Implementation Strategies

For a scorecard system, communication should start before implementation begins and continue through the project and beyond. When properly implemented, a scorecard system surpasses a performance evaluation system to become a holistic methodology for aligning an organization around its strategy. This alignment of strategic initiatives and operational goals may result in breaking down old functional silos and create a new strategy orientation for the organization. Communication is instrumental in facilitating this change in behavior. This communication needs to be done well and must be done frequently, but it starts with conveying the need for the scorecard initiative. Scorecards are commonly used for reporting for strategic business units, operating units, and at the departmental level. Less common is reporting at an individual level. The implementation level is important because the benefits gleaned from the scorecard correlate with how pervasive it is in the business. The SUNY, Hyperion, and Pepperdine scorecard study results show that the greatest relative benefits from implementing a scorecard system are achieved when the system is implemented at least down to the operating unit level.