GUIDE

We often fall because, not knowing how to walk, but not knowing which way to choose-- Unknown

Policies are a mechanism for guiding strategy execution. They are like the guardrails on a highway that protect vehicles from hitting roadside obstacles or oncoming traffic. Policies are directional in nature and are usually selected from a list of possible options.

A policy is

a set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party - Cambridge dictionary

According to Richard Rumelt:

A guiding policy is an overall approach chosen to cope with or overcome the obstacles identified in the diagnosis. Like the guardrails on a highway, the guiding policy directs and constrains action in certain directions without defining exactly what shall be done.

Objectives

1. Provide guardrails for strategy execution

2. Clarity on what needs to be done

3. Consistency in organizational processes

4. Keep everyone on the same page

Approach

1. Define policy statement based on decision made in the Decide Phase

2. Initiative Enterprise Architecture Planning

Actors

1. Facilitator

2. Subject Matter Expert(s)

Output

1. Policy guidelines

Activities

Document policy guidelines

Policies guidelines are document using a template which provides information about

• Application of the policy

• Purpose

• Background

• Guidelines

• Definitions

• Relevant guidelines or documents

• Owner of the policy

• Custodian of the policy

• Date approved

Document a summary Guiding Policy

A summary of the guiding policies should be documented which provide a brief statement about the policies relevant to the strategy.

Workflow: Manage Guiding Policies

Initiative Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise architecture (EA) is a discipline to provide guidance on technology. An enterprise architecture for this strategy should be documented.