Set Targets And Initiatives

Set Targets and Initiatives

When to use

For strategy office or program leads completing the classic BSC four-column structure: Objective, Measure, Target, Initiative. The Initiative column is where most scorecards fail — this skill checks both directions (objective without initiative, initiative without objective).

What this skill does not do

• Does not select measures — requires select-measures output.
• Does not build or revise the strategy map — reads objectives from build-strategy-map.
• Does not invent baselines — unknown current values → route to measurement first.
• Does not duplicate transformation roadmaps — references transformation items when installed.

Preconditions

Provisional mode

When current values unknown or initiative portfolio incomplete:

• Set targets only where baseline exists; others flagged BASELINE NEEDED.
• Flag objectives with targets but no initiative as NONE — no engine behind this target.
• Reverse check runs only when user provides initiative portfolio.

Trust spine

• Confidence bands (structured-aggregation):
  • High: Every measure has current→target where baseline known; every objective has ≥1 named initiative or explicit NONE flag; reverse check complete if portfolio provided.
  • Medium: Some baselines missing; initiative names generic but flagged.
  • Low: Scaffold only — measures missing or majority targets invented without data.
• Tag vocabulary: [verify], [review], BASELINE NEEDED, NONE — flagged.
• Failure modes:
  • Strategic advice vs. support: Surfaces unmapped initiatives and overload flags; strategist decides descoping — does not cancel programs unilaterally.
  • Client confidentiality: Targets and initiative names may be sensitive — CONFIDENTIAL header when appropriate.
  • Accountability gap: NONE flags and reverse-check unmapped list prevent wishes-with-numbers passing as strategy.
  • Analytical Rigor: N/A — linkage completeness, not MECE analysis.
  • Incentive Gaming: N/A — no status scoring here.
• Escalation triggers:
  • Objective with target, no initiative → explicit NONE flag; do not silently omit Initiative column.
  • Initiative with no mapped objective → list in REVERSE CHECK for descoping consideration.
  • Many initiatives on one objective → INITIATIVE OVERLOAD flag; suggest split objective or merge initiatives.
  • Generic initiative text ("improve CX") → flag insufficient specificity.

Workflow

1. Read the practice profile for scoring/status convention.

2. Set current value and target for each measure from select-measures. Unknown current → BASELINE NEEDED, route to measurement.

3. For every objective, require at least one named strategic initiative — specific enough to tell whether it's happening. Target but no initiative → flag NONE — no engine behind this target.

4. Reverse check (if initiative portfolio provided): every initiative maps to a strategic objective? Unmapped → list for descoping.

5. Flag initiative overload per objective — broad objective or redundant initiatives; name which.

6. Cross-check transformation roadmap if installed — reference existing roadmap items; don't duplicate definitions.

7. Completeness check: no invented baselines; every NONE and unmapped item explicit in output.

Output format

OBJECTIVE: [text]
  Measure: [name] — Current: [value | BASELINE NEEDED] → Target: [value]
  Initiative(s): [name(s)] or [NONE — flagged: no engine behind this target]

[repeat per objective]

REVERSE CHECK (if initiative portfolio provided):
  Unmapped initiatives (no strategic objective traced): [...]

INITIATIVE OVERLOAD FLAGS: [objectives with many initiatives — broad objective or
  redundant initiatives, specify which]

Worked example

Input: Customer objective "Improve onboarding NPS." Measure: Onboarding NPS, current unknown, target 50. User names initiative "Redesign onboarding flow (Q2)."

Expected output (excerpt):

OBJECTIVE: Improve onboarding NPS
  Measure: Onboarding NPS — Current: BASELINE NEEDED → Target: 50
  Initiative(s): Redesign onboarding flow (Q2)

INITIATIVE OVERLOAD FLAGS: none

Input variant: Same objective, target 50, no initiative named.

  Initiative(s): NONE — flagged: no engine behind this target

Quality checks before delivering

• Every measure has current→target or BASELINE NEEDED
• Every objective has initiative(s) or explicit NONE flag
• Reverse check run when portfolio provided
• Overload flags applied
• Transformation references used instead of duplicate definitions
• No invented baseline values

Propose profile update

When a stable convention surfaces during this run (thresholds, naming, tone, output format, or recurring corrections), propose a profile update: show the exact diff against ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-strategy/balanced-scorecard/CLAUDE.md (org-wide facts go to org-profile.md), ask for confirmation, and write only on yes. Only /balanced-scorecard:practice-setup auto-applies a full profile write.

Outputs

Follows plugin CLAUDE.md § Outputs. Natural next branches: measurement/baseline capture, /balanced-scorecard:review-and-validate at period end, or descoping unmapped initiatives.