OGSM: strategic plan in one overview
OGSM is a method to describe strategy or annual plans on one page. OGSM stands for Objective, Goals, Strategies and Measures. Together they provide a good picture of what drives the organization, how success can be measured, which choices the organization makes and how these choices translate into actions. You can also read business unit or department where it says 'organization'. You can use OGSM wherever strategic plans are made.
Before you start with OGSM
Strategic Challenges: The Questions You Have to Answer
Which questions should the OGSM plan answer? Before you start, it is important to understand your strategic challenges. What are your main questions? What opportunities do you see? Which threats should you avert? Which strengths can you develop? Which vulnerabilities should you reduce? Analyzes can help, but you often get the most important challenges from a good and honest conversation with each other.
Strategic options: the possible answers
You can brainstorm about creative solutions based on the challenges. Look for distinctive, but also feasible solutions. Coming up with strategic options is an iterative process of coming up with ideas, researching, developing, etc.
Develop organizational strategy in annual plans
An organization is detailed in annual plans of business units, departments, team, etc. Before you start working out your own OGSM, it is important to have insight into the above plan. Consider: which strategies in this plan should or can we contribute to?
Phase 1: Brainstorm
In the first phase you brainstorm about the different parts of OGSM. There are three flight paths:
- Based on objective: formulate objective and then goals and strategies. Works especially well when there is a clear objective.
- Formulate strategies and then objective and goals. This approach route focuses on the challenges.
- Are you stuck? Determine first possible actions and cluster them into strategies.
Creating an OGSM is an iterative process. Step by step the plan is constantly being tightened up. In this phase, focus on the main points. Don't worry about target values, owners and deadlines just yet.
Brainstorming in the OGSM platform
Use the online brainstorm to outline the main points of the OGSM. You can brainstorm together online, drag items back and forth, respond to items and save multiple versions.
Instruction manual: OGSM phase 1: Brainstorming
Phase 2: Refine OGSM
Once the main points are in place, you can further refine the plan.
Clear texts
Provide clear formulations that are clear to all involved. Use the formulation for the objective, strategies and preferably also the actions: through . You then describe both the result and the way in which you want to achieve the result.
Owners of strategies
Record who owns for each strategy. The owner is responsible for the content and implementation of the strategy. He or she is also the point of contact.
Target values of indicators
You use the indicators to monitor the progress of a strategy. Determine and record the target value for each indicator.
Owners and deadlines of promotions.
Determine the owners of the actions. Each promotion has one owner. This person is responsible for implementation and is also the point of contact for the team. The owner is therefore always a team member.
Refine in the OGSM platform
Use the OGSM tool to further develop your plan. Determine the owners of strategies, record the target values of indicators and select the deadlines and owners of actions.
You can use labels to establish relationships with other OGSMs or to indicate which departments are involved in a strategy.
Instruction manual: OGSM phase 2: Refine
Do and learn: performing OGSMs
A plan can be so good - substantively correct, clearly formulated, concrete actions - if it is not implemented it is pointless, a waste of effort. You can only achieve results by doing things. It is better to execute a plan that is 80% ready very well than execute a 100% plan only moderately. Our working method can help you implement actions, learn from the results and adjust your plan if necessary.