Recommended Resource – Strategy Maps: Converting Intangible Assets into Tangible Outcomes
by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton
About the Reference
Strategy Maps: Converting Intangible Assets into Tangible Outcomes
Benefits of Using this Reference
StrategyDriven contributors like this reference because it illustrates how an integrated performance measurement system can be leveraged to drive organizational performance toward desired outcomes. This book is thorough in its discussions and provides the visual aids needed to make the concepts real to the reader.
StrategyDriven Strategic Analysis Forum
Strategic analysis is a critical component of the strategic planning process. An integral part of a company’s evaluation and control program, it provides managers with a comprehensive assessment of the organization’s capabilities and market factors; revealing growth opportunities and vulnerabilities. Armed with this information, managers can more effectively choose from among today’s strategic alternatives to create the greatest future reward potential.
Strategic analysis combines in-depth information from a number of internal and external sources to create a picture of the subject company’s current health and future viability. A multi-phased approach to data acquisition and analysis includes:
- Strategic Posture and Performance Analysis
- Internal Capabilities Assessment
- External Environment Assessment
- Analysis of Strategic Factors
- Strategic Alternatives and Recommended Actions
Execution of these iterative processes takes place throughout the year with a frequency dictated by the pace of both internal and external environmental change.
Focus of the Strategic Analysis Forum
Materials in this forum are dedicated to discussing the leading practices of companies that successfully execute strategic analysis processes to support the ongoing strategic planning process. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to a superior strategic analysis program.
Articles
Best Practices
- Best Practice – Integrity Without Excuses [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – advocatus diaboli – The Devil’s Advocate [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Identify the Hidden Drivers [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Identify the Hidden Drivers (Continued) [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Independent Assessors [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – The Use of Models [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Multidiscipline Teams [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Diverse Models [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Validate the Extremes [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Compare Organizational Goals to Resource Assignments [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
StrategyDriven Podcasts
StrategyDriven Podcast
- Introduction to Strategic Analysis
- Identify the Hidden Drivers, part 1 of 3
- Identify the Hidden Drivers, part 2 of 3
- Identify the Hidden Drivers, part 3 of 3
- Independent Assessors
- The Use of Models
- Multidiscipline Teams
- Diverse Models
- Validate the Extremes
StrategyDriven Podcast – Special Edition
- An Interview with Robert Morison, co-author of Analytics at Work
- An Interview with Robert Simons, author of Seven Strategy Questions
Documents
Whitepapers
- Analysis [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Resources
Books
- Essentials of Strategic Management by J. David Hunger and Thomas L. Wheelen
Common Construction Characteristics
The benefits of vertically cascaded and horizontally shared performance measures are maximized when the related measures share a common set of characteristics. Common construction of vertically cascaded measures enables easy roll-up of lower tiered measures to create higher tiered benchmarks. Horizontally shared measures having similar construction characteristics are more readily comparable, thus enhancing the evaluation and decision-making processes.
When developing a vertically cascaded and horizontally shared performance measurement system, care should be taken to ensure that associated performance measures share common characteristics. These characteristics include:
- Data Characteristics (including type, integration, accuracy, and source)
- Units of Measure (including time references)
- Scaling (including axis scaling, numeric scaling, unit spacing, axis sizing, and scaling over time)
- Update Frequency
- Thresholds
Alignment of these dimensions both vertically and horizontally, further enables the creation of a core performance measure subset; enhancing focus on the organization’s mission and alignment of activities to its accomplishment.
Additional Information
Additional information regarding organizational performance measure construction can be found in the StrategyDriven whitepaper series Organizational Performance Measures.
About the Author
Nathan Ives is a StrategyDriven Principal and Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over twenty years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at dozens of Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.
Enterprise Performance Measurement
We can work with you to assess and improve your performance measurement system; yielding metrics and reports that are operationally relevant, organizationally consistent, and economically implemented. The resulting system helps improve managerial decision-making, organizational alignment, and individual accountability. Learn more about how we can support your implementation and upgrade efforts or contact us for a personal consultation.
Recommended Resource – Essentials of Strategic Management
by J. David Hunger and Thomas L. Wheelen
About the Reference
The Essentials of Strategic Management (4th Edition)
Benefits of Using this Reference
StrategyDriven contributors like this reference because its presentation is concise and direct while at the same time providing the detail needed to give the reader a fundamental understanding of strategic planning and execution. This book provides a full array of easy to follow tools and instructions that are ready for use by organizations of any size.
Recommended Resources – Introduction
Articles in this area highlight the many print, audio, video, webcast, and seminar resources that have significantly contributed to the successful business planning and execution activities of StrategyDriven Contributors. We highlight the topics covered by each resource and why we believe the benefits will outweigh your time investment.
Please note that whenever possible, a link is provided to expedite access of the recommended materials. In some cases, the providers require registering with their site. In other instances, the product link is directed to Amazon.com where the item can be purchased. StrategyDriven does receive a nominal contribution for products purchased from Amazon.com via our link which we then applied to our operating costs.