Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The contribution of this paper is a methodology for aligning processes to the strategic plan. An organization must be able to align itself with the strategic plan to ensure effective implementation. A key factor for successful strategic implementation is aligning processes to the strategic plan. Once processes are aligned to the strategic plan, objectives, goals, and measures can be utilized to asses strategic progress. Lessons learned and best practices of process alignment were developed from case study applications conducted at Kennedy Space Center. Managers may utilize this methodology for implementing strategic plans within their organizations.
Keywords
Process Alignment, Process Improvement, Strategic Alignment, Strategic Implementation
1. Introduction
In today's dynamic markets, many organizations utilize strategic management to help maximize their competitive advantage. However, John C. Koopman [1] states, "The real threat to most companies is not a strategic threat from outside. Instead it is their own failure to align their organization with their strategy and thus ensure good execution (p. 15)." The stumbling block in strategic management continues to be implementation, which leads to organizational alignment.
Peter G. W. Keen [2] identifies what he terms the "Process Paradox," which is the decline of an organization at the same time that reengineering and TQM are dramatically improving efficiency, quality, and customer service. These failures can be linked back directly to poor alignment between strategic plans and business processes. An organization must be able to align itself with the strategic plan and turn strategy into action. Once processes are aligned to the strategic plan, the objectives, goals, and measures of the organization (WWA) can be utilized to meet the organization's strategic goals (WWWTB). Figure 1 depicts how process alignment leads to strategic implementation.
Organizations that have successfully obtained strategic goals are aligned to the strategic plan. Alignment encompasses many facets of the organization, including strategy, structure, processes, people, and technology [3]. The focus today is how to align the organization and in turn implement the strategic plan. Alignment is a critical success factor of strategic implementation. However, little is known about alignment. This research will answer the question, "How can an organization align processes with the strategic plan?" This research has three objectives: 1) develop a methodology for process alignment, 2) demonstrate the methodology, and 3)...