Resonans’ Strategy Approach
1. June, 2011
Anders Birch
Resonans’ 3 strategy principles
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When trying to solve what defines successful strategy execution…We came up with an equation!
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Clear strategic direction from top management – i.e. expressed as ‘vision’ and strategic targets that describes a disirable but uncertain future
Translation of direction into strategy: ”Whats does that mean for us – and what do we need to do?” expressed in a strategy map showing key initiatives and their cause-and-effect relationships
The right people being engaged to do the right things in the right way… and the goals and processes to follow up continuously
Resonans’ strategy process
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1. We conduct a strategic analysis in order to define how the organisation can better utilize its strengths and capabilities to deliver enhanced value for customers and owners
2. The direction are put into words as a positive strategic aspiration – backed up by strategic goals and the 3-5 “must-win-battles” that an organization must win in order to reach it’s direction.
3. The “must-win-battles” are translated into a strategy map – build through a creative process, involving employees and managers – and solutions are identified by learning from existing positive deviances
4. Finally, the strategy is put into action by people doing things! Progress is monitored closely – and adjustments are made immediately when needed
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Strategic analysis
• What megatrends will impact and how?• What do our customers think of our products
and service? • What differentiates and makes us unique?• What strengths and capabilities supports our
customers demands – and can be utilized better?
• What are the expectations of our owners and shareholders?
• What changes are we facing - growth or higher productivity?
• What unexploited opportunities shall we pursue?
• The analysis basically answers two things: what hot dish are we bringing to the table – and what is special about how we cook the ingredients and service our ‘guests’…
” Strategy must of course be based on data and analysis…
but is not a 200-pages report.
Strategy must be adapted to reality – where data and market conditions are
constantly changing…”
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Setting the strategic direction
• When the oil platform Piper Alpha in the North Sea caught fire, a worker was trapped by the fire on the edge of the platform. Rather than certain death in the fire, he chose probable death by jumping 100 feet into the freezing sea.
• The term 'burning platform' is now used to describe a situation where the company are forced to act – and is often used to set the strategic agenda and direction.
• Doing this, encourages people to act by loading them up with negative information; to move away from something…
• This can be powerful – but often a positive aspiration is a much more effective way of setting the agenda; to move towards a desired future…
• Be ambitious: An aspiration must be within sight but beyond reach – and have the power to motivate the entire company
” The task of leadership is to create an alignment of
strengths in ways that make weaknesses
irrelevant”
- Peter Drucker
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Translating the strategy: Building strategy maps
• Strategy maps show the cause-and-effect links by which specific improvements create desired outcomes
• The strategy map can be developed from the top down if strategy is a “translation” from corporate level – AND – bottom-up if you are taking a capability approach
• Building a strategy map together – is a strong process creating momentum, shared understanding and makes a great first step in a successful execution
• You start by placing the MWB’s – and the positive deviances identified… and then start filling out the gaps and prioritizing…
• Strategy maps are a strong tool to build, describe and communicate your strategy
• Growth• Productivity and cost• Cash flow • Shareholder value
• Customer relationship• Branding• Product and service• Customer satisfaction
• Operational excellence in production, customer management and IT• Process innovation• Regulatory and CSR • People skills and competences• Leadership• Culture and values• Knowledge• Organisation
WHICH DRIVES
EXECUTE
THAT DELIVE
R
PEOPLE & ORGANISATION
BUSINESSPROCESSES
CUSTOMERVALUE
FINANCIALVALUE
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How it might look….
• Strategic aspiration
• 3-5 ‘Must-win-
battles’
• Positive deviances
initiatives
“We want to become the most…”
MWB 1
MWB 3
MWB 2
… in real life
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Translating the strategy – defining “must-win-battles” and discovering how to win them…
• Must-win battles (MWBs) are the 3-5 key battles that an organization must win in order to achieve its most important goals.
• When doing a positive deviance inquiry, you identify outliers who, despite having no special advantages, are doing exceptionally well at winning a “battle”
• The difficult part is to spot the positive deviances…
• There are 4 steps in doing this:1. Define and describe the MWBs2. Search for positive deviances analysing
data and making inquiries3. Investigate and learn4. Spread, maintain and strengthen solution
• It’s not about celebration. It is about learning from unexpected outliers
” The future is already here — it's just not very evenly
distributed”
- William Gibson
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Strategy execution…
•Involves everyone•Takes much longer •Requires attention everyday •May collide with existing power structures, culture, ability to change and competences (also among CXO’s)•Demands clear roles and responsibilities
•…requires alignment and strong links between organisational, team and individual performance KPI’s
Execute, review and adjust: Building a process that help you keep focused
Organisational level
Team/Individual level
The “8 model of strategy execution”
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Execute, review and adjust: The power of progress and small wins
• Knowing what serves to catalyze and nourish strategy execution and progress – and what does the opposite – turns out to be the key to effectively making people doing things…
• When we think about progress, we often imagine succeeding with big important projects…
• Big projects are however risky and fragile and requires many days of hard work and even lots of frustration…
• In order to create and keep momentum – support progress, help to downsize scope of initiatives – and take out any obstacles that occurs…
” Want to truly engage your employees in strategy
execution?Help them see their own
progress…”
Contact information
Anders Birch, Seniorkonsulent, Cand.scient.pol. Focus on implementation of strategy, change and organizational development in both private and public sectors.Anders is an experienced management consultant who also has practical management experience from the telco business, with responsibility for group strategy, efficiency and process improvements and strategic procurement.
Mobile: + 45 53 39 40 20E-mail: [email protected]
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