To achieve success, it is essential to have clear and achievable goals, however, although the importance of this is often emphasized, they do not always indicate the appropriate way to achieve it.
The strategy must be more than a document: it must be a living writing in constant review, feedback and “if necessary” adaptation. To help in this process, it is recommended to use the “Strategic Improvement Diagram”.
Having clear and achievable goals is basic to the success of any person, company or organization, however, despite the fact that the importance of this is often emphasized, they do not always tell us how to achieve it.
The strategy must be more than a document: it must be a living writing in constant review, feedback and “if necessary” adaptation.
If you do not have a strategy or you are going to modify it, it is convenient to define where you are and where you want to go, for this it is recommended to use the "Strategic Improvement Diagram" ® explained below:
This scheme seeks to guide anyone who wants to create, refine or reframe a strategy and consists of five parts:
- - + Increase– - Decrease– X Avoid– PCrear– = Perpetuate
The meaning of the symbols is:
1.- + Increase
It includes those activities or objectives that are currently carried out but must be increased or perfected in order to increase or maximize their impact.
2.- - Decrease
It refers to those activities or objectives that are currently carried out but must be decreased in order to reduce the impact of said activities or the number of occasions on which they are carried out.
3.- X Avoid
This section includes those activities or objectives that are not currently being carried out and it is desired that “in the present and in the future” they continue in this way because they would impair compliance with the strategy or go against it.
4.- P Create
It represents those activities or objectives that are not currently carried out, however, given the changes necessary for the improvement of the strategy, it is necessary to establish them.
5.- = Perpetuate
Refers to those activities or objectives that are currently being met and because they contribute effectively to the achievement of results or are a core part of the strategy, it is desired that both present and future remain unchanged.
This diagram can be used both to carry out general planning and subsequently be landed at the departmental level and to make departmental planning directly. On a personal level it is also useful to carry out your own life and career planning. It can be used as a previous or subsequent step to other planning tools or it can be used by itself.
This instrument, like all, has advantages and disadvantages, the important thing is to know how to choose the right tool for the intended purposes.
® Copyright: Juan Pablo Aguilar Meza 2008.
