On October 15th, 2024, The KPI Institute hosted an exclusive webinar titled “Navigating the Landscape of Strategy Planning and Execution in the Age of Transformation,” which brought together industry leaders and professionals for an insightful discussion on the latest trends in strategy management.

During the session, The KPI Institute unveiled key findings from the State of Strategy Management Practice Report 2024, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by organizations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The webinar provided an in-depth look at the evolving landscape of business planning, performance management systems, and the execution of strategic initiatives, which offer valuable insights for organizations looking to navigate the complexities of transformation in today’s dynamic business environment.

The session featured expert speakers from The KPI Institute and Systaems:

Cristina Mihăiloaie is a Strategy and Performance Management Expert and Chief Operating Officer at The KPI Institute. Her professional background centers on research, product development, and knowledge sharing within strategy and performance management. Over the past 12 years, she has played a key role in establishing best practices and standards for utilizing and maximizing key performance indicators (KPIs) in organizations disseminated through research publications, academic articles, and educational programs.

Bori Péntek is a Management Consultant at Systaems who specializes in organizational development and human resource management. She assists businesses in aligning their strategies, processes, and practices with their core values, prioritizing human and social well-being. With a background in recruitment, human resources, and operations management across various sectors, including sustainable construction, research, and education. She is an Associate Lecturer at Babes Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Webinar highlights

The webinar’s agenda centered on the key dilemmas organizations face in strategy planning, performance management, and execution, providing valuable insights into the challenges that often  hinder effective strategy implementation.

Dilemma 01: Deliberate vs. Emergent Strategic Planning. The State of Strategy Management Practice – 2024 MENA Region report indicates that 76% of professionals claim to have formal and regular strategy planning and 56% of respondents review strategy annually or every 3 years. Given these statistics and Cristina’s experience as an advisor, she pointed out that the predominant practice in the MENA region is Deliberate Strategy Planning. Further to the discussion, Bori shared her perspective on why Deliberate Strategy Planning is complicated to achieve success, “Mostly it [Deliberate Strategy Planning] offers an illusion of stability that it is not there anymore in the external or internal environment. A lot of things have to work very well for the deliberate strategy to work.”

Dilemma 02: Balanced Scorecard System vs. Objectives and Key Results Frameworks. Since common challenges in working with KPIs for MENA organizations imply difficulties in selecting relevant KPIs, to ensure alignment and collect data, the discussion between our experts led to questioning if a particular framework is better suited to address these challenges. Bori outlined, “Irrespective of whether you use Balanced Scorecard (BSC) or Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), you’re going to have these challenges. It’s not about selecting one system and just going along with it. It’s about leveraging the strength of each system by thinking wisely about where they can be used.”

Dilemma 03: Success vs. Failure in Strategy Execution. Insights from the State of Strategy Management Practice – 2024 MENA Region report show that most respondents (42%) listed ineffective cross-functional collaboration as the top reason for strategy failure. It is followed by a lack of leadership support (40%), slow decision-making and approval 33%), and insufficient resources for projects to succeed (33%). 

To address cross-functional collaboration, Cristina advised nurturing the right “rituals:” “Procedures become quickly obsolete, but rituals are what we do and how we do it, are the unwritten rules that govern the workplace. It’s not necessarily about the work procedure, it is more about how people come together and  get things done.” She added that the rituals we want to build are to create multidisciplinary teams rather than work in silos, to have regular performance meetings and use KPIs to understand the business better, to challenge ourselves constructively, and to promote transparency and collaboration in problem-solving.

The webinar ended with a question-and-answer session where the featured speakers addressed questions about the link between strategy and culture, underestimated factors for strategy execution success, the risk of not aligning KPIs across the organization and many more. An extended Q&A document is currently being prepared for release with extremely interesting perspectives.

From key findings in the State of Strategy Management Practice Report 2024 to practical advice on overcoming obstacles in strategy management, the webinar provided valuable takeaways for organizations looking to stay ahead in today’s fast-paced business environment.

If you missed the live session, watch the full video of the webinar on The KPI Institute’s official YouTube channel. Click here to watch the webinar now!

The KPI Institute is excited to invite you to an exclusive webinar titled “Navigating the Landscape of Strategy Planning and Execution in the Age of Transformation” on the 15th of October 2024 at 11:00 AM (Gulf Standard Time), live online via Zoom.

In this session, The KPI Institute will unveil the latest developments in strategy planning and execution, with a focus on organizations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This event will also reveal recent findings from the State of Strategy Management Practice Report 2024. The KPI Institute will dive into the most pressing issues surrounding business planning, performance management systems, and the implementation of strategic initiatives.

Meet the speakers

Cristina Mihăiloaie 

Strategy and Performance Management Expert 

Chief Operating Officer, The KPI Institute 

Mihăiloaie’s professional background centers on research, product development, and knowledge sharing within strategy and performance management. Over the past 12 years, she has played a key role in establishing best practices and standards for utilizing and maximizing key performance indicators (KPIs) in organizations disseminated through research publications, academic articles, and educational programs.

Passionate about effective strategy planning and performance measurement practices, Mihăiloaie has provided advisory services to organizations in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, and has trained executives across various functions and industries. Currently, she serves as the Chief Operating Officer of The KPI Institute’s Research Division, where she oversees and ensures the alignment of operations with strategy.

Bori Péntek 

Management Consultant, Systaems 

Associate Lecturer, Babes Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Péntek is a management consultant who specializes in organizational development and human resource management. She assists businesses in aligning their strategies, processes, and practices with their core values, prioritizing human and social well-being.

With a background in recruitment, human resources, and operations management across various sectors, including sustainable construction, research, and education, Péntek focuses on improving employee well-being, promoting inclusive cultures, and ensuring organizational resilience and social responsibility. She creates solutions to tackle systemic challenges and foster long-term success.

In her partnership with Babes Bolyai University, she teaches courses such as research methodology, intercultural communication, and self-awareness.

What’s in store for participants

Combining research expertise with practical experience, the guest speakers will provide valuable insights and guidance on key organizational dilemmas and explore innovative solutions in today’s complex business landscape. The webinar’s agenda focuses on Deliberate vs. Emergent Strategic Planning, BSC vs. OKRs, and Success vs. Failure in Strategy Execution. 

In addition to being the first to receive the latest State of Strategy Management Practice Report and gaining insights into current trends in strategy management that can impact organizational planning and execution, participants will engage with seasoned professionals who offer valuable experience to the discussion. They will also take part in lively discussions on contemporary business challenges which provides an opportunity to share perspectives and connect with peers. 

Whether you are a seasoned leader, an emerging expert, or new to the field, this is your chance to learn about how to stay ahead in the rapidly changing world of strategy management. Seats are limited so secure your spot now! To register, click HERE.

The wait is almost over! The State of Strategy Management Practice – 2024 MENA Region Report is set to be released on the 15th of October. This groundbreaking publication aims to equip organizations with up-to-date information, tools, and insights to transform their approach to strategy in an ever-evolving business landscape.

The State of Strategy Management Practice Report is a comprehensive analysis of current trends, challenges, and innovations in strategy management. But it is more than just a collection of data— it is a game-changer for professionals and organizations striving for excellence. Professionals can use the report’s findings as benchmarks to assess and improve their practices and approaches to challenges.

According to Abdelmagid Adam Meezan, a seasoned corporate planning head, the previous State of Strategy Management Practice Report provides a solid foundation for professional processes and practices, which enable organizations to advance and capitalize on opportunities for improvement. Meezan also stated, “This report will greatly benefit my organization in terms of strategic planning, implementation, performance analysis, management, benchmarking, and lessons learned.”

The report may also serve as an invaluable resource for everyone involved and interested in strategic planning and performance management. Mohammed Elrasheed, Strategic Advisor Business Development and Digital Transformation Consultant, shared with The KPI Institute, “While the results may not apply to all organizations, the report is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their understanding and implementation of strategic practices.” He mentioned that he would also recommend the State of Strategy Management Practice Report to entry-level professionals, new to the field. 

Key features of the 2024 Report

The upcoming edition of the State of Strategy Management Practice Report presents the latest developments in strategy planning, measurement, and execution. It focuses on organizations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and covers 24 topics, from strategic planning methods and KPI relevance to organizational agility and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business planning.

The KPI Institute introduces a new feature called “Voices from the Field” in the report, where a group of experts validates the research findings by providing opinions and insights based on the practices of organizations in the region. Moreover, The KPI Institute collaborates with systæms® for the upcoming edition of the State of Strategy Management Practices Report. systæms® is a division of the KPI Institute that provides management consulting services.  Bori Péntek, a Management Consultant at systæms®, shares actionable advice to enhance strategy and performance management systems in the recommendation section of the report.

The State of Strategy Management Practice report is not just a publication but also a blueprint for navigating the complexities of modern strategy management and The KPI Institute’s passion for performance. According to Cristina Mihăiloaie, Chief Operating Officer at The KPI Institute, The KPI Institute’s passion combined with its research capabilities drive the organization’s mission to empower governments, organizations, and individuals to achieve excellence: “I aspire for our research resources and this report in particular to increase awareness of the significance of fostering a healthy performance management culture within organizations and to serve as accommodation for future development initiatives.” This is reflected in the insights provided in the Strategy Management Practice – 2024 MENA Region Report.

Be among the first to get your hands on the report! Make sure you are subscribed to The KPI Institute’s newsletter and following our social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, or X) to receive the latest updates on the Strategy Management Practice – 2024 MENA Region Report and other publications.