Balanced Scorecard Diagnostics

"Whether you are an existing company already reaping the significant benefits of the Balanced Scorecard as a strategic management, communication, and measurement tool; or are a company evaluating the many advantages of the Balanced Scorecard, this book offers tremendous insight and value."
-Bob Whip President Horizon Fitness

"In this excellent book, Paul Niven captures the most commonly cited issues derailing Balanced Scorecard implementation-the pitfalls, the potential roadblocks, and the showstopping challenges. Through proven tools and techniques for areas like choosing and training the team, securing CEO buy-in, and getting the word out, he addresses the 'practical realities' of organizational change initiatives. If you want your Balanced Scorecard initiative to succeed, read this book!"
-Rob Fuller Director of Entrepreneurial Programs Beyster Institute Rady School of Management

University of California, San Diego

"Paul Niven has developed another easy-to-read guide to the Balanced Scorecard that shares his knowledge and experience. This book will bring benefits to both the uninitiated and the initiated of this systematic measurement and communication tool. A good read that helps practitioners achieve a greater degree of success in achieving corporate goals through measurement of the right variables."
-Paul G. Rodier Director, Consulting Services Management Consulting CGI - NCR

"Experience has demonstrated that building a Balanced Scorecard in a public sector organization can either be a rewarding and productive experience, or a frustrating waste of time. Following the tenets laid down in Niven's latest book is very likely to produce the former and avoid the latter."
-Gerald Barkdoll Founder/Facilitator Balanced Scorecard Interest Group

The Balanced Scorecard system is a robust framework, capable of helping organizations successfully navigate the uncertainties of competition and changing dynamics. However, as many as half of all Balanced Scorecard users aren't achieving the results they hoped for and a significant number of users rate their performance measurement systems as "adequate." Balanced Scorecard expert Paul Niven believes that these organizations aren't reaching the full potential of the Balanced Scorecard due to inadequate methods of implementation. And this book is his remedy.

Balanced Scorecard Diagnostics is a single-source guide to accurately analyzing the effectiveness of an organization's Balanced Scorecard, complete with the latest tools and know-how to implement corrective changes, ensuring your Balanced Scorecard is operating at maximum performance. Throughout this step-by-step guide, self-assessment questions help readers focus company discussions to critically examine their implementation efforts and propel Scorecard initiatives forward.

Balanced Scorecard Diagnostics features real-world case studies and practical tools that help you get started right away. It also:
* Examines the fundamental elements for effectively employing the Balanced Scorecard, including the executive sponsorship critical to implementing a Scorecard initiative
* Offers guidelines for effectively examining your Balanced Scorecard team, training and education regimen, and communication planning
* Provides advice on how to "personalize"your Strategy Map to evoke user acceptance, supplies diagnostics for reviewing the number of objectives on your map, and examines the cause and effect linkages that tell your strategic story
* Features expert coverage on testing your current performance measures by questioning the number of measures comprising your Scorecard and the vital concept of using measure results to learn, as well as helpful guidance on target setting and sources of target information. It also demonstrates how initiatives may be mapped to Scorecard objectives, ensuring your human and financial resources are directed towards the execution of strategy
* Provides cascading principles and tools to gauge the degree of alignment among Scorecards throughout your organization
* Examines the connection between the Balanced Scorecard and budgeting, compensation, and corporate governance and offers proven techniques for effectively forging these linkages
* Outlines various reporting mechanisms, including software and low-tech methods, and investigates how the Balanced Scorecard can be used as a centerpiece of your management review process

Balanced Scorecard Diagnostics is a must-read for everyone who wants to get the most out of the Balanced Scorecard in use at their organizations.