Too many businesses take a blinders-on approach to data-driven decision-making, concentrating solely on a few key metrics without regard to total costs of ownership or big-picture growth. Developing a target operating model lets businesses view a high-level representation of the organization and process flow, ensuring a common understanding that promotes communication, better use of resources and increased profits. Understanding what is going on with your business right now – and where you want to be in the future – is the first step to creating a road map for success.
However, developing a complete target operating model can be tedious and complex. Luckily, having access to the right tools lets teams work together for comprehensive, helpful analysis. Three important tools for developing a target operating model can be found in Strategic Quadrant.
Access to a prioritization matrix helps teams convert what might seem like overwhelming raw data into a useful format. Whether teams are conducting SWOT analysis or using a SIPOC to understand process flow and opportunities for improvement, prioritization matrices help users divide and conquer the information.
Strategic Quadrant also lets teams upload their own logos to documents created or export information to Excel, making it easy to formalize brainstorming into presentations, training documents or records. Professional, streamlined presentations make it easier to communicate the target operating model to others or convince decision-makers about a project or change. The priority matrix template provides users with a foundation to support brainstorming and project planning.
A target operating model requires a full understanding of the business’s position, including capabilities. Business capability modeling lets teams ask “what if” and visualize potential outcomes of those scenarios. Starting with a business model template lets business architects paint a picture for others on the team or create a visual depiction of the ideas and visions the team is communicating.
Strategic Quadrant includes modeling to support business architects and process designers, letting them illustrate current and desired-state operations.
Pro and Enterprise plans come with unlimited modeling for ample trial-and-error brainstorming. They also include the ability to clone models. Working from a copied model lets you quickly document and visualize the impact of small changes, letting architects tweak processes for theoretical testing and ensure future changes won’t impact the target operating model in a negative manner.
Heat maps are user-friendly, intuitive ways to display complex data. Strategic Quadrant includes heat map options, letting project managers or statistical analysts present information to the rest of the team in a way that is easily digestible. Heat maps generated during planning or documentation processes can also be exported and used in marketing presentations, businesses plans or staff training, increase ROI from planning sessions by integrating information and lessons learned across the organization.
It’s no longer enough for businesses to identify key metrics and keep them in line. Preparing for the future means creating a target operating model and understanding the big picture for your company. Proven tools, such as heat maps and priority matrices – all wrapped in an affordable, user-friendly tool – can help you do that.
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