Get Aligned With a Simple Plan on a Page

The first thing to get right is to have a simple plan layout that makes the alignment visually clear. You’ll want to include in your plan a layout that shows the links between results, measures, targets, improvement projects, and project action plans.

The Strategic Plan on a Page template I use with my clients has 4 columns. The first column is for results. You could use this for goals or objectives, as long as they are written in results language, not action language. The action language happens in column 4.

The second column is for measures, and measures that are specifically chosen because they provide great evidence of the degree to which the result in their row is occurring.

The third column is for targets, for each of the measures, to describe what size of improvement is expected. For each measure you can have a series of targets, which start easy and then get harder over the course of the term of the plan.

The fourth column is for initiatives, or general directions of action, that are chosen for their likely efficacy in achieving the targets. These are usually projects that focus on improving a business process.

Of course the document itself isn’t going change everything. But it should be a great place to start dialogue to create the right actions to achieve the targets, and thus the results. So I often suggest using simple one-page project plans or action plans for each of the initiatives in column 4 in the plan, to make it clear what exactly to do.

Don’t let the plan gather dust. Have everyone carry it around in their diary or pocket. It’s a daily reminder of what really matters.
If you’d like a good starting place, you can download my Strategic Plan on a Page template at www.staceybarr.com/downloads/StaceyBarrStrategicPlanonaPage.doc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stacey Barr is the Performance Measure Specialist, helping strategic planners, business analysts and performance measurement officers confidently facilitate their organisation to create and use meaningful performance measures with lots of buy-in. Sign up for Stacey’s free email tips at www.staceybarr.com/202tipsKPI.html and receive a complimentary copy of her renowned e-book “202 Tips for Performance Measurement”.