Strategy execution: five drivers of performance

Abstract

Purpose

What are the strategies of managers to implement their strategy? What are the strategies to execute organizational objectives? The purpose of this paper is to approach what the authors call the drivers of performance that is the driving forces which impact the performance of a manager in executing his/her objectives. What are the strategies, which you as a manager have to have in order to execute your objectives and to obtain better results with your respective department? The authors discuss the five drivers of performance, that of rules, emotions, initiatives, immediate action and integrity. The research findings are presented with a discussion on the usefulness of the drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was administered to a population of 484, with a study sample of 180 managers to better understand the underlying drivers of performance in strategy execution. The authors used primarily components analysis to examine the relationship between drivers of performance identified in previous research.

Findings

The study found four drivers the performance and management practices of managers. The following driver were found; driver of emotions, (getting a commitment for your objectives), the dimension of taking initiatives (translating the objectives into concrete projects/empowerment), the driver of rules (clarifying and aligning the objectives) and driver of immediate action (taking valued added action and facing emergencies in the execution).

Research limitations/implications

The paper found that the fundamental of strategic management such as management leadership in performance and strategy execution could be organized according to four drivers. Additional work will be necessary to generalize the findings to other type of management programs which are related to performance effectiveness.

Originality/value

The study sought to contribute a new management direction by identifying four drivers gathering the strategic platforms that managers could employ to organize their performance and strategy execution.

Citation

Sabourin, V. (2015), "Strategy execution: five drivers of performance", Journal of Strategy and Management, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 127-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-06-2014-0048