The Secrets to Successful Strategy Execution

"A brilliant strategy, blockbuster product, or breakthrough technology can put you on the competitive map, but only solid execution can keep you there. "

So begins the Harvard Business review article "The Secrets to Successful Strategy Execution," written by executives from management consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc .

According to the authors, "Execution is the result of thousands of decisions made every day by employees acting according to the information they have and their own self-interest."

Their research identified four fundamental building blocks executives can use to influence those actions:

1. Clarifying decision rights (setting expectations)
2. Designing information flows (making sure people are on the same page, have the right information to do their jobs)
3. Aligning motivators (recognition and rewards consistent with attitudes, behaviors)
4. Making changes to structure

Also, check out their interactive "Organization Effectiveness Simulator."