Policy Deployment- Key to Execution- Practical Leadership Tips

Drew Locher recently wrote an article describing how Policy Deployment is the key to execution. Drew should know all about execution, having worked directly for Jack Welch at GE.

Drew describes the process of Policy Deployment as containing six elements:

1.     Establish Common Direction – set by senior management

2.     Identify Gaps in current performance (typically 3 to 6 issues)

3.     Develop Strategic Initiatives to address the gaps

4.     Develop implementation plans for each initiative

5.     Develop means to assess effectiveness of each initiative (and close the gap)

6.     Summarize the above information into an A3 communication document & present to the entire company.

Beyond developing the plan, the main task of the leadership is to monitor progress toward the goals. This means managers will have to leave their offices and actually go to the areas where the work is done.

Using the information they gain from monitoring, they need to periodically update the communication plan A3 and continue to focus on the 3 to 6 strategic issues.

Doesn’t all this make sense? The concepts are simple, like most everything else in lean, but application is hard.

How are you ensuring execution?

david

You can find Drew's article at Change Management Associates.