Many strategy teams start the year with strong goals but struggle to connect plans with real execution. Market shifts, budget limits, and competing priorities often make it difficult to stay focused on what matters most.

This roundup features eight expert-selected resources from The KPI Institute to support clear and practical planning for 2026. Each one offers tested methods, data-driven tools, and examples that help leaders design strategies that work. Their continued use across industries shows how practical and adaptable their guidance remains.

1. KPIs for Strategic Planning: This infographic highlights the key metrics that connect day-to-day performance with long-term strategic goals. It shows how well-chosen KPIs support planning, execution, and review within the balanced scorecard framework. Built from The KPI Institute’s research experience, it offers clear definitions and calculation methods to help teams measure progress and maintain strategic alignment.
2. KPIs for Initiatives Management: Effective strategy depends on how well initiatives move from concept to completion. This resource highlights the KPIs that track progress, efficiency, and impact across that journey. It helps teams connect project performance with strategic outcomes, ensuring that execution supports organizational priorities and measurable results.
3. Top 25 Strategy and Performance Management KPIs – 2025 Edition: Reflecting current trends in performance measurement, this edition brings together the most widely used KPIs in strategy and performance management. It introduces updated documentation templates, new articles on effective KPI implementation, and fresh research on how organizations apply KPIs in practice. The collection helps teams refine measurement systems, align metrics with strategic objectives, and strengthen decision-making across all levels.
4. 2025 Global Trends Brief: This report analyzes the major forces that defined 2025 and outlines how their effects will influence strategy and performance management in 2026. Drawing on insights from more than 100 global research and consultancy sources, it connects data and context to help decision-makers prepare for the next planning cycle. Covering areas such as AI innovation, trade dynamics, and ESG priorities, the brief clarifies which trends will continue shaping business direction and which require a shift in strategy for the year ahead.
5. State of Strategy Management Practice Report 2025 – MENA Region: Whether you are refining your planning framework or improving execution systems in 2026, this report offers a grounded view of how organizations can strengthen strategy management in practice. Based on research from organizations across the Middle East and North Africa, it examines trends in planning, measurement, and execution supported by regional expertise. The findings provide benchmarks and insights that help build stronger and more adaptive strategy systems for the year ahead.
6. A New Chapter for Performance at Mobily: This case study offers practical lessons for organizations preparing 2026 strategies and seeking stronger performance management foundations. It illustrates how a structured KPI framework, supported by clear documentation and capability-building programs, can connect strategic objectives with measurable results. The example shows how improving measurement practices can turn planning goals into consistent execution outcomes.
7. A Case Study on Performance Management System Maturity Assessment: This case study offers insights for organizations that plan to strengthen their strategy and performance frameworks in 2026. It outlines how a comprehensive maturity assessment, using the Integrated Maturity Model Framework, evaluates five key capabilities through evidence-based and perception-based analysis. The findings demonstrate how understanding system maturity helps identify gaps, prioritize improvements, and support more effective strategy execution.
8. Performance Magazine Issue No. 29, 2024 – Strategy Management Edition: The themes and analyses featured in this issue remain highly relevant to today’s strategy and performance challenges. Readers will find clear perspectives on how organizations plan, develop, and execute strategy in complex environments, with discussions on stakeholder engagement, change leadership, and data-driven decision-making. Insights from experienced practitioners and curated multimedia content make it a strong reference for anyone involved in strategic management.

These resources bring structure and clarity to strategic work. Explore and download them to strengthen your 2026 planning process and drive better results!

Similar to how a rowing team synchronizes its strokes to move swiftly across the water, organizations must align their strategy, execution, and performance management practices to stay on course. The 2025 State of Strategy Management Report captures this dynamic, offering an in-depth view of how strategy and performance management practices are unfolding across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions.

This year, the majority of participants came from Saudi Arabia (91%), followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt (3% each), with smaller representation from Jordan, Qatar, and other MENA countries. Public and social services formed the largest industry group (36%), followed by professional services (21%) and industrial sectors (15%). Respondents were almost evenly split between public (50%) and private (43%) institutions, with not-for-profit organizations making up 7% of the respondent pool. This balanced representation ensures that the findings can be generalized and reflect both government priorities and private-sector dynamics.

What’s new in the report

This fourth edition of the State of Strategy Management Practice Report uses a more refined approach than in previous editions. More than just documenting the current state of strategic practice, the report also seeks to drive meaningful improvement. As Daniela Vuta, Chief Operating Officer at The KPI Institute, explains, “Our vision is to create a collaborative resource that equips the leaders and practitioners on the front lines of business excellence with the insights necessary to turn strategic intent into operational reality.”

Vuta emphasized that the report’s impact is twofold: first, to deliver a data-driven perspective that pinpoints the planning-execution gap, replacing assumptions with clarity on challenges such as weak cross-functional coordination.

Unlike earlier editions that relied on a single, comprehensive questionnaire requiring all participants to answer every topic, the 2025 study employed subject-specific surveys: strategy planning, strategy measurement, and strategy execution. This shift enabled deeper insights, reduced respondent fatigue, and encouraged broader participation.

Another key enhancement was the release of an Arabic version of the survey. To ensure both accuracy and cultural relevance, a rigorous translation protocol was followed, which included stages of professional translation, back-translation, and evaluation by bilingual experts familiar with regional business terminology.

Bridging evidence and experience

Through the State of Strategy Management – 2025 MENA Report, The KPI Institute aims to inspire organizations to break free from strategic inertia by adopting proven best practices and turning research data into a solid foundation for informed decision-making and agile improvement initiatives.

Beyond quantitative findings, this year’s report integrated semi-structured interviews with strategy and performance management professionals across various industries in the MENA region. Each interview, lasting between 30 and 45 minutes, offered participants the opportunity to share practical experiences, challenges, and success stories. These qualitative insights enrich the survey findings and provide a holistic view by adding real-world perspectives and contextual examples.

According to Vuta, “The Voices from the Field section complements the quantitative data, providing practical context and real-world examples that enrich the analysis. This approach, combined with a reduced margin of error (between 5% and 6%), ensures the report offers a superior standard of precision for strategy practices across the MENA region.” 

The 2025 edition also introduces several new features designed to guide readers through the material. These include a one-page roadmap outlining the report’s structure, a high-level overview of the most significant findings, and a concluding section that consolidates insights and highlights the evolving direction of strategy management practices in the MENA region. Beyond presenting data, the report places strong emphasis on practical application. Each section contains recommendations from strategy and performance management experts and offers actionable steps organizations can take to strengthen their strategy management efforts.

By combining data-driven results with expert commentary and firsthand accounts, the State of Strategy Management Practice – 2025 MENA Region Report delivers a comprehensive view of current trends in the field. It equips leaders with evidence-based findings and actionable guidance to close gaps, overcome challenges, and drive smarter decisions. To access detailed results and practical recommendations for advancing your strategic journey, download the full report via the TKI Marketplace.

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From The KPI Institute

This report is more than a collection of data; it is a strategic resource that redefines excellence. While the focus is on the MENA region, the challenges identified—the execution gap, the need for alignment, and the difficulty in shifting from instinct to data-driven decisions—are universal. What MENA organizations are learning and implementing in their active effort to reinvent themselves serves as a powerful observation window and a set of applicable lessons on a global scale. 

We urge you to use this study not only to benchmark your performance but also to challenge your own assumptions. Our role at The KPI Institute is to empower the world to achieve performance excellence, and this report is the tool that will help you navigate strategic complexity, turning your vision into lasting impact and measurable results. True performance excellence requires a holistic, agile, and well-executed strategy; this report shows the way.

Daniela Vuta

Chief Operating Officer

With two decades of experience in advancing strategy and performance management, The KPI Institute remains dedicated to providing comprehensive performance solutions through meticulous research, educational programs, and advisory services. A strong testament to this commitment was the launch of the State of Strategy Management Practice Report in 2022, marking an important milestone in The KPI Institute’s journey as a research institute.

The State of Strategy Management Practice Report is an annual publication that compiles a thorough analysis of current trends, challenges, and innovations in strategy management. It consists of three main sections: Strategy Planning, Strategy Measurement, and Strategy Execution. Each section includes segments such as general practices, strategy review, key performance indicators (KPI) deployment practices, strategy execution challenges, and project management practices. It also delivers guidance on best practices to refine strategy management and support organizations in adeptly handling emerging trends and disruptions.

The State of Strategy Management Practice Report aids organizations in adapting to a dynamic business environment. This report enables them to gain a comprehensive view of the field, recognize emerging trends and shifts, and refine their strategies for ongoing enhancement. To provide you with an overview, let’s explore a bit the findings from the previous edition of the State of Strategy Management Practice Report and the new features of the upcoming edition.

Insights from the previous report

Last year, The KPI Institute released three versions of the State of Strategy Management Practice Report: Global Report and Middle East Report in Arabic and English. In the State of Strategy Management Practice – 2023 Middle East Report, results revealed that most surveyed professionals view strategy formulation as systematic and organized, with 47% employing specialized methodologies. Conversely, 38% reported using no particular methodology, suggesting a more flexible approach. Additionally, 15% indicated that their process is informal, which is noteworthy. While such an approach can offer flexibility, it is essential to acknowledge the potential risks and challenges of lacking a defined framework.

Moreover, in the Strategy Measurement section, 22% of respondents indicated that their organizations do not have a formal performance management system (PMS). The lack of a PMS presents various challenges. It hinders strategy execution and restricts the organization’s capacity to adapt to changes and seize opportunities. This issue is further reflected in the Strategy Execution section, where 57% of professionals admitted being aware of instances where their organization’s strategy had failed.

What’s new in the 2024 edition?

Considering the concerns identified in the previous State of Strategy Management Practice Report, it is essential to recognize that strategy management practices must evolve to meet organizational needs and adapt to the external environment. To assess whether improvements have been made and if organizations in the Middle East have advanced their strategy management practices, The KPI Institute conducted another study this year. With an expanded focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the findings will be presented in the State of Strategy Management Practices – 2024 MENA Region Report. 

The report includes data from more than 90 organizations and insights from leaders of leading companies. In addition to the three main sections and areas of interest, this edition has been further refined with a new feature called “Voices from the Field.” Aside from The KPI Institute group of experts, a consultant from a management consulting company was invited to share insights in the recommendation section of the State of Strategy Management Practice – 2024 MENA Region Report.

To know more about the report and its new key features, sign up now for our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn where we post updates and unveil everything about the report up until the official launch on the 15th of October.