What elements should an investigation plan contain?

• A. Objectives, scope, parties involved.
• B. Interview plan and evidence plan only.
• C. Objectives, scope, parties involved, interview plan, evidence plan, timeline, roles, confidentiality measures, and anticipated milestones.
• D. Only final findings.

Answer: (C)

A solid investigation plan starts by laying out what will be investigated, how it will be conducted, who is involved, and when it will happen, all with safeguards to preserve fairness and legality. This is why the full set of elements is best: objectives define exactly what you’re trying to determine, and scope sets the boundaries so you don’t chase irrelevant matters. Knowing who is involved clarifies roles—who leads, who participates, and who oversees the process. An interview plan provides structure for gathering information from witnesses and subjects in a consistent, unbiased way, while an evidence plan specifies what sources to check, how to collect and preserve materials, and how they’ll be labeled and stored. A timeline keeps the investigation on track, and defined roles ensure accountability. Confidentiality measures protect sensitive information and encourage candid participation, and anticipated milestones give you concrete progress points to monitor and report on. Without these components, the plan can become unfocused, risky from a fairness and legal standpoint, and hard to execute. This combination covers both the process and protections needed to conduct a thorough, defensible investigation.