Balanced Scorecards for Associations

Associations throughout the world have been using the Balanced Scorecard to drive breakthrough performance results and to measurably execute strategy. This whitepaper details how the Balanced Scorecard can be used with associations to help increase member value, align member organizations, and create alliances.

Balanced Scorecards for Foundations

The Balanced Scorecard was developed by Drs. Robert Kaplan and David Norton in 1992 to address a simple need: a more complete and balanced view of organizational performance. This whitepaper discusses how foundations and other funders can use the Balanced Scorecard to advance their missions.

Becoming a Strategy-Focused Organization

The Balanced Scorecard defines the critical objectives, measures, and initiatives that describe an organization’s strategy. The power of the Balanced Scorecard, however, comes in its use, not its development. The Strategy-Focused Organization is a framework for using the Balanced Scorecard to drive breakthrough results.

ClearPoint Case Profile: Durham, NC

Its first-ever strategic plan, along with its emphasis on data-driven decision-making, has advanced the city of Durham, North Carolina, toward its goal of transparent, civic-minded government. Durham’s fervent attention to performance measurement and monitoring has helped the city align its spending and activities with strategic priorities--and partner in unprecedented ways with the county.

ClearPoint Case Profile: Fort Lauderdale, FL

To activate its ambitious, community-driven vision plan, the City of Fort Lauderdale embarked on a sweeping new program of strategy management. In the process, the city embraced performance measurement with equal parts discipline, dedication, and passion.

Example Strategy Map Templates for a Professional Society, Association, or Union

This whitepaper includes templates and example Balanced Scorecard Strategy Maps that have been used by Associations, Unions, and Professional Societies to clearly communicate their strategic plan. A good strategy map should identify key “landmarks” such as financial constraints and customer expectations. Strategy maps can also highlight areas that, if neglected, may hinder mission success. Using strategy maps such as these, a leadership team can clearly and concisely explain how they plan to achieve success.

Example Strategy Map Templates for City or State Government or Support Agency

This whitepaper includes templates and example Balanced Scorecard Strategy Maps that have been used by local, regional, and federal government officials to better communicate with their staff as well as their citizens. The white paper also includes an economic development strategy map, a police department strategy map, and a workforce development strategy map too. A good strategy map should identify key “landmarks” such as financial constraints and customer expectations. Strategy maps can also highlight areas that, if neglected, may hinder mission success. Using strategy maps such as these, a leadership team can clearly and concisely explain how they plan to achieve success.

Example Strategy Map Templates for Nonprofit and Charity Leadership

In a Harvard Business Review article titled, “Having Trouble with Your Strategy? Then Map It,” Drs. Kaplan and Norton say this about strategy maps, “The key to executing your strategy is to have people understand it – including the crucial but perplexing processes by which intangible assets will be converted into tangible outcomes. Strategy maps can help chart this difficult terrain.” This white paper is a collection of templates and example Balanced Scorecard Strategy maps that have been used by diverse set of nonprofits and charitable organizations.

Example Strategy Maps for Medical and Healthcare Organizations

Strategy maps are first and foremost a communication tool, so they should never be overly complicated or perplexing. While this white paper is not an exhaustive study, it does include a few strategy map best practices as well as a number of useful examples and templates that have been used in the medical and healthcare sector.

Strategy Maps for a Public, Charter, or Religious School, a University, or a Library

Building a strategy map is a team effort that requires real time and discussion, especially at the highest levels of leadership. Each of the strategy maps included in this whitepaper illustrates a strategic plan that has been developed to help a educational system or school district successfully navigate a particular time and situation. Certain maps may have elements that resonate with your team; however, it is recommended that a leadership team only adopt a strategy map after thorough discussion of the situation and selection of the few critical pieces that will contribute to mission success. Whether your strategic plan is for a university, or public, private, charter, or religious school, or even the library, this white paper includes plenty of examples to compare and contrast.

The Balanced Scorecard: A Strategic Chart of Accounts

The Balanced Scorecard is the “strategic chart of accounts” for organizations that focus on strategy. It captures both the financial and the non-financial elements of an organization’s strategy, and discusses the cause and effect relationships that drive business results. This whitepaper shows how the Balanced Scorecard can be used at nonprofit organizations.

The Mission Driven Strategy Map

The cornerstone to an effective Balanced Scorecard, or any strategic measurement system, is to identify strategic priorities and clarify the cause and effect linkages among them. Too many organizations become bogged down with a serial list of goals without an understanding of their relationship to one another, making it impossible to anticipate the downstream effect of performance trends.