Strategic DNA® is a 12-step modular approach that drives an organization’s strategy throughout its decisions and actions so they develop a strategic ‘family resemblance’.

The method was developed to address common root causes of failed strategies – the lack of clarity, alignment and focus – and to turbo-charge success. It integrates popular management methods with everyday business practices to ensure decisions are framed by a shared vision and actions work together effectively within an overall master plan. Each of the 12 modules represents a management process that can stand-alone to tackle specific weaknesses or work together to boost engagement, increase alignment, improve planning, intensify execution and enhance learning throughout the strategic cycle.

In larger organizations Strategic DNA’s clarity, alignment and focus-building approach brings the strategy to life for corporate family relatives without compromising their individuality and without resorting to draconian centralized control.
The complete methodology is described in Lawrence Hobbs’ book “Strategic DNA; Bringing Business Strategy to Life”, from Agate B2 Publishing.

Method Overview
The corporate ambition – the vision and strategy – is first clearly described in a ‘genome’ of critical goals and objectives, their relationships, and the achievement targets that give them form. That genome is then proactively used to frame all significant discussions, virulently permeating its way into the details that achieve the vision. The first element of the premise, ‘objectives, relationships and targets’, may be familiar to those who have adopted Strategy Maps and performance management systems like the Balanced Scorecard. It is the proactive, determined extension of this genome to integrate decisions and actions that makes it Strategic DNA.

The Strategic DNA method designs the vision and strategy and uses it to build alignment, prioritize projects and resources, mobilize workers, and effectively follow through on action plans. It does more than simply combine visioning and balanced performance management. It integrates the communication-centered practices – for effective organizational change management, portfolio management, competent project management, and strategy driven budgeting – that drive vision into results.

The 12 steps lay out a continuous improvement life-cycle that can be scaled to suit businesses large or small. The life-cycle captures a clear and steadily deepening definition of the vision and strategy in the form of a concise roadmap, text narrative, measurable achievement targets, project portfolio, deliverables, schedules, accountabilities, resources, budgets, and other components. These integrated tools enhance management team effectiveness, increasing the organization’s focus on strategic outcomes while pushing down empowerment and accountability. They also provide a ‘line-of-sight’, letting individual contributors see how what they do is part of a bigger strategic picture and helping concentrate thinly-spread resources where they can do the most good.