The OGSM--Objectives, Goals, Strategies and Measures--is a framework for aligning your team. Dave Balter, CEO of BzzAgent and Exec Chair of Smarterer, reviews how to create an OGSM for your organization, ans shares concrete tactics to help your entire team learn, to win.
16. [YEAR] [COMPANY] OGSM[YEAR] [COMPANY] OGSM[YEAR] [COMPANY] OGSM CONFIDENTIAL
Vision Your Vision of the FutureYour Vision of the FutureYour Vision of the FutureYour Vision of the FutureYour Vision of the Future
Global Objective What Will Happen When You Get There (Quantify)What Will Happen When You Get There (Quantify)What Will Happen When You Get There (Quantify)What Will Happen When You Get There (Quantify)What Will Happen When You Get There (Quantify)
goals strategies tactics (measures)
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
The goals are
translated into choices,
which are what
strategies you will
deploy in order to
achieve your goals.
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
The goals are
translated into choices,
which are what
strategies you will
deploy in order to
achieve your goals.
•How you know your strategy is working
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
The goals are
translated into choices,
which are what
strategies you will
deploy in order to
achieve your goals.
•Can be both quantitative and qualitative
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
The goals are
translated into choices,
which are what
strategies you will
deploy in order to
achieve your goals.
•May focus beyond financial performance since many aspects
of
organizational activity are considered.A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
The goals are
translated into choices,
which are what
strategies you will
deploy in order to
achieve your goals.
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
A set of
objectives that
overlap the
corporate
mission and
BIG Objective.
Numeric
Measurement
that
determines if
you
succeeded in
obtaining your
objectives
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
These elements
are stable and
don’t have a
definitive
duration
Communicate
d to all
Stakeholders
Related to
Financial
Performance
Stable and
Reviewed
Annually
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
~1 Strategy Per Goal
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
~1 Strategy Per Goal
2-4 Measures Per Strategy
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
~1 Strategy Per Goal
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
~1 Strategy Per Goal
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
2-3 Objectives
Total
2-3 Goals Per
Objective
17. what’s your vision of the future?
what will happen when you get there?
step 1: set your vision & global objective
18. planning starts with defining objectives
that overlap the corporate mission
And global objective
these elements are stable and
don’t have a definitive duration
step 2: define 2 – 3 objectives
19. • numeric measurement that
determines if you succeeded in
obtaining your objective
• related to financial performance
• stable and reviewed annually
step 3: define 2 – 3 goals per objective
20. goals are translated into choices,
which are the strategies you will
deploy in order to achieve your goals
step 4: define 1 strategy per goal
21. • how you know your strategy is working
• can be quantitative & qualitative
• may focus beyond financial
performance, since many aspects of
organizational activity are considered
step 5: define measures for strategies
22. CHECK YOUR WORK!
1. S y n c h r o n i z a t i o n
2. S u f f i c i e n c y
3. S e l e c t i v e
4. S u s t a i n a b l e
23. review your Objectives and Goals to see
if they jive with your Strategies and
Measures—if they don’t, you don’t likely
have strategic alignment
s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n
24. rigorously assess whether the strategies
and measures outlined within the OGSM,
if attained, are sufficient to achieve your
objectives
s u f f i c i e n c y
25. review the strategy to see if it clearly lays out
what you are NOT going to do
it should be clear that you have adequate
manpower to achieve them, and it should
establish parameters around dealing with
requests that come to your team
(e.g. I will not do X because it is not aligned with strategy Y)
s e l e c t i v e
26. "Does this set of strategies offer my company a
barrier to entry versus competition?”
"Does it meet a real consumer need?”
"Does it address customer profitability needs?”
"Does it meet my company's financial needs?”
s u s t a i n a b l e
28. THANK YOU
I specialize in helping startups or series A or B companies develop effective OGSMs. Find
me if you’d like some help.
Dave Balter
@davebalter
davebalter@gmail.com
We’re here to talk about the OGSM.Let’s get this out of the way: yes, this looks a bit like…
THIS
…or this…
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…The OGSM stands for Objectives, Goals, Strategies and Measures
I used to believe that business frameworks were a total waste of time.That businesses ran through a driven CEO, and talented people.That people would just know what to do if you gave them individualized feedback, had a great idea, and knew how to execute.Many folks told me that nothing could be more important than nailing down your vision, mission and values. But I’d had a lot of success without FORMALLY doing that, so I ignored it.
But that was before 2008, when my 5th startup, BzzAgent, was taking off like a rocket.Then, in 2008, everything started to change.Market forces were straining the business, and I ended up having to lay off a big chunk of staff.After that, I couldn’t lead just through execution. Employees lost faith in what we were doing. We lost track of where we were going.
The reality of the situation hit home: we needed to do something fast.I joined a CEO group – and the first they they asked me was whether I had clear Mission, Vision, Values.And then the real work began – to clarify exactly who we were and what we were doing as a business.With these in hand, we rebuilt the company, and eventually successfully sold it 18 months later.And much of that success is because of our ability to create a framework we could lead the business by. And there is no better framework for doing that than the OGSM.
The OGSM was initially developed by auto manufacturers in the 1950s, as they needed to scale for massive growth.It was eventually popularized by Proctor & Gamble, who began using it across the entire organization shortly thereafter.BzzAgent was purchased in 2011 by dunnhumby, a division of Tesco – where the OGSM is used to manage an incredibly successful (~$800M, highly profitable) business.An OGSM is used as part of a business planning cycle. It’s result is SIMPLE, CLEAR and CONCISE.
It fits on one page.
It provides a plan that you can look at and work on every day, while keeping an eye on the long-term goals.
And importantly, helps you understand if the successes you’re achieving each day, are appropriate to hit those long term goals.
It is the responsibility of a leader (CEO or department head if the company is large enough) to drive the formation of the OGSM – but it is INCLUSIVE. Many stakeholders should have input in shaping and creating the output. The result is that the entire company can become bought into the structure.
The OGSM should be used as part of a regular business planning cycle.For large companies, it can be developed annually (with some parts changing, but not all of it).In smaller firms, where change happens often (ie: a startup), it could be looked at every 6 months (or even every quarter, given how fast things can change).In any case, it’s the form that’s used to help the business know where it’s going. If you ever feel lost, the OGSM can help clarify the way.
This is an OGSM template, with descriptions of each section. A final OGSM can fit onto this one sheet.In order to develop an OGSM, it’s recommended that a set of key stakeholders on a team have a series of in person meetings to develop. The leader will drive the sessions, but it’s key that input from a variety of people in the business is obtained.Many smaller teams can achieve a strong OGSM output in 2 four hour sessions; but don’t rush these. Spend the time to discuss the items where there isn’t aligned. Remember that WORDS matter – if you are debating specific words, it’s ok!!Email me at davebalter at gmail dot com if you’d like an excel version of this for easy creation.
Using the spreadsheet, you should begin by clarifying your vision and objective.Your vision should be the statement that everyone in your business can rattle off on a second’s notice. What is it you DO?For the global objective, you should make sure it is quantitative and sets a specific timeframe (we will deliver X for Y consumers by 2020…)…
Your objectives are 2-3 items that map to your vision and global objective. These items are unlikely to change over time, even over multiple workings of your OGSM; these are the pillars of what you’re building. Short, broad statements are ok here (“Drive Scale”; “Generate Revenue”; “Build Culture” are all good examples)
For each objective, deliver a set of goals. There should be 2 or 3 for each objective.These are quantitative and will likely change annually. (example: in order to “Drive Scale” your goal might be to “Acquire 100,000 users this year”)For many startups, these may not be financially oriented, but it’s never too early to start thinking about revenue
In order to achieve your goals, you’re going to need a strategy. So, what will you do to achieve your goals?Strategies might change more often, say ever 6 months – be careful of changing your strategy too often, BUT also make sure you adjust your strategy if it isn’t working!(an example: if your goal is to “acquire 100,000 users” your strategy might be to “create an affiliate marketing channel” or “become a promotion powerhouse”, etc.)
Now that you have strategies, you need to measure if they’re working.Your measurements should change along with your strategies. (Example: if your strategy was to “develop an affiliate channel” your measurement might be “sign 100 affiliates”)Often this section of “M” can be also delivered with some “T” or tactics mixed in…measurements and tactics may overlap. In the above, signing affiliates could also be considered a tactic.
Once a leader has developed an OGSM with their team, a good rule is to go back and check things…these are the 4 tips for checking your work.
As a summary, an OGSM should be developed for the overall business, but often sub units (if large enough) within a company can develop their own OGSM to map their own progress (say a U.S. division of a global organization).OGSMs are to be shared throughout the entire organization. They are only truly valuable if everyone in the company is aligned by them.In order to make the most of the OGSM, the leader should refer back to it often, within the daily workstream; employees should recognize it as the ‘map’ for what they’re working on and achieving --- for reviews, they should be able to appreciate if what they’ve done has had a more significant impact and why they’re being asked to work on specific items.