Turning Strategy into Action

Tony WickhamJanuary 21, 2011

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Tony Wickham

Praxilient, IncPerformance Consultant

Business Needs Analysis Leadership Development

Strategy Development Organization & Team Effectiveness Change Management

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Session Objectives

You will be able to…• Develop a “line of sight” between your

organization's strategy and your team's goals• Understand your part in the big picture and

the value you add to your organization• Learn to find opportunities to increase your

value and help your organization reach it's strategy

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STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT OVERVIEW

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Some Examples• Answer/respond to situations and resolve as many as possible on

the first call.• Getting someone "up and running" as quickly as possible

contributes directly to the bottom line!• Maintain a professional, friendly and pleasant tone throughout the

engagement.• Removing stress aids in communication and gets the customer

productive sooner.• Offer additional services. "Is there anything else while I'm here (or

on the phone)?"• Providing additional customer service contributes to return

business.

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Elements of Strategic Plans• Mission: The business that the unit is in. How do we define the unit’s “product” or

“service?” Answers, “why do we exist?”

• Vision: That for which the unit wishes to be recognized in the future. The statement should be a forward-looking, memorably and inspiring statement of timeless future direction. Answers, “what do we want to become?”

• Objective: A broad, qualitative statement of an end to be achieved.

• Goal: A quantitative (S-M-A-R-T) statement of the end to be achieved.

• Strategy: A broad, high-level statement of how the objectives/ goals will be achieved. Good strategies come directly from a carefully selected few of the most important environmental realities.

• Measure: A specific, quantitative way to check progress on executing a strategy.

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Strategic Plan

A statement summarizing the most important results that an organizational “unit” wants to achieve medium-term (3-5 years) and how they will do it. The organizational “unit” may be at virtually any level from that of a company to a division, department, brand group or project team.

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Strategic Process - 5 Steps.

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MISSION

VISION

SWOT AnalysisMost Important

Problems,Opportunities,

Issues

OG SM

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4 SITUATION DATA

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Internal: Co. Strategies, Values, Policies, Resources

Department/Brand M, V, O, G link to Company organization and strategies.

+ External: Customers, Suppliers, Competitors, Regulations, Economy, Technology, Geographic Scope, etc.

Alignment point for portfolio / projects

Strategic Alignment / Value

Strategic Outcomes

Tasks

Wor

k A

ligne

d

Wor

k Pe

rfor

med

Line of Sight• Creates a relationship

between measurable goals and the work necessary to provide them

• Enterprise goals need to be decomposed into tangible departmental-process (capability) goals

• All of the work is defined and aligned to goal accomplishment at both levels

SO – BO – PO – D – T

How Do I See Connections?

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HD

Business

Organization

Trends

Problems

Business Partner• Build the relationship• Know what motivates the business

leader• Know what the business leader

wants to happen in the organization• Think & Work strategically – engage

strategically Be a communication conduit inside their organization

• Know organization / history / culture – know how to get things done

• Locate in organization – be visible, accessible, part of the team

Information

Help Desk

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Partnership

Strategic / Business Connections Exercise

Small group exercise• Identify / Discuss the categories of information,

problem solution, or services you provide• Next, identify the strategic, business and

department goals that have a connection to the work you perform

• What’s the business need that your work begins to meet?

• Report out to large group

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Questions?

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Thank You!

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Praxilient is a management consulting firm in Northeast Wisconsin focused on our clients strategic performance and improving their project results. Our goal is to understand the challenges that organizations face and deliver solutions that produce meaningful results that fit the culture and state of readiness.

5601 Grande Market | Suite C |Appleton, WI 54913www.praxilient.com | (920) 257-2080

Questions?

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