Slides from a presentation given by Adrian Reed to a meeting of IIBA UK's Scotland branch on 19 March 2015

1. Strategy: The elephant in the room
Adrian Reed
adrian.reed@blackmetric.co.uk
@UKAdrianReed

2. What/
How?
AGENDA
Why?Why?

4. Lack of clear
direction
Conflicting
strategies
Unhappy staff
Loss of focus on
innovation
Problems…
And a lot more!

6. Why?
What/
How?
AGENDA

7. Strategy
A cohesive response to an important
challenge.
Unlike a stand-alone decision or a goal, a strategy is
a coherent set of analyses, concepts, policies,
arguments, and actions that respond to a high-
stakes challenge.
Rumelt, R (2011). Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters

8. VMOST
Vision / Mission
Objectives
Strategy
Tactics
Clear,
Concise,
Repeatable
Broad but
Specific.
Themes
Precise
SMART
Actionable
Granular
Tasks &
Projects

10. Objectives
Strategic
Theme
Strategic
Theme
Strategic
Theme
Vision/Mission
T T T T T T T T T
T T T T T T T T T
Change Portfolio

11. Portfolio of Change
Sales &
Marketing
Operations Customer
Service
Finance Etc….
It’s a
great
idea..
Why
wouldn’t
we…
We’ve
chosen a
vendor…
The boss
says…
Our client
wants…
AND WE HAVE A
BUSINESS CASE!!!
But what really happens…

14. So what can we do as BAs?

15. Know the
VMOST
Define the
path
Know the Environment
Ask “Why”

16. Know the VMOST
Vision / Mission
Objectives
Strategy
Tactics
Align or Define!

17. Objectives
Strategic
Theme
Strategic
Theme
Strategic
Theme
Vision/Mission
T T T T T T T T T
T T T T T T T T T
Change Portfolio
And how our projects fit

18. Defining the path…
Assess
Current State
Define Future
State
(Outcomes &
Objectives)
Analyse Gap
& Risks
Define
Options
(Change
Strategies)
DELIVERY
Idea, Need,
Opportunity
The O, S & T for the change project

19. External Factors
Objectives
Now ?
Economic
Legal
Political Social
EnvironmentalTechnological
Vision/Mission
PESTLE

20. The big question…
Why

21. The problem of…..
Is affecting….
The impact of which is….
A successful solution would….
Problem Statement
What problem
are we trying to
solve?
Who are our
stakeholders?
Why should we
care?
What are the
benefits? How do
we know it’s
done?

22. This aligns with our stated strategy by….
And would help us meet our objectives of….
+ Strategic Alignment Statement
Illustrates
strategic
alignment
How can the
benefits/
outcomes be
linked to
strategy?

23. Know the
VMOST
Define the
path
Know the Environment
Ask “Why”

25. • Where in your organisation are your business
analysts located ?
• How are you adding value?
• Where do you think the BA adds most value?
• How do we measure that value?
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