Why organizations are failing faster than ever: Agile OGSM – The missing system

Article is written for organisation managers

Without a change management system your organization is likely to struggle to keep up with competition or customer desires.

We are not just talking about projects to improve this or that, but truly identifying where your organization needs to go to continue to deliver customer value. Digitalization, AI, IOT (Internet of Things), ageing population, new media channels, the list goes on and is always evolving.

Good Management is a skill that can be taught

Most management started in operations and got promoted to their current level without sufficient training in strategic change. Without choosing the right framework (a structured approach), cadence (the right system) and right tooling, many managers are left in the 1980s managing a portfolio of projects in Excel lists and presenting year plans in PowerPoint slide decks that bore staff almost to death as the majority of staff don’t see any link to their daily work.

Continuous improvement with Agile OGSM

If this sounds like your organization, then Agile OGSM might be for you.  It uses a modernized version of the OGSM framework, combined with software development Agile system, redesigned for business. It borrows from the hugely successful change management system used in almost all IT companies these days.  Terms like “sprints”, “Epics”, “User stories” and in particular “Customer value” are at the heart of many of our most valuable companies on our planet.  The beauty is that if you combine agile working with a strategic framework like OGSM, you assure that all the agile activities contribute to achieving your long term goals. I once heard a C-level director say ‘I am not supposed to monitor our agile self steering teams, but I fear we might end up where I don’t want to be’. 

Implementing this way of working combined with OGSM, a strategic popular change management framework , can turn your organization back into a leading, long term sustainable power house.

How to succeed with Agile OGSM

Warning! It does require some training, coaching and mentoring to deliver a changed culture.
To kickstart this process, consider establishing weekly delivery goals. These goals serve as a tangible way for staff to demonstrate the impact of their work on the metrics you aim to improve. Remember, simplicity is key—overcomplicating matters can deter first-time participants and diminish the likelihood of success.

Also don’t be fooled by consultants who try to sell standard OGSM, OKR, Balanced Scorecard, X-matrix etc. a framework is better than none, but times have changed, and without a long term plan to change your culture, you will likely struggle to create purpose alignment and motivation that your teams desire.

• Basic steps to start with Agile OGSM:
  • Engage with your customers and teams about where your organization needs to be to offer true value.
  • Allocate staff time to work on change management, beyond their current operational work.
  • Ensure meetings and projects have clear deliverables that document the long term impact they are designed to contribute to.
  • Create a support and continuous learning culture.
  • Goals are good, but it’s not about making the number, it’s about delivering great customer value, that’s what you need to be evaluating more than chasing a number.
  • Use a fit for purpose digital tool to manage change and impact, not a project management tool or excel sheet.
  • Embrace the change instead of waiting for it to crush you.

Now is the time for a professional approach. Contact our change experts to turn your organization into a sustainable power house.

We have been helping organizations for years now, so I was interested in finding out just how knowledgeable our current AI is about our changing world and the systems needed to deal with the changes. Below is the question and answer one of the leading AI tools provided.. As you can see, the change management system is not currently on the AI knowledge radar.

Appendix: ChatGPT answer to existing management systems.

Question: “list management systems an organisation need?”

ChatGPT Answer: “Organizations typically require various management systems to effectively manage different aspects of their operations. Here are some key management systems commonly used in organizations:

• ChatGPT Answer:“Organizations typically require various management systems to effectively manage different aspects of their operations. Here are some key management systems commonly used in organizations:
  1. Human Resource Management System (HRMS): Manages employee data, payroll, benefits administration, recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and other HR-related processes.
  2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System: Helps manage interactions with current and potential customers, tracks sales, organizes marketing campaigns, and provides insights for customer service improvement.
  3. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System: Integrates core business processes such as finance, supply chain, manufacturing, inventory, and procurement into a single system to streamline operations and facilitate data flow across departments.
  4. Project Management System: Facilitates planning, execution, tracking, and collaboration on projects, including task assignment, scheduling, resource allocation, and progress monitoring.
  5. Quality Management System (QMS): Establishes processes and procedures to ensure products or services meet quality standards and customer requirements, often including documentation, auditing, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  6. Information Security Management System (ISMS): Ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational information assets through risk assessment, security policies, access controls, incident response, and compliance with relevant regulations.
  7. Knowledge Management System (KMS): Helps capture, store, organize, and share knowledge and expertise within the organization, improving collaboration, decision-making, and innovation.
  8. Financial Management System: Manages financial transactions, budgeting, accounting, reporting, and financial analysis to support informed decision-making and regulatory compliance.
  9. Supply Chain Management (SCM) System: Coordinates the flow of goods, services, and information from suppliers to customers, optimizing procurement, production, inventory management, logistics, and distribution processes.
  10. Environmental Management System (EMS): Addresses environmental impact and sustainability issues through policies, procedures, monitoring, and reporting to minimize adverse effects and comply with environmental regulations.
  11. Risk Management System: Identifies, assesses, mitigates, and monitors risks that could affect the organization’s objectives, encompassing financial, operational, strategic, compliance, and reputational risks.
  12. Compliance Management System: Ensures adherence to laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies through compliance monitoring, training, reporting, and corrective actions.

Implementing and integrating these management systems can help organizations enhance efficiency, effectiveness, compliance, and competitiveness in their respective industries.