So, you've worked hard and developed a strategy that articulates your organization's purpose, values, vision and goals. Now you need to create an implementation plan to execute this strategy, but this is where many organizations hit a road block.
How do you successfully convert your strategy into an execution plan?
The answer is a strategy roadmap.
A strategy roadmap is a bridge (or link) between strategy and execution. It visualizes the key outcomes that must be delivered over a particular time horizon in order to achieve the organization's strategic vision.
Importantly, the outcomes on the strategy roadmap are substantiated by a clear understanding of which of the organization's capabilities, gaps and priorities must be addressed.
A strategy roadmap describes the what and the why. An execution plan describes the how.
A strategy roadmap is not a visual Gantt chart of activities with start dates and end dates. It describes what the organization must change, and why the changes are required, in order to achieve the strategic vision.
An execution plan describes how the organization will deliver the outcomes described in the strategy roadmap. Often, an execution plan is represented in a Gantt chart with a specific timeframe, start and end dates, milestones, and resource allocation.
Many organizations jump straight from their strategy into execution or implementation planning.
Often, an execution plan is derived by gathering groups of people into a workshop, handing out some sticky notes and start spawning a list of initiatives. The workshop is usually facilitated with the key question being: What initiatives or activities do we need to execute? From there, the people in the room simply dream up a list.
Later, most of these organizations start to question this method. Have we missed anything? How do we really know that this list of initiatives will deliver our strategy?
Essentially: they get lost.
To recap: a good strategy roadmap articulates what must be changed, why it must be changed, and in what sequence the change should be carried out.
It can be a complex job, so the method you apply must be sound. We have designed two unique methods specifically for this purpose: a six-step capability-based method, intended for analytical planners who need a highly robust roadmap, and a four-step objective-based method, created to help those for whom speed is of the essence.
Essentially, the translation of a strategy to a strategy roadmap must be done in a structured and logical manner, ensuring there is clear linkage or substantiation of the strategy roadmap outcomes back to the strategic vision or intent.
The most thorough and objective way to formulate and substantiate a robust strategy roadmap is by applying capability-based planning techniques. Capability-based planning is at the heart of the six-step method on which Jibility was first founded.
This approach takes a holistic view of the organization to ensure that you have good coverage and understanding of the areas of change. It helps you understand what capabilities exist; what capabilities are required in the future to meet the strategic vision; what changes are required; and the priority of these changes. The changes identified form the outcomes or initiatives which appear on your strategy roadmap.
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Both of our methods — the four-step objective-based method and the six-step capability-based method — are easy to apply to your strategic planning process with the help of our tool: Jibility.
Jibility is a free SaaS tool that walks you through either methodology, with a drag-and-drop interface and plenty of in-built content to keep the process simple and fast. Try it out now!
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