DED automates strategy management to strengthen organisational performance

With the new automated strategy management system, DED and its agencies can implement and improve on the best practices in strategy management - ensure the visibility of strategic goals, measures, performance results to all staff; offer tailored corporate performance reports to different levels of management; improve alignment between the organisation's strategic goals and operations, as well as human capital and IT applications; and streamline project management practices.

"As a dynamic government department facilitating growth in critical business sectors, DED has to build, manage and implement comprehensive economic development strategies. The new strategy management software enables DED Group to better demonstrate alignment to the Dubai Strategic Plan, conduct more detailed performance analysis, and strengthen the organisation's focus on improving core processes and services to the business community," commented His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General, DED.

The strategy management system of DED and its agencies is based on the balanced scorecards framework, which is a comprehensive strategy management philosophy, a framework for describing the strategy, as well as an integrated process for strategy development, execution and alignment. Balanced scorecards were first introduced to DED in late 2008, and till date all performance data and reports have been collected and stored in Excel models and Power Point presentations that had limited features and lack of dashboards for displaying organizational performance.

Frontline firms, including multinationals in varied industry sectors as well as government and non-government agencies driving change across countries and regions, have implemented the new system to boost employee morale and achieve targets faster. Energy giants GDF Suez and Andritz Group, Tata Steel, Thailand Post, Care International, Sultan Qaboos University, Norwegian Tax Authority, Network International, and IKEA (South East Europe) are among organisations that have automated their strategy management.

The balanced scorecard strategy management framework is used extensively by businesses and governments worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organisation, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organisational performance against strategic goals. It also enables managers and executives to translate the organisation's strategic plan into action on a daily basis.