts, suppliers | Admin Dept. |
| 5 | Gala day execution | Execution manual, task assignment table | Entire project team |
Key methods:
- Adopt outsourced event company + internal project team cooperation model
- Performances selected by department to ensure participation
- Lottery draw via online system, synchronized across both locations
VII. How Much — The Cost 💰
What is the budget? How many resources are invested? What is the expected return?
| Category | Budget | Actual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor cost | ¥15,000 | — | Internal team of 5 × ~2 months of effort |
| Financial investment | ¥150,000 | — | Venue, catering, prizes, event company, travel |
| Time investment | 2.5 months | — | From planning to completion |
| Other resources | ¥20,000 | — | Shanghai colleague travel, live streaming equipment, etc. |
| Total | ¥185,000 | — | Incl. labor and travel |
Expected benefits:
| Benefit type | Estimated value | Certainty |
|---|---|---|
| Direct benefit | 15% improvement in employee satisfaction | High |
| Indirect benefit | Stronger team cohesion, lower turnover rate | Medium |
| Long-term value | Corporate culture building, enhanced employer brand | Medium |
ROI assessment:
- Although the gala is a cost expenditure, from the perspective of employee retention and team building, the input-output ratio is reasonable
- Compared to the cost of hiring new employees (~¥50,000 per person), gala investment effectively reduces turnover rate, resulting in positive ROI
Summary & Actions 🎯
Core conclusions:
- The 2026 annual gala should be held in mid-January 2027 with the theme "United We Go, Creating the Future Together"
- Adopt Beijing main venue + Shanghai satellite venue live stream format, covering all 200 employees
- Total budget approximately ¥185,000 (incl. labor); suggest controlling within ¥200,000
Pending decisions:
- Specific gala date selection (Jan 10 / Jan 15 / Jan 17)
- Submit budget proposal to CEO for approval
- Whether to invite external guests / clients
Next steps:
| Task | Owner | Deadline | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete detailed gala plan and submit for approval | Li Ming | 2026-09-10 | 🔴 High |
| Contact 3 event companies for price comparison | Wang Fang | 2026-09-15 | 🔴 High |
| Distribute gala date preference survey | Zhang Wei | 2026-09-05 | 🟡 Medium |
Quick Reference Card
| Dimension | Icon | English | Core question |
|---|---|---|---|
| What | 📌 | What | What to do? What's the goal? |
| Why | ❓ | Why | Why do it? What's the reason? |
| Who | 👥 | Who | Who does it? Who is involved? |
| When | 🕐 | When | When to do it? What are the milestones? |
| Where | 📍 | Where | Where to do it? What's the scenario? |
| How | 🛠️ | How | How to implement? What's the method? |
| How Much | 💰 | How Much | How much investment? What's the return? |
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