Strategy Execution Tool

Five stages, in order

Each stage asks one question and hands its answer to the next. You can stop after any stage: save your progress file, and pick up later on any computer. The strategy execution playbook explains the method behind each one.

1. 1

   Stage 1 of 5 · Strategy Map

   What has to go right for the strategy to work?

   1 to 2 weeks

   You bring

   The chosen strategy in one line, and the leadership team for a morning.

   You get

   A dozen or fewer objectives in four layers, each linked to what it drives, and the ones that drive nothing cut.

   How a strategy map worksUse the strategy map builder on its own

2. The objectives, linked cause to effect
3. 2

   Stage 2 of 5 · Balanced Scorecard

   How will you measure progress on each objective?

   1 to 2 weeks

   You bring

   The data you already collect, and a name for each objective's owner.

   You get

   One or two measures per objective, where each stands today, this year's target, the initiative and one owner.

   How the balanced scorecard worksUse the balanced scorecard tool on its own

4. A measure, target and owner for each objective
5. 3

   Stage 3 of 5 · McKinsey 7S

   Is the organization set up to deliver the strategy?

   1 week

   You bring

   Honest answers about structure, pay and skills, ideally from below the leadership team too.

   You get

   The seven elements rated against the strategy, and what to change, by when and who owns it.

   How the McKinsey 7S framework worksUse the McKinsey 7S assessment on its own

6. The changes due before the targets go out
7. 4

   Stage 4 of 5 · Hoshin Kanri

   Who commits to what this year?

   3 to 4 weeks, once a year

   You bring

   Time with each department head to propose, hear the reply and agree.

   You get

   Every yearly target proposed, replied to and agreed, the ones waiting on a change, and projects that serve nothing.

   How Hoshin Kanri worksUse the Hoshin Kanri planner on its own

8. Each yearly target, agreed with its owner
9. 5

   Stage 5 of 5 · OKRs

   What does each team do this quarter?

   A week each quarter

   You bring

   Everyone who committed to a yearly target, for an hour each.

   You get

   One objective per person with two to four key results, each traced to a yearly target, and the review rhythm with dates.

   How the OKR framework worksUse the OKR builder on its own

10. Every team's quarter, and the full report

What you finish with

A PDF report of the whole playbook. One headline for each stage, as in the example, then each stage's diagnosis: what it found, what that means, and what to do next. It ends with the quarter's OKRs and the review rhythm, with dates.

A progress file you keep. An Excel workbook with a sheet for every stage, updated each time you save. It is how you come back each quarter: choose it on this page or on any stage, and the playbook reopens where you left off.

Checks along the way. An objective that drives nothing is flagged for cutting; a scorecard of money alone is stopped; a hard element of the organization left unfixed stops the targets; a target not yet agreed is never signed; and a key result that reads like a task is flagged.