Organizational alignment to common goals suggests executive, manager, and employee motivation is largely driven by the company’s strategic plan. However, there are likely some additional, hidden performance drivers unintentionally created by the organization’s processes or embedded as an integral component of the organizations’ history and culture.
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Nathan Ives is a StrategyDriven Principal and Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over twenty years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at dozens of Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.
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StrategyDriven contributors are pleased to announce the release of our third model, Business Process Relationships. This model illustrates the many interrelations between the strategic business planning and tactical business execution processes. Additionally, the model provides a framework against which to association the many best practices posted on the StrategyDriven website.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.png00Nathan Iveshttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngNathan Ives2007-09-10 08:01:512013-06-30 16:17:02New Model Released – Business Process Relationships
Great Escapes: nine decision-making pitfalls and nine simple devices to beat them by Michael and Jerry Useem explores the logic flaws that often skew perceptions and undermine decision-making effectiveness. The article provides methods executives and managers can employ to avoid each logic trap thereby improving their decision-making.
Benefits of Using this Reference
Great Escapes provides actionable methodologies for dealing with the decision-making challenges StrategyDriven contributors find to be the most prevalent at organizations of all sizes. Many of the best practices found on the StrategyDriven website compliment the Great Escapes’ recommendations; making this article a StrategyDriven recommended read.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.png00StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2007-09-09 06:08:492016-05-02 15:42:08Recommended Resource – Great Escapes
As a way of saying thank you to our registered members, StrategyDriven contributors are launching a series of new member’s only categories covering practices that permeate the strategic planning and tactical business execution processes. Our initial category, Decision-Making, will examine the four categories of decision-making (emergency, day-to-day, intermediate-term, and strategic), underlying concepts, and performance best practices and warning flags.
While access to Decision-Making will be limited to registered members, all other categories will remain open to all visitors. StrategyDriven contributors remain committed to updating the open access categories with the high-quality, weekly content on strategic planning and tactical business execution as we have done in the past.
Registration is FREE and registered members gain access to StrategyDriven whitepapers, models, and the Decision-Making category. If you have not already done so, we hope you’ll register today and join our conversation.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.png00Nathan Iveshttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngNathan Ives2007-09-08 05:53:262009-10-25 23:08:51New Category Released – Decision-Making
For better or worse, our decisions and those of the other members of our organization define today’s realities and tomorrow’s outcomes. In a world that is becoming increasingly knowledge based, more and more members of an organization are making impactful decisions every day; thereby extending decision-making’s importance from the executive suites to the desks of the vast majority of professionals.
Decision-making can be categorized based on the time frame in which associated actions will yield observable results. Near-term decisions are often supported by predetermined guidelines to enable more rapid decision-making while long-term decisions, clouded by the ever increasing uncertainty of changing conditions, rely more heavily on broad philosophical principles and decision-maker experience. The four general decision-making categories are:
Near-Term Decisions: decisions supported by policies, procedures, schedules, and regulatory guidelines
Category One: immediate actions taken in response to emergent conditions as directed by procedure. These decisions seek to seize advantage of momentary opportunities or avoid adverse consequences associated with rapidly changing conditions. Decisions of this type should be supported by procedural guidance whenever possible to improve consistency and predictability of response; thereby minimizing the organization’s risk exposure. Examples include: buying or selling of commodities when a target price is reached and actions taken in response to changing operating system conditions.
Category Two: day-to-day choices regarding activities and resource allocations. These decisions have immediate impact on the organization and may have unrecognized or less predictable long-range impacts. Decisions in this category are frequently supported by pre-established performance standards, policies, and schedules. Examples include: daily work scheduling and task assignment and procurement choices between vendors for a one-time purchases.
Long-Term Decisions: decisions made in the absence of procedural guidance and shaped by market trends, regulatory policies, and societal norms
Category Three: intermediate range decisions made in response to more slowly evolving trends where it is believed a particular desired outcome may be achieved in the days, weeks, or months ahead if a particular course of action is pursued today. Decisions in this category may have both near- and long-term impacts on the organization. While not directly supported by policies, procedures, or regulatory guidelines, these decisions often leverage guiding principles or intent to establish a target end state. Examples include: decisions made in response to slowly degrading equipment where failure is likely, vendor selection where contracts will be entered into for annualized periods, equipment leases other than hourly or daily rentals, monthly scheduling, and hiring and termination decisions for first line management positions and below.
Category Four: long-range or strategic decisions define near- and long-term actions seeking to achieve results that will be years in the making. While influenced by the organization’s mission, vision, values and regulatory policies, these decisions are largely shaped by broader market trends. Subsequently, decisions in this category have the highest degree of uncertainty because of their long time horizon and the increasing uncertainty associated with market prediction over time. Examples include: construction of new facilities, major equipment replacements, expansion of product lines, mergers and acquisitions, and hiring and termination decisions for senior managers and executives.
Regardless of their impact time frame and the immediacy in which they are made, all decisions go through a similar process that begins with condition recognition and ends in action. Phases of decision-making include:
Scope and Significance Identification Phase: condition scoping, condition resolution cost-benefit and risk assessment, action need determination, action response prioritization
Action Plan Development Phase: alternative development (including cost-benefit and risk assessments for each alternative), alternative selection, and communication and action plan development (for the selected alternative)
Action Plan Implementation Phase: communication and action plan implementation, follow-up condition monitoring, decision evaluation, and action plan adjustment
Organizational Capabilities and Cultural Development Phase: decision-making process training, performance expectations established and reinforced, questioning attitude developed and reinforced, decision-making self-assessment and lessons learned communication
The final phase, Organizational Capabilities and Cultural Development, is an enabler of decision-making. This phase occurs on an ongoing basis; creating an organizational mindset that enables both the recognition of decision opportunities and helps the organization learn and grow from its decision-making successes and shortfalls. Strong execution of the Organizational Capabilities and Cultural Development Phase is a hallmark of organizational excellence.
Focus of the Decision-Making Forum
Decision-making is a complex process that when done well enhances both strategic planning and tactical business execution. Materials within this forum explore the four categories of decision-making, underlying concepts, and performance best practices and warning flags. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to effective decision-making.
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Strategic Analysis Best Practice 3 – Identify the Hidden Drivers
/in Premium, Strategic Analysis/by Nathan IvesHi there! Gain access to this article with a FREE StrategyDriven Insights Library – Sample Subscription. It’s FREE Forever with No Credit Card Required.
In addition to receiving access to Strategic Analysis Best Practice 3 – Identify the Hidden Drivers, you’ll help advance your career and business programs through anytime, anywhere access to:
Best of all, it’s FREE Forever with No Credit Card Required.
About the Author
New Model Released – Business Process Relationships
/in Announcements/by Nathan IvesStrategyDriven contributors are pleased to announce the release of our third model, Business Process Relationships. This model illustrates the many interrelations between the strategic business planning and tactical business execution processes. Additionally, the model provides a framework against which to association the many best practices posted on the StrategyDriven website.
Recommended Resource – Great Escapes
/in Decision-Making, Recommended Resources/by StrategyDrivenGreat Escapes: nine decision-making pitfalls and nine simple devices to beat them
FORTUNE Magazine, June 27, 2005
by Michael and Jerry Useem
About the Reference
Great Escapes: nine decision-making pitfalls and nine simple devices to beat them by Michael and Jerry Useem explores the logic flaws that often skew perceptions and undermine decision-making effectiveness. The article provides methods executives and managers can employ to avoid each logic trap thereby improving their decision-making.
Benefits of Using this Reference
Great Escapes provides actionable methodologies for dealing with the decision-making challenges StrategyDriven contributors find to be the most prevalent at organizations of all sizes. Many of the best practices found on the StrategyDriven website compliment the Great Escapes’ recommendations; making this article a StrategyDriven recommended read.
New Category Released – Decision-Making
/in Announcements/by Nathan IvesAs a way of saying thank you to our registered members, StrategyDriven contributors are launching a series of new member’s only categories covering practices that permeate the strategic planning and tactical business execution processes. Our initial category, Decision-Making, will examine the four categories of decision-making (emergency, day-to-day, intermediate-term, and strategic), underlying concepts, and performance best practices and warning flags.
While access to Decision-Making will be limited to registered members, all other categories will remain open to all visitors. StrategyDriven contributors remain committed to updating the open access categories with the high-quality, weekly content on strategic planning and tactical business execution as we have done in the past.
Registration is FREE and registered members gain access to StrategyDriven whitepapers, models, and the Decision-Making category. If you have not already done so, we hope you’ll register today and join our conversation.
StrategyDriven Decision-Making Forum
/in Decision-Making/by StrategyDrivenDecision-making can be categorized based on the time frame in which associated actions will yield observable results. Near-term decisions are often supported by predetermined guidelines to enable more rapid decision-making while long-term decisions, clouded by the ever increasing uncertainty of changing conditions, rely more heavily on broad philosophical principles and decision-maker experience. The four general decision-making categories are:
Near-Term Decisions: decisions supported by policies, procedures, schedules, and regulatory guidelines
Category One: immediate actions taken in response to emergent conditions as directed by procedure. These decisions seek to seize advantage of momentary opportunities or avoid adverse consequences associated with rapidly changing conditions. Decisions of this type should be supported by procedural guidance whenever possible to improve consistency and predictability of response; thereby minimizing the organization’s risk exposure. Examples include: buying or selling of commodities when a target price is reached and actions taken in response to changing operating system conditions.
Category Two: day-to-day choices regarding activities and resource allocations. These decisions have immediate impact on the organization and may have unrecognized or less predictable long-range impacts. Decisions in this category are frequently supported by pre-established performance standards, policies, and schedules. Examples include: daily work scheduling and task assignment and procurement choices between vendors for a one-time purchases.
Long-Term Decisions: decisions made in the absence of procedural guidance and shaped by market trends, regulatory policies, and societal norms
Category Three: intermediate range decisions made in response to more slowly evolving trends where it is believed a particular desired outcome may be achieved in the days, weeks, or months ahead if a particular course of action is pursued today. Decisions in this category may have both near- and long-term impacts on the organization. While not directly supported by policies, procedures, or regulatory guidelines, these decisions often leverage guiding principles or intent to establish a target end state. Examples include: decisions made in response to slowly degrading equipment where failure is likely, vendor selection where contracts will be entered into for annualized periods, equipment leases other than hourly or daily rentals, monthly scheduling, and hiring and termination decisions for first line management positions and below.
Category Four: long-range or strategic decisions define near- and long-term actions seeking to achieve results that will be years in the making. While influenced by the organization’s mission, vision, values and regulatory policies, these decisions are largely shaped by broader market trends. Subsequently, decisions in this category have the highest degree of uncertainty because of their long time horizon and the increasing uncertainty associated with market prediction over time. Examples include: construction of new facilities, major equipment replacements, expansion of product lines, mergers and acquisitions, and hiring and termination decisions for senior managers and executives.
Regardless of their impact time frame and the immediacy in which they are made, all decisions go through a similar process that begins with condition recognition and ends in action. Phases of decision-making include:
Identification Phase: condition evolution, condition recognition, condition reporting
Scope and Significance Identification Phase: condition scoping, condition resolution cost-benefit and risk assessment, action need determination, action response prioritization
Action Plan Development Phase: alternative development (including cost-benefit and risk assessments for each alternative), alternative selection, and communication and action plan development (for the selected alternative)
Action Plan Implementation Phase: communication and action plan implementation, follow-up condition monitoring, decision evaluation, and action plan adjustment
Organizational Capabilities and Cultural Development Phase: decision-making process training, performance expectations established and reinforced, questioning attitude developed and reinforced, decision-making self-assessment and lessons learned communication
The final phase, Organizational Capabilities and Cultural Development, is an enabler of decision-making. This phase occurs on an ongoing basis; creating an organizational mindset that enables both the recognition of decision opportunities and helps the organization learn and grow from its decision-making successes and shortfalls. Strong execution of the Organizational Capabilities and Cultural Development Phase is a hallmark of organizational excellence.
Focus of the Decision-Making Forum
Decision-making is a complex process that when done well enhances both strategic planning and tactical business execution. Materials within this forum explore the four categories of decision-making, underlying concepts, and performance best practices and warning flags. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to effective decision-making.
Articles
Principles
Best Practices
Warning Flags
StrategyDriven Expert Contributor Articles
StrategyDriven Podcasts
StrategyDriven Podcast – Special Edition
Documents
Whitepapers
Models
Resources
Books