Step 1 of 6 16% 5 Keys AssessmentThe best management teams are always re-evaluating their strategy, value proposition and positioning — and they are translating their plans into action. The 5 Keys Assessment benchmarks your firm against the practices of best-in-class companies and provides your management team with an honest (and actionable) evaluation of your company’s strategic readiness. This tool identifies your organization’s strengths and areas for potential improvement in strategy formation and execution. Name* First Last Email* Company Name* Your Job Title* Number of Employees*Number of Employees0-4950-99100-250250-500Over 500IndustryIndustryConstructionConsumer Goods, Food and RetailEnergyFinancial ServicesGovernment and EducationHealth CareManufacturing and DistributionProfessional ServicesTechnology and EngineeringNonprofitOtherOther Industry HiddenGroup Create Alignment95% of workers do not understand their employer's business strategy. The CEO's most important role is to develop and share a vision for the future, and then build the team and infrastructure to support the growth plan. 1 Our management team is unified behind a common vision.*Members of your strategy team have a common understanding of who you would like to become as an organization. This may include a published vision statement.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe have clarity about how we will achieve our vision and growth plan.*Members of your strategy team agree on your desired growth rate and from what markets, channels or products future growth will come. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe have a dynamic strategic plan that adapts to changes in our environment.*A strategic plan that is regularly reviewed and adapted based on changes in market conditions such as consolidation or new entrants.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur management team could recite our top goals and objectives as a company.*Your management team has agreed on three or four strategic priorities such as expanding into a new market or integrating an ERP. Such objectives are prioritized and communicated. Post your mission and values in public view.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur management team has confidence in our financial strength and ability to invest in our future growth.*You have financial projections that anticipate scenarios which could impact financial performance in the future. Our projections support the investments in people, technology and infrastructure.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly Agree Win Consistently86% of management teams spend less than one hour per month discussing strategy. At the core of strategy is minimizing risk while amplifying opportunities. Many companies struggle to find relevant market data and the right tools to assess it. 2 We have developed a market analysis to support our strategic assumptions.*Your team has conducted market research that spells out the size and growth rate of key market sectors, and evaluated the strength of the competition in those markets. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur business segments and customers are diverse.*Your company is not reliant on only a handful of profitable customers.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur messaging shapes a brand perceived as different from others in our market.*Customers could point out distinct features or benefits of your product or service that are vastly different from your competitors. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur sales team has a system for tracking leads and pipeline value to the extent that they know the likely sales volume in the future.*Your team has conducted market research that spells out the size, and growth rate of key market sectors, and evaluated the strength of the competition in those markets. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe have clear target markets and have aligned our sales and marketing efforts to reach the ideal customers.*Sales and marketing have identified specific market niches, and have deployed resources in a concentrated manner to the markets where we think we can win. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly Agree Scale Intelligently20% of organizations focus on execution deliverables on a monthly basis. Even if a company identifies the ideal growth strategy, it must also support that with the optimum people, processes and technology. 3 We have integrated systems that enable productivity.*Our computer systems are connected in such a way that information flows seamlessly, minimizing the need for manual imports and exports.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe have access to accurate information that informs our decision making.*Our data lives in computer systems where we can easily access the information we need to complete work efficiently. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe have written policies and procedures followed in such a way as to ensure consistency and quality.*Our work instructions are written and act as a reference for training and completion of work tasks with a high degree of accuracy. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur business model leads our industry in the use of technology and/or other tools that provide the best customer experience.*We have systems that promote efficiency, speed and seamless customer experiences. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe manage our initiatives well and see them through to their successful conclusion.*We have a set of initiatives with assigned project managers who track milestones and dates, and ensure that projects are completed on time and to specifications.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly Agree Build Culture & Secure Talent92% of people would consider changing jobs if offered a role with a company with an excellent corporate reputation. Today, best-in-class employers have a significant competitive advantage. 4 Our company is considered an employer of choice.*Our employees rate us as the premier workplace destination in our industry. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe are competitive at attracting the best talent.*Our company is known through our industry as a great place to work. Talent flocks to us. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe have formal methods for receiving feedback from employees.*We utilize employee engagement surveys or other methods where employees have an opportunity for their voices to be heard. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe set our employees up for success through our onboarding and training programs.*We have formal on-the-job training checklists for every department, ensuring that new employees hit the ground running. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe are developing leaders in our organization.*We have developed a list of emerging leaders and created programs that position them to pursue career advancement. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly Agree Measure for Success92% of companies do not track key performance indicators. Well-run companies are able to track a series of indicators that serve as the pulse of the business. 5 Our management team regularly reviews a set of corporate-level key performance indicators (KPIs) or objectives & key results (OKRs).*The management team has access to a dashboard with numbers that report on the pulse of the business. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe share key performance indicators that drive behaviors of our mid-management.*The management team has access to a dashboard with numbers that report on the pulse of the business. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe hold people accountable to specific goals and objectives.*When our employees fall short of expectations, we take action to improve their performance. We encourage poor performers to leave.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeWe are disciplined about providing employees with regular feedback on their performance.*Our managers provide regular feedback in the form of one-to-one meetings or other formal feedback methods. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly AgreeOur compensation is tied to achievement against our corporate objectives (and not just profit).*Our incentive plans align bonuses to specific, measurable outcomes beyond EBITDA. Strongly DisagreeDisagreeSomewhat DisagreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeStrongly Agree
