Deploying Goals and Measuring Efficiency in an Academic Organisation. A Pilot Study

In many organizations it is considered of vital importance to translate its vision and strategy into objectives, to determine the best means of achieving these and to review the results – with participation from all members, from management to shop floor. The objective of this study was to make a first test of a method that could be applied for verbalizing and communicating a common vision and identify critical objectives concentrating on nonfinancial measures in an academic research organization. Being a rather heterogeneous multidisciplinary centre the focus was on critical issues, which could promote organizational alignment. Three different systems that could be applicable were identified: Balanced Scorecard, hoshin kanri and ProMES. A design team was formed to formulate objectives and measurements. They found that it was a far from easy task to identify relevant objectives for the organization and especially to establish their different importance. The discussions led to a more common view and agreement about issues that had to be given more attention.