How to Establish a Sound Strategy Process
The importance of strategy today. Strategy is now more critical than ever. In turbulent times the seduction to keep on doing what you're doing,...
1 min read
Dr. Marc Sniukas
Jun 14, 2023 12:00:00 AM
A technique I borrowed and adapted from the Viennese System Thinkers Exner and Hochreiter is their prioritization model.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Create a list of all the tasks, strategic initiatives and moves, you have to implement, but also the key assumptions you need to validate and the strategic questions you need to answer.
Exner and Hochreiter also include “restrictions” into their list. In their experience, when creating your list you’re likely to have items that you can influence and items, which are external, and hence beyond your control. They call these items “restrictions”, and suggest deleting them from your list, yet think about whether they require tasks, which are to be included on your list.
Step 2: For each of these items on your list, think about:
Step 3: Assign the items to the following matrix.
Items in category A (concern the whole organisation and are business critical) have the highest priority, those in category D the lowest.
Step 4: Exner and Hochreiter propose to think about whether a task (1) can be completed using the standard procedures and routines of your organisation, or whether (2) they require activities and initiatives outside of your established routines.
Activities, which can be handled using established routines should be delegated, those which require a different approach deserve special management attention and should not be delegated. Hence they have a higher priority.
Step 5: Get to work!
The importance of strategy today. Strategy is now more critical than ever. In turbulent times the seduction to keep on doing what you're doing,...
I've helped senior leaders and executive teams realize their organizations' goals and ambitions and make their visions and strategies come true since...
Do you ever feel like strategy work is too messy, too complicated, or too wasteful? You're not alone.