Mapping Objectives to Goals

From a holistic perspective, an organization is a system of component functional areas assembled to achieve a goal. To optimize performance of the system, we need to ensure that the functional-area objectives are properly aligned to support attainment of that goal.

In the course of strategic planning, goals and objectives often are identified in documented plans and PowerPoint presentations, but a problem lies with understanding relationships and this is where “goal to objective mapping” can provide a visualization tool.

The noted Japanese quality practitioner Kaoru Ishikawa developed his cause- and-effect diagrams to establish root cause so management teams could tackle quality problems. Many people have seen and used his charts and may know them as “herringbone” or “fishbone” diagrams.

For goal to objective mapping, we are using a variation of the technique to establish and drive causality with the intent of establishing the causal linkages between functional areas and the goal of the organization. This technique also builds on the seminal Theory of Constraints work done by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt. His amazing work helps groups better understand how to optimize their organizations.

Organic Growth Without Alignment

In contrast, organizations that haven’t carefully reviewed the alignment of goals and objectives are at risk of suboptimal outcomes. Objectives can be thought of as vectors in that they have both direction and force.