The Balanced Scorecard – Simple explanation.

The critical characteristics that define a Balanced Scorecard include: a focus on the strategic agenda of the organization/coalition concerned; a focused set of measurements to monitor performance against objectives; a mix of financial and non-financial data items (originally divided into four “perspectives” – Financial, Customer, Internal Process, and Learning & Growth); and, a portfolio of initiatives designed to impact performance of the measures/objectives.

The balanced scorecard is a management tool that is used to measure and track the performance of an organization. It is based on the idea that a company’s performance should be evaluated using a balanced set of measures that includes financial and non-financial indicators.

The balanced scorecard consists of four perspectives:

Financial perspective: This perspective includes financial measures such as profitability, return on investment, and shareholder value.
Customer perspective: This perspective includes measures related to customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.
Internal business process perspective: This perspective includes measures related to the efficiency and effectiveness of internal processes and systems.
Learning and growth perspective: This perspective includes measures related to the development and engagement of employees, as well as the organization’s ability to adapt and innovate.

The balanced scorecard is designed to provide a comprehensive view of an organization’s performance, and to help managers identify and address areas of strength and weakness. It is often used in conjunction with strategic planning and goal setting, and it can be used to track progress and assess the impact of various initiatives and investments.

How to Implement the Balanced Scorecard

Strategy and Balanced Scorecard Quotes

“Managing risk is very different from managing strategy. Risk management focuses on the negative-threats and failures rather than opportunities and successes.” ~Robert S. Kaplan
“The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) provides managers with the instrumentation they need to navigate to future competitive success.” ~Robert S. Kaplan
“No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings.” ~Peter Drucker
“Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it’s about deliberately choosing to be different.” ~Michael Porter
“If you can measure it, you can manage it.” ~Robert S. Kaplan
“The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they’re mutually reinforcing.” ~Michael Porter
“Process improvement programs are like teaching people how to fish. Strategy maps and scorecards teach people where to fish.” ~Robert S. Kaplan
“Millennials are more aware of society’s many challenges than previous generations and less willing to accept maximizing shareholder value as a sufficient goal for their work. They are looking for a broader social purpose and want to work somewhere that has such a purpose.” ~Michael Porter