Strategy map

What is a strategy map?

Your business undoubtedly has an idea of what its ultimate goal is. A strategy map takes a look at how different angles of the business support that goal. It’s part of the balanced scorecard methodology and is a strategic planning tool used to show cause-and-effect relationships.

There are four viewpoints examined in a strategy map: financial, customer, internal, and learning and growth. A strategy map is not detailed, but rather paints the objectives of the organization in broad strokes.

Benefits of using a strategy map template

If a strategy map isn’t detailed, what is it good for? Put simply: looking at the big picture. This helps businesses in a few ways:

• Aligning teams: Often, goals throughout the organization remain unstated. Consequently, many employees struggle to see how they contribute to the organization’s overall strategy. By explicitly stating the goals of different stakeholders, teams, and processes, you can identify ways to accomplish those goals, get everyone on the same page, and pinpoint holes in strategy.
• Communication: The strategy map acts as a north star for actions taken in the organization. By visualizing your strategy, it’s much easier to quickly communicate the cause-and-effect relationships between the objectives. This is helpful when you require stakeholder buy-in for a project or direction and need to support how it fits into the overall strategy.
• Motivation: When teams understand their role in the business strategy, they’re much more invested in succeeding. The strategy map helps them understand how crucial they are to the success of the business.

When using an online strategy map template, such as in Lucidspark, it’s incredibly easy to share your strategy map, collaborate asynchronously, and achieve buy-in, no matter if you're working in-person or remotely.

How to use the strategy map template in Lucidspark

1. Determine your objectives. Starting with your financial goals, use sticky notes to determine objectives and use Lines to show the interrelationships of those objectives. Continue this exercise by looking at the internal perspective of your business, the growth and learning perspective, and the customer perspective.
2. Show your organizational goals. Each of your stickies should support larger organizational goals. Place these goals within the template, and make sure you’re taking the right steps to achieve them efficiently.
3. Collaborate. Gather feedback from teams across your organization in real time with Lucidspark’s Zoom integration—or, work asynchronously using comments or emoji reactions. The template can be easily shared to gather input from everyone. Use this template as a foundational document that is referred to often.