the theory of intent
TRANSCRIPT
Strategy, Policy and Management
The Theory Of Intent
Evolving Organization
It is often said, as words to the wise, that “culture eats strategy”…
That is, without close attention to cultural issues, the danger of having a failed implementation of strategy is a predictably high risk.
Culture is a set of accepted values. The most basic thing about culture is that it is strong because it is continually defended and rehearsed. Consequently, unless it is weakened by obsolescence, it is always both setting expectations and confirming them.
As an explicitly defensible environmental characteristic, culture is represented by policy. Thus, if a strategy arrives that challenges culture, policy is the primary counterforce, and strategy requires policy to adapt.
Unfortunately, changing policy can threaten to interrupt or undermine established management.
And without stable management, a strategy cannot be operated.
The ability to re-organize for a newly stable management (i.e., management agility) therefore becomes a prerequisite of adapting policy.
Policy adaptations are then able to provide a hospitable circumstance for strategy.
To align the above, key players in strategy, policy and management must agree with each other on overall intent.
The model of IntentIntent is the central and most singular evidence that an organization is not just an arrangement but is a firm.
All other key characteristics (forms, behaviors, effects) pertain to intent.
control
planguide
management
strategy
policy
intent
knowledge resource
authority
leaders & partners
(Capability) (Opportunity)
(Execution)
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
Expressions and Tools of IntentGuide, Plan, Control
Strategy, Management, Policy
control
planguide
management
strategy
policy
intent
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
Success factorsCapability, Opportunity, Execution
as dimensions and measures of Intent
intent
(Capability) (Opportunity)
(Execution)
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
control
planguide
management
strategy
policy
intent
(Capability) (Opportunity)
(Execution)
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
Responsible roles & affected partiesRoles: Leaders, Directors, Experts
Parties: Partners, Owners, Culture
management
strategy
policy
intent
leaders & partners
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
control
planguide
management
strategy
policy
intent
leaders & partners
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
Primary influencesKnowledge, Resource, Authority
Identified, and applied or denied, by responsible parties
“Firms represent a division of labor and production costs…. although the external environment of a firm is uncontrollable, the entrepreneur's internal allocation of production is preferable.” – ask.com
intent
knowledge resource
authority
leaders & partners
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
control
planguide
intent
knowledge resource
authority
leaders & partners
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
Equilibrium over TimeContinual rebalancing and realignment of Guidance, Plans and Controls
to evolve the organization versus prior relevance, investment and standards
Changing guidance vs. standard control
Distributed controlvs. invested plan
Limited planvs. relevant guidance
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra Research
Inspired by Koyaanisqatsi
See also Archestra notebooks on Governance.
©2015 Malcolm Ryder / Archestra [email protected]