Category Archives: Balanced scorecard principles and techniques

Do not rename the learning and growth perspective on a balanced scorecard

So often I come across “balanced scorecards” that have re-named the learning and growth perspective as “people” or “employees”.  They think it is more representative.  However the original name was given for a reason. There are three good reasons for … Continue reading

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Don’t do a balanced scorecard for an organisation

I sometimes get asked “How do you draw a strategy map on a page for a whole organisation?”  The answer is the same as for the question, “How do you limit a balanced scorecard to 24 measures?” The answer is … Continue reading

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Refining and revising measures

Why do we use objectives before measures?  Because it makes it easier to refine and revise measures In the absence of objectives, people designing performance management systems often compensate for problems with measures by adding more measures in the hope … Continue reading

Posted in Alliance balanced scorecard, Balanced measures, Manage what you can measure, Measure mania, Objectives before measures, Premature measure design, measure choice, measure design | Leave a comment

Avoiding premature measure design – use objectives first

Why should a balanced scorecard have objective as well as measures? Developing objectives before measures prevents premature measure design.  This is the tendency for people to leap straight to measures instead of defining more clearly what they want to measure.  … Continue reading

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Avoiding dysfunctional behaviours due to measures

More holistic – less divisive One of the underlying causes of the dysfunctional behaviour sometimes experienced in performance management is where individual measures and targets look at only specific parts of a problem.As a result are asked to achieve targets … Continue reading

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The value of multiple metrics in the Balanced Scorecard

John Kay the economist posted an article about the value Balanced Scorecard in business. In life, and business, we should judge ourselves by a balanced scorecard. Among the management fads and fashions of the last twenty years, the balanced score … Continue reading

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Obliquity: Why customers & competencies are most important on balanced scorecards

Reading reviews of John Kay’s latest book Obliquity, they bring out how the theme of the book is that route to success is often through the search for something else: Taking the oblique route.  It is a paradox, he says, … Continue reading

Posted in Balanced Scorecard, Customer focus, Customer perspective, Financial perspective, Obliquity, competencies, shareholder value | Leave a comment

Strategy in uncertainty: what tools are useful?

At an Institute of Director’s economic briefing in November, the Chief Economist of the IOD said that we are still facing uncertainty, its just that the uncertainties are changing. I think the uncertainty continues to change, especially with impending elections … Continue reading

Posted in Intelligence led strategy, Strategy in uncertainty, strategic thinking, talking to customers, value chain analysis | Leave a comment

Why benefit management fails in the NHS

The NHS IT delivery programme has a dreadful track record. It is not surprising when you look at their methodology and the techniques the NHS and the ISIP programme recommend for benefit mapping, benefit management and benefit realisation. They are … Continue reading

Posted in ISIP programme, NHS Service improvement, NHS balanced scorecard, NHS benefit management, NHS benefit maps, NHS benefit realisation, Strategy Map, nhs targets | Leave a comment

End or Means?

At this time of goal setting and new year resolutions we often face a problem. We set a goal or objective, (stop smoking, make more money, lose weight, change job, etc etc) and within a few days or weeks, the … Continue reading

Posted in Balanced Scorecard, Goal setting, Objective setting, Persistent pattern of behaviour, ends and means, flexible working, new behaviours, permission for change | Leave a comment