Strategy Maps (Kaplan Norton)


Your ad here

Picturing and communicating how an organization can create value: connecting strategic objectives in cause and effect relationships with each other. Explanation of Strategy Maps of Kaplan and Norton ('92, '01).

Log in

What are Strategy Maps? Description

In the 2001 book "The Strategy-Focused Organization", Kaplan and Norton transform their Balanced Scorecard. In 1992 they introduced the Balanced Scorecard in the Harvard Business Review as system to measure performance; now they change it to a strategic management system. A lot of this transformation was done by further emphasizing the so called Strategy Map.


Strategy Maps are diagrams that describes how an organization can create value: by connecting strategic objectives in explicit cause and effect relationship with each other. Via the four Balanced Scorecard perspectives: financial, customer, processes, learning and growth. See the figure below (You can click on the graph to download a bigger one in pdf-format). Strategy Maps are a strategic part of the Balanced Scorecard framework to describe strategies for value creation.


Strategy MapsCharacteristics of Strategy Maps

  1. All of the information is contained on one page; this enables relatively easy strategic communication.

  2. There are four perspectives: Financial; Customer; Internal; Learning and Growth.

  3. The financial perspective looks at creating long-term shareholder value, and uses a productivity strategy of improving cost structure and asset utilization and a growth strategy of expanding opportunities and enhancing customer value.

  4. These last four elements of strategic improvement are supported by price, quality, availability, selection, functionality, service, partnerships and brand.

  5. From an internal perspective, the operations processes and the customer management processes help to make the product and service attributes. While the innovation, regulatory and social processes help with relationships and image.

  6. All of these processes are supported by the allocation of human capital, information capital and organizational capital. Organizational capital is comprised of company culture, leadership, alignment and teamwork.

  7. Connecting arrows are describing cause and effect relationships.

What are the main principles behind Strategy Maps?

  1. Strategy balances contradictory forces.
  2. Strategy is based on a differentiating customer value proposition.
  3. Value is added through internal business processes.
  4. Strategy consists of simultaneous, complementary themes.
  5. Strategic alignment determines the value of intangible assets.

Usage of Strategy Maps? Benefits

By connecting such things as shareholder value creation, customer management, process management, quality management, core capabilities, innovation, human resources, information technology, organizational design and learning with one another in one graphical representation, Strategy Maps can help greatly in describing the strategy and to communicate the strategy among executives and to their employees. In this way an alignment can be created around the strategy, which makes a successful implementation of the strategy more easy. No small thing, bearing in mind that often, the implementation of a constructed strategy is the biggest challenge.


Although the previous book of Kaplan and Norton already spent 64 pages on Strategy Maps, you can find the latest, best and most comprehensive treatment of Strategy Maps including lots of examples in the book that is mentioned below.


Book: Robert Kaplan and David Norton - Strategy Maps -



Strategy Maps Forum New Topic  |  Help
Strategy Maps in Egypt?
"I'd like to know what companies are using strategy maps in Egypt if any? Thanks for your tips..."
Successful Cases which can be Shared?
"How many companies have applied a strategy map into their business so far? Is there any successful case study that can be shared to discuss? What were the advantages of using it in practice?"
Managing Cross-Divisional Collaboration
"Often, achievement of a Critical Success Factor requires collaboration of two or more divisions across organizational boundaries. For example, to increase sales of new products in overseas mark..."
Ends, Means and Strategy Map
"Under John Carver's Policy Governance Model management is driven by ends established by a board of directors. Management then develops means (goals, strategies, objectives) to mee..."
Online or DVD Training Materials on BSC / Strategy Maps
"I am in quest of e-learning or DVD informal training related to:
- Strategy Plan development;
- Strategy Map development
- Balanced Scorecard / Dashboard development
- Aligning Str..."
Have you heard about OVAR ?
"OVAR is a second - similar - strategic approach that allows confontation of departments' choices. O for Objectives, VA for Value of Actions, R for Responsibilities. Every department implements the com..."
Strengths of Strategy Maps
"Strategy Maps are an excellent extension to the basic framework of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) approach.
- Business strategy statements can be catchy, but line management are often searching for..."
Disadvantages / Problems with Strategy Maps
"Hi everyone, I find business literature mainly talks in favor of Strategy Maps.. can you help me to find problems or disadvantages in strategy map implementation?"
Customer Perspective
"Good morning, In the Customer Perspective of the Strategy Map there is a product/service attribute called "Selection". What does it mean? Examples? "
Are Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Map the Same?
"Does the strategy map tell the same story of Balanced Scorecard? Both of them are talking about these four perspectives."
Synergy in Strategy Maps?
"Is it possible to include corporate level (strategic) synergy effects into a Strategy Map? How? (Strategy maps seem to be directed primarily at the bus..."

Keep in touch with this topic
Please log in...






Strategy Maps Special Interest Group


Visit the Special Interest Group

 


Compare with Strategy Maps: Balanced Scorecard  |  Office of Strategy Management  |  Performance Prism  |  Catalytic Mechanisms  |  Intangible Assets Monitor  |  People CMM  |  IC Rating  |  TQM


Return to Management Hub: Change & Organization  |  Communication & Skills  |  Decision-making & Valuation  |  Human Resources  |  Knowledge & Intangibles  |  Strategy


More Management Methods, Models and Theory

Keep in touch with this topic
Please log in...



Options

12manage for:

12manage in:

Copyright 2012 12manage - The Executive Fast Track. V11.0 - Last updated: 21-5-2012. All names tm by their owners.