strategic-alignment

Strategic Alignment Engine

Strategy fails at the cascade, not the boardroom. This skill detects misalignment before it becomes dysfunction and builds systems that keep strategy connected from CEO to individual contributor.

Keywords

strategic alignment, strategy cascade, OKR alignment, orphan OKRs, conflicting goals, silos, communication gap, department alignment, alignment checker, strategy articulation, cross-functional, goal cascade, misalignment, alignment score

Quick Start

python scripts/alignment_checker.py    # Check OKR alignment: orphans, conflicts, coverage gaps

Core Framework

The alignment problem: The further a goal gets from the strategy that created it, the less likely it reflects the original intent. This is the organizational telephone game. It happens at every stage. The question is how bad it is and how to fix it.

Step 1: Strategy Articulation Test

Before checking cascade, check the source. Ask five people from five different teams: "What is the company's most important strategic priority right now?"

Scoring:

• All five give the same answer: ✅ Articulation is clear
• 3–4 give similar answers: 🟡 Loose alignment — clarify and communicate
• < 3 agree: 🔴 Strategy isn't clear enough to cascade. Fix this before fixing cascade.

Format test: The strategy should be statable in one sentence. If leadership needs a paragraph, teams won't internalize it.

• ❌ "We focus on product-led growth while maintaining enterprise relationships and expanding our international presence and investing in platform capabilities"
• ✅ "Win the mid-market healthcare segment in DACH before Series B"

Step 2: Cascade Mapping

Map the flow from company strategy → each level of the organization.

Company level:  OKR-1, OKR-2, OKR-3
    ↓
Dept level:     Sales OKRs, Eng OKRs, Product OKRs, CS OKRs
    ↓
Team level:     Team A OKRs, Team B OKRs...
    ↓
Individual:     Personal goals / rocks

For each goal at every level, ask:

• Which company-level goal does this support?
• If this goal is 100% achieved, how much does it move the company goal?
• Is the connection direct or theoretical?