Execution

In the business world, it is almost certain that your evaluation will be largely based on results, goals achieved, significant initiatives executed, and how well you make change happen.

The task of executing strategies and major projects in today's business environment is substantial, with increasing levels of complexity and uncertainty, rapid rates of change, and short-term performance versus long-term considerations.

Studies conducted by McKinsey and the Harvard Business School, have shown that the average firm achieves less than 65% of its strategic plan and 90% of these failures are due to a lack of execution. Why? The major reasons include ineffective leadership and under-developed organizational capabilities.

Queen's Execution Program provides you with leadership insights and the tools to recognize and overcome executional barriers.

In this Program you will learn how to:

• Clearly articulate and prioritize your strategy to ensure it has an execution orientation
• Identify common execution barriers that create a drag on progress and wear down resources
• Leverage different organizational levers to overcome execution barriers
• Be introduced to modern tools and techniques companies are using to improve their ability to execute their strategy
• Make difficult trade-offs and manage competing priorities to focus the organization on key priorities and activities
• Create a sustainable execution culture and environment that delivers on today’s short-term demands and embraces change to fit the needs of tomorrow.

Organizational Benefits

• Find innovative ways to build capacity and do more with the resources you have
• Fill execution gaps to make sure the organization can drive change and transform to compete in the digital age
• Explore ways to execute results in the face of increasing compliance and regulatory requirements
• Deliver short-term value while maintaining long-term sustainability
• Create a reward and recognition system that aligns with strategic objectives
• Increase employee engagement and commitment
• Develop a culture with a strong execution orientation

Personal Benefits

• Identify the unique behaviors of an execution leader – do you have what it takes to effectively deliver your organization’s strategy?
• Improve time management and productivity by identifying personal execution barriers
• Learn about the importance of candor and having difficult conversations
• Evaluate your personal assumptions about how organizations 'get things done' and determine if they are holding you back

Program content

The program leverages the educational power of multiple teaching tools, including class discussions, exchange of ideas and perspectives with faculty and fellow participants. Hands-on experiential learning is provided through a goal-setting simulation, opportunity for one-on-one coaching, and application of leading-edge execution tools and techniques. Participants will also have the benefit of using a proprietary assessment tool that quantifies the Cost of Execution (COEx) or 'drag' on execution performance and compares it to other organizations in your industry.

ALIGNING STRATEGY AND EXECUTION: CHANGING THE MINDSET

• Establishing realistic targets that stretch the organization and promote growth
• Best practices (e.g, 4DX, Hoshin Kanri, Balanced Scorecard, Operating Plan) in alignment to prioritize objectives, tactics, and performance metrics on achieving the most important goals
• Modern budget and prioritization approaches that allocate resources to their most productive uses
• Establish a day-to-day rhythm for execution that increases momentum and keeps everyone aligned to deliver on the strategy.
• Exploring the potential risks and benefits of making mid-course corrections

EXECUTION LEADERSHIP

• Expanding organizational involvement in the planning process to create alignment and commitment
• Socializing strategy so everyone in the organization understands their role, how to do it and why it’s important
• Explore cases where organizational leaders needed to make bold moves to ensure long-term survival
• Legitimizing execution performance as essential for strategic success
• Identify the behaviors that make an execution leader unique
• Best practices (e.g., Lean) that improve productivity and remove waste
• Improving ineffective business processes

ORGANIZATIONAL EXECUTION LEVERS

• Learn the different types of organizational execution levers (e.g., structure, agility, technology, leadership etc.) and their benefits in terms of executing the strategy
• Orchestrate balance between execution discipline and agility – how do you choose the right lane for execution?
• Identify your organization’s primary execution barriers and how to detect them
• Leveraging digital technology and analytics to improve collaboration, knowledge-sharing and productivity
• Improve your organization’s ability to lead and manage projects to deliver on goals and objectives
• A simulation that provides hand-on application to highlight the benefits and potential pitfalls of performance indicators

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE EXECUTION CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

• Discuss the role of execution in sustaining long-term performance and improving resilience
• Complete a proprietary assessment (Cost of Execution COEx) to determine the degree to which execution barriers are creating a drag on progress and wearing down resources
• Legitimizing cultural barriers to execution such as silo mentality and organizational politics
• Modern evidence-based approaches to building organizational commitment and engagement
• Designing work spaces that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction