Align Vision & Metrics for Effective Change Management

In any successful project or change management process, aligning your vision and success metrics is critical. This alignment serves as your North Star, guiding all decisions and ensuring the project stays on track. But how do you go about setting that vision and identifying the success metrics that will determine whether your project is a hit or miss? Here's a practical approach to help you align these critical components effectively, based on Wonder Services’ proven methodology.

Defining Vision and Success Metrics: The Foundation of Success

The earlier you define your vision and success metrics, the better. These elements will act as the guiding principles throughout the entire project lifecycle, helping you navigate design questions, scope changes, and potential misalignments. Your vision should answer why the project is happening, while your success metrics will tell you how you'll measure that success.

Step 1: Gather Key Stakeholders
Start by gathering a small but diverse group of stakeholders—usually 10-15 people. This group should include individuals who have a forward-thinking perspective on the project. In a procurement-related project, for example, you might include members from accounts payable, strategic sourcing, and vendor management, among others. It’s essential to have people who can envision the future of the project, not just those who are focused on today’s challenges.

Step 2: Individual Brainstorming
Begin by brainstorming the problems your project aims to solve. Give each participant time to write down their ideas on post-it notes, either physically or digitally. Once complete, group these problems into themes, allowing the team to prioritize and identify the most critical challenges.

Step 3: Craft a Problem Statement
The next step is to craft a clear and concise problem statement. Keep it short and memorable—something that resonates with the team and can be easily recalled. Avoid long, jargon-filled sentences. This problem statement will lay the foundation for your vision.

Creating a Vision Statement: Your North Star

Once the problem statement is defined, shift your focus to creating a vision statement. This should be a forward-looking solution to the problem. Repeat the individual brainstorming process, gathering ideas on how to fix the identified problem across multiple areas—such as technology, people, and organizational change. Prioritize these solutions, and then refine them into a concise vision statement.

Example Vision Statements:

• “Make purchasing easy.”
• “100% touchless invoicing.”
• “Build a new house for procurement.”

Success Metrics: Measuring Your Vision

Once your vision is clear, it’s time to establish success metrics. These should be specific, measurable goals that will indicate whether your project has achieved its objectives. Limit your success metrics to 2-4 key indicators to avoid overcomplication. These top metrics should reflect the overall success of the project and align with your vision.

Example Success Metrics:

• Achieve 80% first-time match on invoices.
• Attain 100% electronic invoicing.
• Reach A-grade customer status with suppliers.

Watchouts: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Here are some key things to watch out for during this process:

1. Avoid Run-On Sentences: Keep your problem and vision statements short and impactful. Long, complex sentences will dilute your message.
2. Focus on Stakeholders: Ensure that your vision resonates with the people impacted by the change, not just the team implementing it.
3. Limit Your Metrics: Don’t overwhelm your team with too many success metrics. Focus on a few that will drive the most impact.