The Strategy Gap
Improvement teams often play a big role in helping the wider organisation define and deliver its strategy. Whether it's facilitating strategy workshops, building frameworks, or tracking KPIs, CI professionals are usually right in the thick of it.
But here’s the question:
Do you have a strategy for your improvement team itself?
Too often, the answer is no.
What Does an Improvement Strategy Look Like?
A clear strategy for your CI function means having a well-defined vision of where you want to go, how you plan to get there, and what success looks like. It involves:
- Long-term direction – Where do you want your improvement team to be in 1, 2, or 3 years?
- Tangible goals – What specific objectives will help you get there?
- Tracking mechanisms – How will you measure progress and stay accountable?
- Capability planning – What skills, tools, or processes will you need to develop along the way?
Without this clarity, it’s easy to become reactive—chasing improvement initiatives without a sense of how they ladder up to a bigger purpose.
Why It Matters
A defined strategy gives your team focus, purpose, and structure. It aligns your improvement efforts with the broader business direction. It also helps you stay relevant—because you're not just supporting someone else’s goals; you're owning your own.
This is exactly what our maturity assessment measures: whether your team has a real, working strategy that guides day-to-day activity and long-term development.
What’s Next?
In the next post, I’ll explore another often-overlooked area of improvement team maturity: the Value Proposition. It’s about clearly articulating what your team offers and why it matters—both internally and externally.
Ready to see how your improvement team stacks up?
To receive a copy of the Improvement Team Maturity Assessment and start benchmarking your team against best-in-class practices simply get in touch today.
