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The term strategy execution has been around for a long time, but what is it, and why are organizations (like Quantive) obsessed with it?<blockquote>Strategy execution, in theory, is self-explanatory — it’s how the strategic focus of an organization aligns with its decision-making and execution.</blockquote>Strategy is a living, breathing entity, not an A-to-Z journey. This means the process isn’t just about planning or executing a strategy. It must also be adapted and optimized, which informs a refreshed cycle of planning, alignment, and execution.Yes, the term “strategy execution” is both all-encompassing as a process and a stage within the process itself, lending to its hard-to-understand nature. &nbsp;So, where does strategy execution begin?&nbsp;

Understanding strategy execution is about clearly defining what it is and is not.<h3>Strategy execution is not one-directional</h3>Certain models break down the strategy execution process with visuals and charts to represent the flow of information in an organization. The problem is none of them can 100% accurately reflect the complexity of the process.Strategy execution as a concept is best compared to a cycle or a web, where interdependencies inform various stages of ongoing processes. Yet even with these illustrations, there is no widely adopted strategy execution model because it’s highly contextual to the organization’s needs.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670601655/site-v5/Strategy_execution_chart1_1a97f4ae8d.svg" alt="Morgan, Levitt &amp; Malek’s Strategic Execution Framework"><figcaption><a href="https://www.bl.uk/britishlibrary/~/media/bl/global/business-and-management/pdfs/non-secure/s/y/n/synthetic-strategy-implementation-model.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Morgan, Levitt &amp; Malek’s Strategic Execution Framework</a></figcaption></figure><h3>Strategy execution is not turning on the lightbulb</h3>If strategy execution was an all-or-nothing, flip-the-switch concept, it might not be a huge struggle for organizations.&nbsp;<blockquote>“70% of chief strategists express little confidence in their ability to close the gap between strategy and execution.” — Gartner</blockquote>In reality, strategy execution is like building a fire — it requires constant attention and input to stay alive.Strategy execution is a collaborative process, requiring focus and iteration to succeed. While top-level leaders can communicate strategy, your managers or teams may not understand it. As <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/03/why-strategy-execution-unravelsand-what-to-do-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harvard Business Review </a>notes, aligning your organization from top to bottom (traditionally) doesn’t mean they operate well cross-functionally.Leaders can’t just plan the strategy and cascade it down the organizational line. Strategy execution is a never-ending process of planning, alignment, execution, and optimization.&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Strategy execution is not simple</h3>We didn’t title this article, “4 Simple Stages to Strategy Execution” for a reason. Strategy execution is complicated by nature. Take <a href="https://www.bl.uk/britishlibrary/~/media/bl/global/business-and-management/pdfs/non-secure/s/y/n/synthetic-strategy-implementation-model.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kaplan &amp; Norton’s Strategy Execution Model,</a> with its distinct stages, complex information flow, and interdependencies:&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670601655/site-v5/Strategy_execution_plan_0e4f38cd2f.svg" alt="Kaplan &amp; Norton’s Strategy Execution Model"><figcaption><a href="https://www.bl.uk/britishlibrary/~/media/bl/global/business-and-management/pdfs/non-secure/s/y/n/synthetic-strategy-implementation-model.pdf">Kaplan &amp; Norton’s Strategy Execution Model</a></figcaption></figure>With constantly moving processes, communication through hierarchies, and its overall subjective nature, strategy execution is an in-depth process for any sized organization. But mastering your strategy execution process begins with making the complicated simple.At Quantive, we break it down into four distinct stages:<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Strategy planning</li><li>Strategy alignment and activation</li><li>Strategy execution</li><li>Strategy assessment and adaptation&nbsp;</li></ol>

Planning strategy is the foundational step in the strategy execution process. Without an agreed-upon definition and plan for your strategy, the vision is unclear. Basically, your teams can’t go anywhere unless you decide on where you’re going.Strategy planning can be observed in three areas — corporate strategy, business strategy, and functional strategy. Each of these areas is imperative to an effective strategy execution process.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670601655/site-v5/Corporate_Buisness_Strategy_Chart3_dbace9b1b9.svg" alt="Corporate Buisness Strategy Chart3.svg"></figure><h3>Corporate strategy</h3>Corporate strategy is the “top-level” strategy that guides the organization. This is where strategy mapping, visualization, and vision-mission development occurs. This complex, foundational step ultimately determines the trajectory of your business.&nbsp;To establish a thriving corporate strategy, a few simple, but important questions must be answered:<ol><li>What business should our company be in? (Niche)</li><li>What distinguishes us as a company? (Vision)</li><li>What are our company's comparative advantages? (Strength)</li></ol>These questions help your company understand its identity and pursuits:<ul><li>How the business is being run</li><li>The goals and objectives of the business</li><li>Which markets the business enters</li><li>How success is defined</li><li>Who is hired and why</li><li>How the budget is being created/spent&nbsp;</li></ul><h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Business strategy</h3>Business strategy is the middle ground between corporate functional execution. It establishes and coordinates the positioning of the organization by applying the mission and vision to your organization’s competitive landscape. &nbsp;Business strategy explores the questions centered on value, like:<ul><li>Where is our primary area of focus?</li><li>Why will our customers benefit from this competitive focus?</li><li>What about this focus ensures we have a unique value proposition?</li></ul>If corporate strategy is focused on the internal environment, business strategy is focused on the external.&nbsp;Shaping and leveraging value creation impacts how functional strategy is developed — investing in a sound business strategy is key to your team executing as effectively as possible.&nbsp;<blockquote>Improperly positioned firms encounter competitive difficulties and can fail to sustain competitive advantages.&nbsp;— <a href="https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/textbooks/International%20Business.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saylor.org</a></blockquote><h3>Functional strategy</h3>With the second-tier business strategy created, functional strategy has its foundation.Functional strategy is broken down into the departments, teams, and initiatives in an organization where the work is done.&nbsp;<blockquote>Separate areas of the business require different strategies, informed by their unique goals and aspirations as well as the set of values, needs, and desires of the department.</blockquote>VPs and managers influence the key decisions in functional strategy. They have the responsibility of bridging functional strategy to the business and corporate strategy.&nbsp;Without this alignment, organizations experience an operational disconnect. While the functional strategy should meet the department's unique needs, it must connect to and impact the corporate and cross-departmental strategies.<h4>Functional strategy example</h4>Let’s take this one step further by examining how marketing and sales teams may work together. At the strategic level, they may share and depend on aligned information like: &nbsp;<ul><li>The organization’s value proposition</li><li>The ideal customer profile (ICP) &nbsp;</li><li>How the organization delivers value for the ICP</li></ul>It makes sense for these departments to align their strategies, as they work with similar goals in mind. When functional units align their strategies, their impact compounds.&nbsp;The collective functional strategy funnels up to the corporate strategy, forming a collaborative organizational strategy with multiple levels of alignment.&nbsp;<hr>Learn&nbsp;more&nbsp;about&nbsp;the <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">role of planning</a> in&nbsp;strategy&nbsp;execution.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632159/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Plan_Dark_BG_4d07b0c24c.svg" alt="mini strategy execution plan diagram"></a></figure><hr>

In an ideal world, top-level leaders know exactly how the strategy is being deployed, it’s perfectly understood by managers and team members, and execution falls into place.&nbsp;In the real world where you and I operate, most of the organization doesn’t know the strategy, creating an impossible dynamic for alignment.Luckily, the strategic alignment and activation phase tests how your teams are coordinating on goals before the entire organization executes.&nbsp;<blockquote>Alignment and activation encompass all decisions and activities required to drive corporate and business level strategies to the execution phase.</blockquote>During alignment and activation, corporate strategic goals are broken down at the business level. Leaders set goals aligned with the corporate strategy and progress the goals of the business strategy, and teams focus on the metrics and outcomes that matter.Here are a few key elements to consider when aligning and activating strategy.&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">The parallel between strategy alignment and activation&nbsp;</h3>Although we combine the strategy alignment and activation phases, they are two unique aspects of the strategy execution process. It helps to conceptualize them as parallels to each other — separate, but co-dependent. &nbsp;Creating a clear set of values, advantages, customer demographics, etc. in the strategy planning phase is a great accomplishment. However, if this strategy can’t be activated, it’s useless for the business.<blockquote>The space between aligning a strategy and practically activating your teams to execute the strategy is a challenge for all businesses.&nbsp;</blockquote>Enterprises struggle with scaling strategy, start-ups struggle with maintaining a focus for strategy, and scale-ups fall somewhere in the middle. &nbsp;A clear approach to alignment and activation shrinks this gap, and as a result, different strategic initiatives can be tested and implemented with a smaller lag.&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Building strategic timelines</h3>Timing is a crucial, underrated element in strategy activation. As business leaders, we’re focused on the “what” and “why” of strategy, but sometimes forget about “when” — a worldwide pandemic should teach us that the dynamic of timing should be a consideration for every business in every industry.Building timelines around decision-making is a crucial step in transitioning from strategy activation to execution. Important questions to consider for building strategic timelines:<ol><li>What do we do now? Why?</li><li>What can wait for later? What should wait for later?</li><li>How much time should X element of strategy take? Y element?</li></ol>Knowing the business’s distinct value and comparative advantages — defined in corporate strategy — helps answer these questions. As <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED492245.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Executing Organizational Strategy </a>explains, well-informed timing helps the business leverage its strengths and understand market opportunities.Timing is the underutilized strategic advantage. &nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">A note on targets and goals in strategy</h3>Knowing the difference between operational effectiveness and efficiency is crucial to maintaining focus on strategy deployment.&nbsp;<blockquote>Targets and goals demonstrate the effectiveness of your strategy, but they are not the strategy itself.&nbsp;</blockquote><a href="https://pmbooks.pmguruonline.com/PDF/Seven_Steps_to_Startegy_Exceution.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seven Steps to Strategy Execution </a>notes that targets and goals such as speed, quality, and efficiency are not to be confused with strategies. These outcomes are the result of a well-executed strategy and may give insight into your strategy execution process.&nbsp;Performance management indicators, such as <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okrs-vs-kpis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OKRs and KPIs,</a> should be incorporated as part of the strategy planning process —a data-driven approach to tracking and monitoring these indicators primes your strategy execution for success. &nbsp;<hr>Learn&nbsp;more&nbsp;about&nbsp;the <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/align-and-activate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">role of alignment </a>in&nbsp;strategy&nbsp;execution.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/align-and-activate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632157/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Align_Dark_BG_2ddbe75feb.svg" alt="visual_mini-SE-Align_DarkBG.svg"></a></figure><hr>

Strategy execution is the culmination of the hundreds (if not thousands) of decisions made in the planning and alignment/activation phases.&nbsp;<blockquote>Effective strategy execution starts with everyone at each level of the business — c-suite leader, VP, mid-level manager, or functional contributor — understanding and aligning with the corporate strategy.</blockquote>Information in this process flows freely from unit to unit, top-to-bottom, and bottom-to-top with little friction. But how does strategy become execution? &nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Connection and cross-functional communication</h3>As we’ve mentioned before, strategy shouldn’t exist in a silo or only in c-suite leaders’ minds — team members need a bridge to strategy. They must feel the strategy is connected to their work, so they can create work that connects to the strategy.Culture grows when alignment happens between people and process. The only way this happens is when strategy is no longer a vague concept or idealistic aspiration, but a practical conductor for how the organization operates. &nbsp;&nbsp;However, a thriving culture built around strategy doesn’t always mean the execution is aligned. While most leaders focus on top-to-bottom alignment, one of the biggest struggles for organizations is cross-functional alignment. &nbsp;The problem stems from goal cascading and a narrow focus on vertical alignment. Poor support for cross-functional commitments, due to strategic tunnel vision, inhibits alignment horizontally where the real work is done. So, what’s the solution? &nbsp;<blockquote>Successful strategy execution depends on two factors: a focus on the right strategic goals and the freedom granted to all parts of the organization.&nbsp;— <a href="https://profilebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/wpallimport/files/PDFs/9781846686054_preview.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Successful Strategy Execution</a></blockquote>According to <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/03/why-strategy-execution-unravelsand-what-to-do-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harvard Business Review, </a>there are four fundamental building blocks to effective strategy execution:<ol><li>Information flow</li><li>Decision rights</li><li>Motivators</li><li>Structures</li></ol><h4>Information flow</h4>Supported by autonomous communication. Leadership clearly communicates the corporate strategy, and team members communicate the plan for its execution.<h4>Decision rights</h4>Clarity on delegation and authority. Managers know who is responsible for which decisions, reducing ambiguity and second-guessing on execution.<h4>Motivators</h4>Enabled by improved information flow and decision rights. Motivators revolve around performance rewarding and other methods of incentivization.<h4>Structures</h4>Supported by clarity on information flow and decision rights. Structures involve building accessibility into company operations, enabling responsibility growth, lateral movement, and guaranteed influence. &nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Building strategy execution that scales</h3>Incorporating a detailed strategic process is the gateway to scalability. However, process for the sake of process creates inefficiencies and organizational rigidness.&nbsp;Process needs strategy as much as strategy needs process.<blockquote>Strategy must be monitored and linked through the hierarchy — corporate to business, business to team level, and so on — to ensure the right people are executing the right strategy at the right pace.&nbsp;</blockquote>Properly investing in the building and oversight of process requires time, budget, and labor dedication on every front. Having advocates and manpower in process management is the best way to build effective, scalable strategy. &nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Strategy management and governance&nbsp;</h3>Strategy execution can feel endlessly deep and complicated. (We’re not going to overwhelm you with that here, but make sure to check out our <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">7 Tips for Better Strategy Execution).</a> Regardless of the number of steps in strategy, teams need help staying in line with it, which is where governance comes into play.&nbsp;It won’t do your organization any good to say, “Here’s the strategy, please follow it,” but fail to check in or manage it. If people followed every direction given to perfection, we wouldn’t be writing this article.Strategy execution governance is derived from strategy management. Management is an ongoing part of the entire strategy execution framework, emphasized in the execution phase. Strategy management involves:<ul><li>Developing time-bound goals and objectives</li><li>Incorporating initiatives into goals</li><li>Ensuring these initiatives align with the corporate/business/functional strategy</li></ul>&nbsp;Whether it’s one person or an entire team, businesses must connect strategy with performance to ensure strategic guidance is being followed.<hr>Learn&nbsp;more&nbsp;about&nbsp;the <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/execute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">role of execution </a>in&nbsp;strategy&nbsp;execution.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/execute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632157/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Execute_Dark_BG_99a8b4907e.svg" alt="visual_mini-SE-Execute_DarkBG.svg"></a></figure><hr>

Optimization is the never-ending last stage of strategy execution — the place where good strategy becomes great strategy.<blockquote>Companies that create tight links between their strategies, their plans, and their performance often experience a cultural multiplier effect.&nbsp;— <a href="https://hbr.org/2005/07/turning-great-strategy-into-great-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harvard Business Review</a></blockquote>Strategy optimization requires critical thinking, reflection, and data analysis involving multiple levels of the organization. When looking at this stage, ask yourself:<ul><li>How does our information flow through the organization? &nbsp;</li><li>Where are the gaps in our strategy implementation and execution? &nbsp;</li><li>How can we eliminate resource waste by shifting/dropping/adding initiatives?</li></ul>To answer the questions of optimization, we must look at the full scale of strategic processes in the organization, also known as SPM (Strategic Performance Management).<h3>SPM Processes</h3>The chart below from Seven Steps to Strategy Execution illustrates different components of SPM:<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670601655/site-v5/SPM_Processes_f7d505ee40.svg" alt="SPM Processes.svg"><figcaption><a href="https://pmbooks.pmguruonline.com/PDF/Seven_Steps_to_Startegy_Exceution.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seven Steps to Strategy Execution</a></figcaption></figure>While this image is a bit busy, let’s break down the SPM process and what each pillar means. &nbsp;Strategy management involves definition, deployment (formulation), execution, and optimization. It is the traditional governance system that connects planning and performance.Portfolio management covers the inventory, analysis, execution, and monitoring of the organization’s resources. Resources affect the business’s strategic emphasis, so portfolio optimization and strategy optimization are symbiotic.Program management involves the collection of projects that feeds into the strategic goals of the organization. Projects are functional initiatives that move the needle, while programs organize and align these projects.Performance management is more granular by comparison. Tied directly to the execution phase, performance measurement creates a unique strategic cycle that overlaps with overall strategy optimization.&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Why does SPM matter for strategy assessment and adaptation?</h3>As the SPM chart above demonstrates, certain (bolded) processes are critical to the strategy execution process. Reviewing processes that are equally different and important allows for a balanced approach to strategy optimization.<blockquote>In principle, strategy adaptation is simply plugging the data and insights from the very “end” of the strategy cycle — execution — into the “top” half of the strategy funnel: definition and deployment.&nbsp;</blockquote>Leaders use the data to reflect on the effectiveness of the defined strategy, identify weaknesses and opportunities in deployment, and endless other possibilities to close the gap between strategy and execution.&nbsp;<hr>Learn&nbsp;more&nbsp;about&nbsp;the <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/assess-and-adapt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">role of assessing and adapting </a>in&nbsp;strategy&nbsp;execution.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/assess-and-adapt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632157/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Adapt_Dark_BG_f443ca8ecf.svg" alt="visual_mini-SE-Adapt_DarkBG.svg"></a></figure><hr>

Strategy execution isn’t simple, but you don’t have to go it alone. Understanding the phases of strategy execution and how they relate to one another is a great first step.In this article, you’ve learned about the four distinct phases of strategy execution and their interdependencies.<h3>Plan</h3>Planning the strategy is an honest conversation about the organization’s direction.<h3>Align and activate</h3>Aligning and activating the strategy is the tactical setup that bridges strategy to execution.<h3>Execute</h3>Executing the strategy is decision-making aligned with each level of the hierarchy.<h3>Assess and adapt</h3>Assessing and adapting the strategy is improving process at scale.You now know how these phases overlap, the importance of each, and how to connect the concept of strategy to practical execution. By reading this overview, you’ve got the necessary foundation for understanding strategy execution.&nbsp;Now it's time to take this understanding to the next level.<hr>Check out our “Read Next” article to learn the <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">best tips for better strategy execution.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611665/site-v5/article_7_tips_for_strategy_execution_9eb5d4730d.png" alt="article-7 tips for strategy execution.png"></a></figure><hr>Quantive is your bridge between strategy and execution. Founded on the objectives and key results (OKR) methodology, <a href="https://quantive.com/products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our Strategy Execution Platform</a> is where businesses plan successful strategy, focus and align teams to it, and stay on the leading edge of progress.As your company looks to achieve the best possible results, you need a modern approach to <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">run your business</a> and <a href="https://quantive.com/products/signals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">change your business.</a><a href="http://quantive.com/modern-operating-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> The Modern Operating Model </a>brings strategy, teams, and data together to help make decisions faster, optimize operations, and drive better business outcomes.Whether you’re a large enterprise facing competitive disruption or a small business leading the innovative charge, Quantive helps get you where you want to go.Ready to achieve the best possible? Start using <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quantive for free.</a>

The 4 Stages of Successful Strategy Execution

Strategy execution is a complex undertaking for any organization. Between the foundational definition of strategy to its never-ending adaptation, organizations are stuck on “how” exactly to master strategy execution.&nbsp;<blockquote>Maybe this is your organization — you know the answer to this challenge is far more nuanced than “create a better strategy” or “execute better.” But where do you start?</blockquote>This is where a great strategy execution platform can be a game changer for your organization. It’s the missing solution businesses worldwide use to create a mission-driven strategy, engage teams, and deliver better strategic outcomes at scale.&nbsp;A strategy execution platform gives your organization a seamless approach to plan, align, execute, and assess strategy across your business.This article shows you how the right strategy execution platform will help your teams develop a proactive, outcome-driven approach.&nbsp;

Before we get into platforms, let's do a refresh on the basics. Strategy execution is how decision-making and team inputs align with the strategic priorities of an organization. &nbsp;&nbsp;In other words:&nbsp;<blockquote>“Strategy is a living, breathing entity, not an A-to-Z journey, meaning the process doesn’t end just because it’s been executed. Strategy must be optimized, which informs a refreshed cycle of definition, deployment, and execution.” &nbsp;</blockquote>It’s about meeting goals on time, on target, and on budget — no component of strategy execution can be neglected.<hr>Learn more about the <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">strategy execution process.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611665/site-v5/4_stages_of_successful_strategy_execution_1c658351c6.png" alt="4 stages of successful strategy execution.png"></a></figure><hr>

While strategies differ from company to company, there are four key components in creating a successful strategy execution process:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Plan:</a> Create an informed, outcome-driven strategy</li><li><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/align-and-activate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Align &amp; Activate:</a> Connected decision making with clear definitions of success</li><li><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/execute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Execute:</a> Enable seamless, mission-focused collaboration</li><li><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/assess-and-adapt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Assess &amp; Adapt:</a> Know what works, what doesn’t, and make changes quickly</li></ul>Planning the strategy is about determining your organization’s direction, while alignment and activation are the tactical setups for bridging strategy to execution. Executing, assessing, and adapting strategy maintains a connection between teams and decision makers, continuously improving each level of strategy. &nbsp;<hr>See how top companies close the <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-gap" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">strategy execution gap.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-gap" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611665/site-v5/close_strategy_execution_gap_8de6ba8e73.png" alt="close strategy execution gap.png"></a></figure><hr>

<a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A strategy execution platform</a> enables your organization to focus on the right goals while giving your teams the freedom to execute.As a leader, you know strategy doesn’t just fall into place. There are too many moving parts, like:<ul><li>Resource allocation</li><li>Corporate, business, and functional tasks</li><li>Assigning roles, responsibilities, and deadlines</li><li>Establishing priorities</li><li>Managing changes, challenges, problems, and solutions</li><li>Measuring success</li><li>Tracking progress</li><li>Using data to inform decision making</li></ul>Your challenges aren't single-minded — neither is the right platform when it comes to its capabilities. You must be able to manage all the moving parts of strategy execution.&nbsp;<blockquote>By incorporating the power of your data and promoting transparency, a strategy execution platform taps into the full potential of your organization.</blockquote>

Between the four strategy execution components — plan, align and activate, execute, assess and adapt — there are grey areas that can lead to strategic disconnection.&nbsp;<blockquote>A strategy execution platform reduces friction and fills in the strategic gaps to prevent this disconnect. &nbsp;</blockquote>Anyone can plan a strategy, but creating a strategy aligned with your organization’s priorities requires visibility and transparency. Leaders can cascade a strategy down to teams, but without a platform engaging employees through a shared purpose, the strategy will lack impact.Finally, let’s not forget data, the buzzword everyone likes to talk about. A strategy execution platform doesn’t just collect data — it transforms it into actionable insights without the hassle and inaccuracy of manual inputs.&nbsp;Even when strategy is executed, the world is in constant flux. The right platform helps you watch internal and external signals and act on them.<hr>Learn more about the <a href="https://quantive.com/products/signals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">growing capabilities of business monitoring.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/signals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669896737/site-v5/visual_BO_detail_5ef78bf976.png" alt="Quantive Signals and Business Observability product demonstration screenshot"></a></figure><hr>

The right strategy execution platform should deliver on all components of strategy execution.&nbsp;<h3><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Plan</a></h3>Break down silos in the strategy creation process and plan openly with a strategy execution platform.&nbsp;<blockquote>With the strategy visible to the entire organization, it can be critiqued and validated before it’s deployed, saving your organization from resource waste.&nbsp;</blockquote>A platform also incorporates your data into your planning, infusing your strategy with rich insights for an informed and impactful approach.<h3><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/align-and-activate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Align and activate</a></h3>A platform lets you consolidate your data and access it at any time.&nbsp;<blockquote>Through a data-first approach, you can coordinate teams on metrics and develop outcome-focused contributions.&nbsp;</blockquote>When everyone is aligned on outcomes through your strategy execution platform, you can create connections between teams and ensure measurements of success are clear.&nbsp;<h3><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/execute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Execute</a></h3>Because strategy execution platforms focus and align teams on desired outcomes, transparency and trust pave the way to value adds from every team member.&nbsp;<blockquote>Beyond enhancing team culture, a platform bolsters decision making through data-driven feedback.&nbsp;</blockquote>Bring clarity on what’s creating true impact and ensure consistency in execution through a platform.&nbsp;<h3><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/assess-and-adapt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Assess and adapt</a></h3>With a strategy execution platform, feedback loops are compressed through real-time key results and KPIs.&nbsp;<blockquote>Supported by your data, a strategy execution platform helps you monitor progress and shift resources to the tactics driving the right outcomes.&nbsp;</blockquote>You can pivot when you need to, focus on what’s working, and do it faster all through the convenience of a platform.&nbsp;

In a world that shifts daily, the ability to pivot strategy without friction is a distinct competitive advantage. A strategy execution platform <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/integrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">integrates your data</a> seamlessly applies it to your decision making and drives an outcome focus for your organization.&nbsp;<blockquote>Your strategy execution process must adapt to the modern era, or it will fail.</blockquote>With these capabilities, you can ensure your strategy execution process isn’t operating in the past. By reducing friction, inefficiency, and disharmony, a strategy execution platform is a conscious choice to help your organization achieve the best possible.&nbsp;<hr>Check out our “Read Next” article to learn <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/why-strategy-execution-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">why it’s time for your company</a> to have a platform for strategy execution.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/why-strategy-execution-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611665/site-v5/why_you_need_a_Strategy_Execution_Platform_9b52b7e54f.png" alt="why you need a Strategy Execution Platform.png"></a></figure><hr>Quantive is your bridge between strategy and execution. Founded on the objectives and key results (OKR) methodology, <a href="https://quantive.com/products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our Strategy Execution Platform</a> is where businesses plan successful strategy, focus and align teams to it, and stay on the leading edge of progress.As your company looks to achieve the best possible results, you need a modern approach to <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">run your business</a> and <a href="https://quantive.com/products/signals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">change your business.</a><a href="http://quantive.com/modern-operating-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> The Modern Operating Model </a>brings strategy, teams, and data together to help make decisions faster, optimize operations, and drive better business outcomes.Whether you’re a large enterprise facing competitive disruption or a small business leading the innovative charge, Quantive helps get you where you want to go.Ready to achieve the best possible? Start using <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quantive for free.</a>

Why Your Company Needs a Strategy Execution Platform

What is a Strategy Execution Platform?

The traditional approach to strategy execution is failing modern organizations.Across every industry, leaders are struggling to:<ul><li>Create strategic plans connected to a mission</li><li>Align teams with strategy</li><li>Execute the strategy with certainty</li><li>Adapt strategy without friction</li></ul>If any of these challenges sound like what your organization is going through, this article is for you. It’s time to understand why committing to a platform is the key to mastering strategy execution.&nbsp;

Based on your organization’s unique challenges, a strategy execution platform fulfills various needs. But before we get there, let's establish a clear definition of what a strategy execution platform is to understand its impact on your workplace.&nbsp;A strategy execution platform coordinates a seamless approach to strategy in your organization through four components: plan, align and activate, execute, and assess and adapt.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670601550/site-v5/Strategy_Execution_65c948d364.svg" alt="Plan, Align &amp; Activate, Execute, Assess &amp; Adapt"></a></figure>Plan: Create a strategy that connects your teams and your data in one place.Align and Activate: Connect decision making and create clear definitions of success. &nbsp;Execute: Collaborate with certainty, transparency, and trust to accomplish the mission.Assess and Adapt: Clarify what works, what doesn’t, and make changes quickly.Through alignment with the different strategy execution components, a platform connects your teams to the clearly-defined, transparent goals of the organization. Whether you’re overhauling strategy or refining the one you’ve got, a strategy execution platform enables focus and decision-making autonomy where you need it most.<hr>Learn more about the full capabilities of <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">strategy execution platforms.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/strategy-execution-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611665/site-v5/what_is_a_strategy_execution_platform_7ff56a27a1.png" alt="what is a strategy execution platform.png"></a></figure><hr>

The gap between strategy and execution is one of the biggest vulnerabilities businesses face. In this gap, teams lose alignment, disengage with each other, and silo into disconnected work chains with little impact.Most organizations are stuck in a traditional, industrial approach to strategy execution. Plagued by a top-down, hierarchical model, employees are stuck in disempowered, unfocused, and uncoordinated silos of execution.&nbsp;By shifting your organization to a culture of outcomes, a strategy execution platform is your stepping stone into <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/what-is-the-modern-operating-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">how a modern business should operate.</a><blockquote>Democratizing decision making. Breaking down the barriers to collaboration. Aligning teams with strategic objectives.</blockquote>This reality is no longer wishful thinking or a lofty ambition with the power of a strategy execution platform. Further supported by <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okrs-vs-kpis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OKRs and KPIs</a>, your organization can be guided by measurable results, not uncertainty.Features and benefits are great, but focus and structure are what today’s workplace needs the most. So, which platform capabilities are critical for guiding your organization to successful strategy execution?&nbsp;

Strategy planning is about building a gameplan to support your organization’s vision. The right strategy execution platform can help you define a strategy in line with high-level aspirations of the business.&nbsp;<blockquote>Planning a strategy that inspires teams is foundational to achieving the best possible outcomes — a strategy execution platform brings much-needed visibility to corporate and business strategy.&nbsp;</blockquote>By clarifying where the organization is trying to go, the time and resources needed to deploy a strategy aren’t wasted. Motivated by strategic purpose, a strategy execution platform furthers your team’s dedication by incorporating mission-critical data into the planning process.&nbsp;With everyone receiving the same information, a culture of transparency and trust is built from the beginning. Data helps validate strategy and prove direction, improving the collective buy-in between teams and leaders.&nbsp;With a strategy execution platform, teams are no longer inhibited by disconnection. They know what to focus on, why they should focus there, and how each person on the team is contributing to the collective focus.&nbsp;How Quantive helps you plan: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Monitor key insights on current progress and Confidence Level changes</li><li>Leverage KPIs and Key Results to make decisions on where to go next</li><li>Create an unconstrained safe space for ideas in Whiteboards</li></ul><hr>Learn more about Quantive's <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan </a>capabilities.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632159/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Plan_Dark_BG_4d07b0c24c.svg" alt="mini strategy execution plan diagram"></a></figure><hr>

Your organization can plan the greatest strategy in the world, but it's useless without the ability to connect it to your teams.&nbsp;According to Kaplan and Norton in The Balanced Scorecard, ~90% of businesses fail at strategy execution — alignment and activation is an overlooked step in the strategy execution process.Everything concerning your strategy has one home in a strategy execution platform. This makes your data and all the decisions connected to it transparent, anywhere and anytime.&nbsp;<blockquote>Teams aren’t just unified and aligned on outcome(s) — a platform enables an organizational, cultural shift to focus on the metrics that matter and initiatives that move the needle.</blockquote>When teams have frictionless connection and alignment on desired outcomes, the stage is set for open collaboration. A strategy execution platform enables co-ownership of responsibilities, creating accountability and results for your most imperative initiatives.A strategy execution platform is the remedy for every employee’s “check the box” syndrome. With proper alignment and activation, there’s no more “cog in the machine” or busy-work sentiment in your culture — just purpose-filled, engaged teams.&nbsp;How Quantive helps you align and activate: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Start with the Alignment View and home dashboard to organize seamlessly</li><li>Use Cascading Key Results to align multiple teams/individuals to a single key result, enabling collaboration on a shared outcome</li><li>Link OKRs with projects, tasks, and other OKRs to show key dependencies in reaching goals</li></ul><hr>Learn more about Quantive's <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/align-and-activate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">align and activate</a> capabilities.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/align-and-activate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632157/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Align_Dark_BG_2ddbe75feb.svg" alt="alignment strategy execution diagram"></a></figure><hr>

Uncertainty is the greatest inhibitor to effective, agile strategy execution.Confident decision making is a core value of strategy execution platforms and the counter to uncertainty. Teams have the clarity to execute with excellence through clear value-add pathways, easily accessible data, and channels for collaboration.&nbsp;<blockquote>The right platform shows you what’s happening in real time, enabling rapid feedback and performance check-ins for more effective execution.</blockquote>The transparency of a platform shows teams how progress is being made and why. Goal certainty strengthens the collaboration of teams, supported by clearly defined outcomes and data-driven decision making.A strategy execution platform shifts human attention to where it’s needed most — collaboration and alignment — and away from where it’s ineffective — data inputs and manual processes. By reducing the risk around your data and lifting the burden of tracking insights, your teams are primed to focus on what matters most.How Quantive helps you execute: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Link everyday tools and reduce manual data collection with 170+ <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/integrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">integrations</a></li><li>Build a transparent, data-first culture with automation of Dynamic Key Results, KPIs, and Insights</li><li>Stay alert to progress changes with OKR update reminders and aggregated OKR progress</li></ul><hr>Learn more about Quantive's <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/execute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">execute</a> capabilities.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/execute" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632157/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Execute_Dark_BG_99a8b4907e.svg" alt="strategy execution mini diagram"></a></figure><hr>

Strategy is an ever-changing process. Assessing what did or didn’t work, then making changes based on this insight, is how you transform a stagnating strategy into a resilient one.Feedback loops are ineffective for most organizations because they’re too slow.&nbsp;<blockquote>An OKR-centered strategy execution platform compresses the feedback loop with key results and KPIs informing your strategy along the way. You receive faster feedback, which leads to better optimization, and progress monitoring allows you to shift resources to initiatives driving the right outcomes.</blockquote>In traditional strategy assessments, critical insights are cascaded through levels of bureaucracy and the message is lost in translation. A strategy execution platform gives you performance insights in real-time, allowing your teams to pivot focus without a lag.Traditional business is plagued by slow adaptation — with a strategy execution platform, you can modernize your operations. Gain complete visibility on progress, full insights on which actions to take based on a data-backed “why” it should be taken, and how to do it quickly at scale.&nbsp;How Quantive helps you execute:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Analyze and pivot with executive dashboards through Insightboards&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Assign resources proactively through Process Automation and Task Management</li><li>Access voting in Whiteboards and reflect new initiatives and focus with OKR States</li></ul><hr>Learn more about Quantive's <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/assess-and-adapt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">assess and adapt</a> capabilities.<figure class="image"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/assess-and-adapt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669632157/site-v5/visual_mini_SE_Adapt_Dark_BG_f443ca8ecf.svg" alt="mini diagram for assessing and adapting strategy execution"></a></figure><hr>

Strategy execution will always be complex, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. A strategy execution platform is your solution to creating mission-driven strategy, engaging teams, and delivering a proactive, outcome-driven approach to execution.<hr>Take the next step with Quantive's <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">strategy execution platform.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670241684/site-v5/why_you_need_a_Strategy_Execution_Platform_d774277347.svg" alt="Ascending s-curve to demonstrate the why you need a Strategy Execution Platform concept"></a></figure><hr>Quantive is your bridge between strategy and execution. Founded on the objectives and key results (OKR) methodology, <a href="https://quantive.com/products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our Strategy Execution Platform</a> is where businesses plan successful strategy, focus and align teams to it, and stay on the leading edge of progress.As your company looks to achieve the best possible results, you need a modern approach to <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">run your business</a> and <a href="https://quantive.com/products/signals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">change your business.</a><a href="http://quantive.com/modern-operating-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> The Modern Operating Model </a>brings strategy, teams, and data together to help make decisions faster, optimize operations, and drive better business outcomes.Whether you’re a large enterprise facing competitive disruption or a small business leading the innovative charge, Quantive helps get you where you want to go.Ready to achieve the best possible? Start using <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quantive for free.</a>

Unleash the power of a strategy execution platform for your business

Why Your Company Needs a Strategy Execution Platform 

An operating model drives value creation and strategy execution across an organization. It represents the guiding principles of operations: how different parts of a business should work together to deliver value to&nbsp;customers and stakeholders. It also encompasses how an organization functions to meet core business objectives such as efficiency, growth, and adaptability. Organization structure, culture, processes, technology and decision-making procedures are key parts of an operating model.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the modern era, several factors are converging that impact&nbsp;how we think about conventional operating models:&nbsp;<ul><li>The lingering strategy execution gap &nbsp;</li><li>A fast-changing world across all dimensions of life &nbsp;</li><li>The fourth industrial revolution, the wealth of data and its application&nbsp;</li></ul>Considering these factors, an&nbsp;updated, modern operating model is needed to solve the lingering strategy execution gap and unlock the opportunities of an evolving world. In this article, we’re going to outline what that new model looks like. For detailed information on the context, challenges solved, and the opportunities of The Modern Operating Model, we will be releasing a second part to this article.

There are five core components that make up the modern operating model, each with different parts within.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1669894628/site-v5/visual_mom_detailed_5ca196388d.svg" alt="Modern Operating Model diagram"><h4>&nbsp;1) Define the destination&nbsp;</h4>Your mission, cultural values, vision, and strategy work together to act as a north star for your organization. This sets the destination and goals that your organization needs to align towards.&nbsp;<h4>2) Change the business&nbsp;</h4>Strategic objectives, <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okr-meaning" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OKRs</a>, and planning the work quantify and make reaching your destination a tangible proposition. They create alignment, structure, and focus to maximize efficiency, speed, and productive power toward your goals.&nbsp;<h4>3) Run the business &nbsp;</h4>Observability of KPI’s through a connected technology stack in addition to OKR reporting gives you powerful insights into what’s happening inside the business, in addition to progress toward goals. &nbsp;<h4>4) Do the work&nbsp;</h4>With the organization aligned, the plan is executed through daily work. Proper alignment through organization architecture, culture, and a clear line of sight between strategy and execution empowers your employees to do their best work.&nbsp;<h4>5) Assess &amp; adapt &nbsp;</h4>Through continuous monitoring, data-driven decisions are made to incrementally optimize, navigate threats, and seize opportunities. Strong top-down alignment liberates your organization to adapt quickly and move as one.&nbsp;Although there’s a chronological logic to the model, all components work together in a feedback loop and need to be engaged simultaneously as an ongoing discipline. Let’s now dive into the different components and their corresponding parts in more detail.&nbsp;

Correctly defining the destination impacts alignment. At the highest level, defining your destination is about where you want to go, why you want to go there, what needs to be done, and how you will do it. If there’s a disconnect between how your team sees the bigger picture, conflict, erosion of trust, and misaligned execution may emerge.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h5>Defining the destination can be broken down into three core parts:&nbsp;</h5><ol><li>Mission and cultural values&nbsp;</li><li>Vision&nbsp;</li><li>Strategy&nbsp;</li></ol><h3>Mission and cultural values&nbsp;</h3>Mission and cultural values play a role in alignment as everyone in your organization needs to approach their work from the same perspective. Otherwise, there will be a disconnect at the execution layer of the organization. For instance, having a common philosophy that prioritizes customer satisfaction over short term revenue will lead to different behaviors and decisions from your team.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mission and cultural values also affect engagement, especially in the context of a new generation of workers. Generation Z and Millennial workers aspire to work at organizations that have a greater purpose and more conscious culture. Failure to align your mission and culture with these changing attitudes means you may reduce employee engagement – another key part of effective strategy execution. As these generations value company loyalty less, you may also risk losing key personnel which leads to other execution challenges.&nbsp;<h3>Vision&nbsp;</h3>Like with mission and cultural values, your vision is important for alignment. Your whole team needs to see the future in the same way to maximize engagement and work in synchronization. Vision also has an impact on priorities and strategic focus. A clear idea of your destination means you can make better decisions about the relevant work that needs to be done, take advantage of the right opportunities, and importantly, not become side tracked along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Strategy&nbsp;</h3>Your strategy is the first tangible link between defining your destination and generating the momentum to get there. Your strategy represents why, what, and how your company will navigate at the highest level and informs how you set strategic objectives and OKRs, which play key roles in the next component of the model.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The next component of the model is changing and aligning the business. Changing the business is about deciding on the initiatives and goals you want to focus on to reach your destination. Alignment is about getting the whole organization in sync and moving in the same direction.&nbsp;<h5>Proper organizational alignment improves strategy execution through:&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Greater efficiency: working on the right things means less waste in the form of time and resources&nbsp;</li><li>Higher engagement: having a clear line of sight between strategic objectives and daily execution means employees can see how their work impacts the organization</li><li>Prioritization and focus: alignment means the whole team focuses on the objectives and activities that are mission critical</li></ul>Alignment plays an important role in organization adaptability. If there are any big changes or shocks to the business, your organization needs to be able to move together as one unit. If parts of your organization are misaligned, they may lag behind if your destination changes which can lead to operational roadblocks. In addition, the megatrends of <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/hybrid-work">remote and flexible work</a> mean getting alignment right has become more difficult due to a more distributed, asynchronous, and multi-cultural workforce.&nbsp;&nbsp;Alignment starts with clear top-down communication about the destination and what needs to be done to get there. This is achieved through setting strategic objectives and OKRs, in addition to careful planning of how your team will execute the work.&nbsp;<h3>Strategic objectives and OKRs&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>The first part of aligning the business is setting and communicating strategic objectives and OKRs. In many cases, the communication of strategy can get lost as it filters through the multiple layers of the organization. This is made worse due to strategy being more abstract and high-level, with language that may not be easily understood by the execution layer of the organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;Strategy without objectives is meaningless — it needs to be clarified, quantified, and plotted against a timeline. This is what strategic objectives enable — they break down your strategy into tangible goals that can be easily communicated and worked toward as a team. &nbsp;With strategic objectives set and communicated, your organization can then set OKRs (<a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okr-meaning">objectives and key results</a>). These break down your strategic objectives even further by quantifying the specific outcomes different parts of the organization need to achieve. These also need to be communicated across the organization to ensure alignment. Where strategic objectives work on a yearly or multi-year timeline, tactical OKRs function on a quarterly or yearly basis. &nbsp;<h5>Strategic objectives and OKRs impact strategy execution by:&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Plotting ambitious yet achievable goals to stretch the team’s capabilities while preserving morale.&nbsp;</li><li>Creating vertical alignment so everybody is working toward strategic objectives.&nbsp;</li><li>Enabling horizontal alignment so interdependencies between departments can be mapped out, increasing collaboration.&nbsp;</li><li>Boosting efficiency, engagement, prioritization, and focus through bottom-up involvement in goal setting.&nbsp;</li><li>Creating an outcome focused organization as opposed to activity which doesn’t generate results.&nbsp;</li></ul><hr>Learn more about <a href="/resources/articles/okrs-in-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the benefits of OKRs for businesses</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="/resources/articles/okrs-in-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670703147/site-v5/OK_Rs_for_business_656a5f0108.png" alt="OKRs for business.png"></a></figure><hr><h3>Planning the work&nbsp;</h3>With strategic objectives and OKRs set and communicated, planning the governance and execution of work is next.&nbsp;<h5>A few things to consider during this phase are:&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Culture design: Your operational culture must be transparent, continuously learning, and braced for constant transformation. This enables effective use of the OKR method and continuous adaptations. At the leadership level, there must be a shift from control and compliance to trust and transparency.&nbsp;</li><li>Organization architecture: Your organization structure needs to be adaptable to account for asynchronous, remote, and flexible ways of working.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Policies and procedures: Decision making should be made at the edge of the network: closer to the source of data and point of execution, as opposed to centrally. In the modern era, there’s no longer time to go up and down the chain of command to make decisions. Greater communication and transparency efforts need to be pushed to eliminate information silos and shadow organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Playbooks and processes: Mapping out the strategies and tactics of the work to be done.&nbsp;</li><li>People: Deciding who will be doing what.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Tools: Choosing the right software tools to enable work. With the model, special emphasis is placed on connecting all your data sources for better observability and assessment.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Resource allocation: Setting budgets appropriately to meet different OKRs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Programs and initiatives: Organizing work at a high level in conjunction with strategic objectives and OKRs. &nbsp;</li><li>Approaches to work: Deciding on how work will be carried out with task management, workflows, projects, sprints, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Effective work planning increases the efficiency of your strategy execution. Conducting work in the right manner means time and resources are saved through error reduction, in addition to faster and better work outputs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As work is conducted, there needs to be continuous monitoring of both data and information. In a Modern Operating Model, monitoring incorporates and goes beyond traditional management check-ins and annual and quarterly performance reviews. KPIs are gathered from all parts of the business in addition to the application of the OKR method. Working in conjunction, <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okrs-vs-kpis">OKRs and KPIs</a> create a more powerful picture of what’s happening in the business and how it affects progress toward strategic goals.&nbsp;&nbsp;As part of the internal monitoring aspect of the model, KPIs are pulled from a connected technology stack to provide <a href="https://quantive.com/products/signals">business observability</a>. With the right tools, you can sync your KPIs to continuously update alongside your OKRs, in addition to gaining insight about potential risks and opportunities. To add to this, OKRs provide quantitative data in the form of key results and confidence assessments toward meeting objectives. They also provide qualitative information in the form of weekly OKR reviews and quarterly retrospectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>Learn more about <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okr-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OKR reviews and retrospectives.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okr-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611666/site-v5/The_OKR_Cycle_999afeea92.png" alt="The OKR Cycle.png"></a></figure><hr>External monitoring is also a necessary part of the model. This involves constant surveillance of your business environment to identify changes, threats, and opportunities. This could be in the form of <a href="/resources/articles/modern-operating-model-manifesto#new-trends-impacting-the-strategy-execution-gap" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">understanding megatrends</a> such as the next wave digitization or keeping tabs on startups that could potentially disrupt your space.&nbsp;Together, internal and external monitoring are used to compress learning feedback loops and boost business observability, which can then be used to make more accurate decisions about changes and adaptations to your strategy execution.&nbsp;

The next component of the model is doing the work. At the surface level, this involves the basics of completing tasks, inputs, transformations, and outputs. But under a Modern Operating Model, the essence of how the work is done is different.&nbsp;<h5>When applied correctly, the ideal state of work should look like this:&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Fully engaged employees who expend discretionary effort to improve their craft and solve problems.&nbsp;</li><li>Collaboration and communication between teams to work toward common objectives.&nbsp;</li><li>Continuous learning and feedback based on regular OKR reviews and KPI observability.&nbsp;</li><li>Greater ownership and accountability of work through transparency.&nbsp;</li><li>Decisions made locally in a data-driven way.&nbsp;</li><li>Greater focus on outcomes, as opposed to tasks and activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>More experimentation and embracing failure.&nbsp;</li><li>Recognition and reward based on merit and adherence to company values.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Although this ideal state of work doesn’t happen overnight, the components of a Modern Operating Model are designed to optimize your strategy execution over time, bringing this ideal closer to reality over time.&nbsp;<hr>Learn about the intersection between <a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okr-and-agile" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OKRs and agile methodologies.</a><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://quantive.com/resources/articles/okr-and-agile" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gtmhub/image/upload/v1670611666/site-v5/OK_Rs_and_Agile_3dd7e4cb90.png" alt="OKRs &amp; Agile.png"></a></figure><hr>

With the right data and information through business monitoring, assessments can be made to adapt strategy execution to help you stay the course. The process of assessing and adapting involves looking at the data and information you have collected, extracting the insights and narrative, and turning them into knowledge which can be used for decision making.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the macro level, the purpose of this component is to help you navigate the threats and opportunities of a fast-changing world. This means you may need to make changes to your destination and how to get there at a strategic level. In addition to the points mentioned above, these could include navigating changing economic, political and social conditions, adapting to innovation, and ESG (environment, social, and governance) concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the micro level, you want to assess and adjust your strategy execution for:&nbsp;<ul><li>Overall effectiveness: Optimizing the different components of the model such as how work is done.&nbsp;</li><li>Progress towards OKRs: Looking at key results metrics for each objective and uncovering the reasons for possible underperformance. Deciding whether the OKRs set are still relevant in terms of achievability and being critical to current strategic objectives.&nbsp;</li><li>Internal warning signs: Gaining insight and foresight, as opposed to hindsight, about operational problems through AI and KPI data. This could be technical issues such as servers going down or business challenges such as a high churn rate among a customer demographic.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Internal opportunities: Spotting patterns and trends to map out new opportunities. For instance, looking at customer support data to identify unmet or emerging customer needs.&nbsp;</li></ul>As adaptability is central to the model, you will continuously adjust different components of your strategy execution based on the data and information you collect. You may only need to make small changes to a work tactic, for instance, or realize there is one threat or opportunity you need to focus on. But as time progresses and the business environment changes, you may need to adjust at the strategic level. Full adaptiveness of strategy execution at both the macro and micro level is the promise of The Modern Operating Model.&nbsp;

Optimizing your strategy execution is relevant to every company regardless of size, stage, or industry. Working together, all components of a Modern Operating Model boost alignment, focus, adaptability, and efficiency in your strategy execution.&nbsp;Through adopting The Modern Operating Model, you can better navigate the threats and opportunities of a fast-changing world, in addition to achieving your strategic goals faster. To learn more about the broader context, challenges solved, and opportunities of using a Modern Operating Model, we will be releasing a second part to this article.<hr>Quantive is your bridge between strategy and execution. Founded on the objectives and key results (OKR) methodology, <a href="https://quantive.com/products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our Strategy Execution Platform</a> is where businesses plan successful strategy, focus and align teams to it, and stay on the leading edge of progress.As your company looks to achieve the best possible results, you need a modern approach to <a href="http://quantive.com/products/results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">run your business</a> and <a href="http://quantive.com/products/signals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">change your business</a>. <a href="http://quantive.com/modern-operating-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Modern Operating Model</a> brings strategy, teams, and data together to help make decisions faster, optimize operations, and drive better business outcomes.Whether you’re a large enterprise facing competitive disruption or a small business leading the innovative charge, Quantive helps gets you where you want to go.Ready to achieve the best possible? Start using <a href="https://quantive.com/products/results/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quantive for free</a>.

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