Strategy Maps

What are Strategy Maps?

Strategy maps are visual diagrams that show the cause-and-effect relationships between an organization's objectives, internal and external factors, and the actions it plans to take to achieve its objectives. They are used to communicate and align an organization's strategy across all levels of the organization, from top management to front-line employees.

A strategy map typically consists of boxes or bubbles representing the different elements of an organization's strategy. These elements may include objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), internal processes, customer groups, and learning and growth. Arrows connecting the boxes show the causal relationships between these elements, illustrating how the organization will achieve its objectives through specific actions and initiatives.

Strategy maps can be used to communicate the strategy of a business, nonprofit, or government agency, and they can be tailored to fit the organization's specific needs. They are often used with balanced scorecards, management tools that help organizations track and measure progress towards their strategic objectives.

Overall, strategy maps are useful for aligning an organization's resources and efforts toward a common goal and communicating the strategy clearly and visually.

See Also

Strategy maps are visual tools used to communicate an organization's strategy concisely and holistically. They provide a graphical representation of the cause-and-effect relationships between strategic objectives and the initiatives required to achieve them.

• Cause-and-effect Relationships: Strategy maps illustrate the cause-and-effect relationships between strategic objectives by showing how achieving one objective contributes to the success of others and ultimately to the organization's overall mission and vision.
• Perspectives: Strategy maps typically incorporate multiple perspectives, such as financial, customer, internal processes, and learning and growth, as defined in the Balanced Scorecard framework. Each perspective represents a different aspect of organizational performance that contributes to strategic success.
• Objectives: Strategy maps identify the strategic objectives critical to achieving the organization's mission and vision within each perspective. These objectives are typically organized hierarchically, with higher-level objectives supporting and driving the achievement of lower-level objectives.
• Key Performance Indicator (KPI): Strategy maps often include key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics that measure progress and success for each strategic objective. KPIs help organizations track performance, monitor results, and make data-driven decisions to drive strategic execution.
• Initiatives: Strategy maps highlight the strategic initiatives or actions necessary to achieve the identified objectives and KPIs. These initiatives may include projects, programs, investments, or operational changes to drive performance improvement and goal attainment.
• Alignment: Strategy maps visually depict the alignment between strategic objectives and initiatives, showing how each initiative contributes to achieving specific objectives and, ultimately, to the organization's overarching goals.
• Clarity and Communication: Strategy maps provide a clear and concise visual representation of the organization's strategy, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and communicate strategic priorities, objectives, and initiatives.
• Collaboration and Alignment: Strategy maps facilitate collaboration and alignment among stakeholders by providing a shared understanding of the organization's strategic direction and priorities. They help align departments, teams, and individuals around common goals and objectives.
• Adaptability: Strategy maps can be updated and revised over time to reflect changes in the organization's strategic priorities, market conditions, or internal capabilities. This flexibility allows organizations to evolve their strategy in response to new opportunities or challenges.
• Integration: Strategy maps can be integrated with other strategic management tools and frameworks, such as the Balanced Scorecard, to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to strategic planning, execution, and performance management.
• Balanced Scorecard