Tag Archives: strategic thinking

Interpreting Vague Strategy: The Compact Approach

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Greg Githens

Strategic initiatives are often launched with a vague directive. Ask these three questions: What are the mistakes I must not make? What are the mistakes that others must not make? What resources do I have to deal with the unexpected. Greg Githens calls this the Compact Approach to Strategy. Continue reading →

Posted in Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged assumptions, contingency, Decision making, innovation, Management, mistakes, program management, risk, strategic initiatives, Strategic management, strategic thinking, Strategy | 6 Comments

Balanced Score Cards and Strategic Initiatives

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Greg Githens

The leader of a strategic initiative needs to have a good understanding of the purpose and application of the balanced score card. This article overviews the four perspectives and provides four valuable questions that inform the strategic intent. Continue reading →

Posted in Strategic Planning Issues for Strategic Initiatives | Tagged balanced score card, Balanced scorecard, Business, Greg Githens, Management, Organization, program management, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, Strategic planning, strategic thinking, transformation | 4 Comments

Pillars of Strategic Initiative Success

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Greg Githens

Greg Githens explains that good strategy, strong commitment, and strategic planning and thinking are the strategic pillars for success with strategic initiatives. Continue reading →

Posted in Strategic Planning Issues for Strategic Initiatives, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives | Tagged anticipating obstacles, Business, commitment, Consulting, correct strategy, Decision making, Forbes, good strategy, Management, program management, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, strategic pillars, strategic planks, Strategic planning, strategic thinking, Strategy, strategy execution | 3 Comments

Eight Distinctions between Portfolio Management & Program Management

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Greg Githens

This article clarifies the differences between program management, portfolio management, and program management along 8 dimensions: purpose, temporal nature, aggregation, strategic alignment, success criteria, risk, decisions, & competencies. Greg Githens explains four implications for leaders of strategic initiatives: meaning of strategic alignment, number of strategic initiatives in the portfolio, strategic initiatives as programs, and immature standards. The leader applies strategic thinking to do that. Continue reading →

Posted in Program & Portfolio Management, Strategic Planning Issues for Strategic Initiatives | Tagged ambiguity, Business, differences project program portfolio, governance, Greg Githens, Leadership, Management, portfolio management, program management, Project, Project management, Project portfolio management, risk diversification, strategic alignment, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, strategic thinking, strategy execution, strategy formulation | 12 Comments

Use the Columbo Question to Get Strategic Information

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Greg Githens

In the inquiry mode of leadership, questions help to set strategic direction and discover requirements and intentions. Greg Githens explains that the last question in an interview is, “Is there any question that I should have asked that I haven’t asked.” Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged Columbo, Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Greg Githens, Interview, management tools, Peter Falk, questions, skillful questioning, strategic information, Strategic initiative, strategic thinking, The Last Question | 2 Comments

A Practical Tool for Gaining Program Management Insights

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Greg Githens

Greg Githens describes the SIMple model (SIM = Strategy, Inquiry, Metrics) as a tool for framing key issues in a strategic initiative. He recommends starting with inquiry and metrics, and using that to evaluate and refine the program strategy. Continue reading →

Posted in Program & Portfolio Management, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged Business, Chief learning officer, Decision making, Greg Githens, inquiry, Management, measurement, metrics, program management, questions, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, strategic thinking, Strategy | Leave a comment

Does Your Strategic Initiative Need a Fresh Perspective?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Greg Githens

Greg explains how to overcome headwinds in a strategic initiative with 4 perspectives: storytelling, learning, integration, and decisions. He illustrates how each role is applied through a case study.

http://wp.me/pZCkk-kf Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Examples of Strategic Initiatives, Strategy Coaching and Facilitation, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged ambiguity, chief decision architect, chief integration officer, Chief learning officer, Chief storyteller, Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Decision making, Greg Githens, intuition, Issue management, Learning, management tools, partitioning problems, program management, questions, Strategic initiative, Strategic management, strategic thinking, strategy execution, teams, transformation, vision | 1 Comment

L.I.D.S – The Four Leadership Roles of the Strategic Program Manager

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Greg Githens

Stories, Learning, Integration, and Decisions are keys to good leadership of strategic initiatives. Greg Githens explains that the leader is the Chief of each. Individually and collectively these program manager roles provide a framework for strategy execution.

http://wp.me/pZCkk-jY Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Interpreting Strategy Documents, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged ambiguity, Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, fast decisions, Greg Githens, innovation, program management, Strategic initiative, strategic thinking, strategy execution, teams | 13 Comments

Two Tools for Describing Strategic Context (Strategic Thinking Part 3)

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Greg Githens

Greg Githens explains the PESTLE acronym for evaluating strategic context, and the “walk the fenceline” technique. Strategic thinkers have an “outside in” perspective that allows them understand how external context affects strategy. Continue reading →

Posted in Interpreting Strategy Documents, Strategic Planning Issues for Strategic Initiatives, Strategy Coaching and Facilitation, Strategy, Ambiguity, and Strong-Minded Thinking | Tagged ambiguity, Business, CSX, director of strategic initiatives, Greg Githens, innovation, Management, Pepsico, PESTLE, program management, strategic context, strategic environment, Strategic initiative, strategic thinking, strategy execution, strategy formulation, sustainability, vision | 12 Comments

Strategic Thinking (Part 2): Framing Decisions with the Four Types of Ambiguity

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Greg Githens

Good strategic thinkers are strong minded; they cope effectively with ambiguous information. This article explains how to recognize the four types of goal ambiguity (methods, metrics, priorities, and outcomes). The strategic initiative leader needs to frame decisions to cope with this ambiguity. Continue reading →