Having worked through the SWOT and identifying key areas needing attention, the next step was to determine where to start. It was understood (see Common Problems with Strategic Plans) many strategic plans falter because too many goals and strategies result in a lack of focus and under resourced efforts. Determined to fully implement efforts to improve the organization, a more focused approach was needed.
This required a conversation about the five key areas identified through the SWOT discussion and analysis. Working to improve any of the five areas – performance management, portfolio and project management, data integration, workforce and knowledge management, and organizational communication – was recognized as being beneficial. But where to start?
A tool called an inter-relationship diagram, designed to sort through multiple issues by examining cause-and-effect relationships, was used. After listing the five key areas, each pairing of areas was discussed to determine if there was a relationship between them. If there was a relationship, an arrow was draw from “cause†to “effect.†If there wasn’t a relationship, no arrow was drawn. Those areas with arrows predominately coming out were seen as “drivers†and those with arrows predominately going in were seen are outcomes. Below are the results of that work with the five key areas.
The results of the work to complete the inter-relationship diagram led Management Team to identify performance management as the first key area to focus on in the strategic plan.