• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Solitaire Consulting Limited

Digital transformation for wealth management

 digitalisation and technology enabled change
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Services
    • Trust & Corporate Services
    • Business Change Management
    • Process Improvement
    • Programme Management
    • Project Management
    • Technology Advice
  • Clients & Testimonials
  • Partners
    • Centenal
    • Continuum
    • MBS Business Solutions
    • Smarter Not Harder
    • Vega Solutions Limited
    • Genuine Jersey
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Get In Touch

Achieving Organisational Alignment (Pulling in the Same Direction)

Cartoons playing tug of war

In a recent post I explored the disconnect between strategy and action, that is evident in many of the companies we work with. What I’d like to do today is propose a simple model for achieving organisational alignment – or as I put it in the title – ensuring everyone is pulling in the same direction.

In the diagram below I have represented the organisation using the yellow triangle. Whilst this represents a traditional hierarchical model present in most corporates, the model still works for matrix or other flatter structures.

Whatever structure you have in your organisation you will have a vision of what you are trying to achieve. This vision needs to be developed into the strategy, i.e. how we are going to achieve the vision and in what time frame. The strategy is likely to consist of a number of high level objectives, which will need to be translated into more detailed action plans. The aim is to drill down into enough detail to link strategy to individual objectives. This provides the clarity to workers of how their job fits into achieving the overall vision. We have probably all heard the story of the man sweeping the floor at NASA being asked “what do you do here?” and responding “I am helping to put a man on the moon”.  How would your staff answer this question?

Organisational Alignment Model

It is not enough to just have your vision aligned to individual objectives, because you need to know that objectives and plans are being delivered to achieve the desired results. This is best achieved through an organisation wide performance management system, where individual performance review and appraisals align with team targets, which in turn feed into a strategic review. The use of a balanced range of key performance indicators (KPIs) is critical in measuring and managing performance.

Finally, empowered managers and a well developed set of organisational values will help to develop appropriate support mechanisms to ensure the framework adapts to changing circumstances.

This brief article is very simplistic and there is obviously a lot more detail that needs to be developed to put it into operation. However, I have seen it working well in a number of organisations and am currently working with an international law firm to help the partners align their strategy with the work that front line staff deliver.

If you can see gaps in your performance management framework and are not sure how to go about closing them, let me know so I can point you in the right direction.

Related posts:

Puzzle with a missing pieceHow Well Aligned are Your Actions to Your Strategy? Photo of a set of scales and a gavelCase Study: Law Firm Preparing for High Growth Understanding the Context of IT Systems Change Default ThumbnailThe Change Equation

About Paul Every

I specialise in 'technology enabled change'; helping clients in offshore financial services and related sectors, obtain greater value from their investments in technology.

My clients choose to work with me because I am a pragmatist; I recommend and deliver solutions that can be easily implemented. You also get what you see - I will define what you need and it will be me who is on site helping you deliver your change.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

Solitaire Consulting Limited

Solitaire Consulting Limited is a sponsor of Genuine Jersey, supporting local produce and products.

Genuine Jersey logo

Clients & Testimonials

Privacy Policy

Keep in touch

You'll receive a monthly email with latest blog posts, articles and updates.
this helps me send you relevant content
* = required field

Recent Posts

  • Solitaire Consulting Proudly Sponsors Sally’s 6th Decade Channel Swim
  • Why is your team not more productive?
  • Laserfiche, M-Files and Microsoft recognised by Gartner Peer Insights
  • Real Change comes from People not Technology
  • TrustQuay launches the first complete cloud-native SaaS platform for the TCSP market
missinglettr ad
  • Home
  • Services
  • Clients & Testimonials
  • Partners
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Get In Touch
© Copyright 2022 Solitaire Consulting Limited | Registered Office: Baytree House, Queens Road, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3DR | Registered in Jersey No: 107663
 

Loading Comments...