1

From Analysis to Action

From general to specific

What are we actually going to do?

“I can’t finish nothing without a deadline baby”

Duke Ellington

4 Frogs?

2

I keep six honest serving men(They taught me all I knew)

Their names are What and Why and WhenAnd How and Where and Who

Rudyard Kipling, The Elephant’s Child

and...What Cost?

Action Planning

3

Taking Action or “Execution”

“Leadership without execution is incomplete and ineffective. Without the ability to execute, all other attributes of leadership become hollow.

“No company can deliver on its commitments or adapt well to change unless all leaders practice the discipline of execution at all levels. Execution has to be part of a company strategy…

“It is the missing link between aspiration and results.”

Charan, Ram and Bossidy, Larry. (2002) Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done New York, Crown Business

“Execution is the great unaddressed issue in most organisations today” (Covey, 2006)

4

The Missing Link?

StrategyStrategy

5

Action Planning

Clarity people need to know goals and priorities at every level

Commitment

Translation

Enabling

Synergy

Accountability

people need to buy into goals and priorities at every level

people need to know what they individually need to do

people need proper structures, systems and freedom

people need to get along and work together

people need to regularly hold each other to account

Covey, Stephen R. (2004) The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness London, Simon and Schuster

6

Action Planning in the Knowledge Age

Execution Gaps Industrial Age Knowledge Age

Clarity Announce Involvement

Commitment Tell or Sell Engage the whole person/involve

Translation Job Description Aligning for results

Enabling Carrot and Stick Aligning structures and culture

Synergy Cooperate Collaboration

Accountability Performance Appraisal Frequent, open, mutual accountability