In January 2011 McKinsey published an article entitled, “Have you tested your strategy lately?” And while the “ten timeless tests” are directed towards private enterprise organizations, I saved the link because it seemed to me the implications for these ten direct questions can be very helpful to public sector organizations, as well. The authors warn that most companies pass fewer than four of the ten tests. Read them over and ask yourself how well you as an individual, your education organization, and even our profession as a whole is doing in adapting strategies to the quickly changing world in which we work:

Test 1: Will your strategy beat the market?

Given what you know about where education is headed, are the ways you are working optimal for meeting the future needs of students? your community? the nation?

Test 2: Does your strategy tap a true source of advantage?

Knowing the tools you have available to you in your work, are you using them to help you address the anticipated needs of those you serve?

Test 3: Is your strategy granular about where to compete?

In other words, are you getting down into the details of where to make a difference instead of assuming that moving in a general direction will get you the results you want and need?

Test 4: Does your strategy put you ahead of trends?

You know what the experts are telling you about what education will look like by 2020; are your strategies helping you to get there and even surpass the prognosticators’ predictions?

Test 5: Does your strategy rest on privileged insights?

Are you using the best information possible to help you draw inferences and insights that will help you transform education in the next ten years?

Test 6: Does your strategy embrace uncertainty?

Is there a built-in flexibility and adaptability to your strategies, to change as new information indicates modification and reconsideration are necessary?

Test 7: Does your strategy balance commitment and flexibility?

While being flexible is important, is your investment in your strategies strong enough to help you sustain your momentum for the long haul?

Test 8: Is your strategy free of bias?

What assumptions and beliefs are in play that will hold back or even undermine your success in accomplishing your organization’s goals?

Test 9: Is there conviction to act on your strategy?

Not just for yourself, but for your stakeholders as well; is there the will to follow through on your strategies and realize your goals?

Test 10: Have you translated your strategy into an action plan?

Do you have a formal plan of action or are have you jumped into implementation without fully vetting your strategies for optimal success?

These are ten concrete areas in which I see educators needing to step up and improve in order to win the public dialogue on the heart, the soul and the future of public education. There may be others, but this is an excellent start.

Certainly each of these questions do not warrant simple “Yes” or “No” answers. But if you consider your answer by degree, perhaps on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (truly and completely), how many of your answers would be a 5 (yes this is in its beginning stages) or better?

Chris Bradley, Martin Hirt, and Sven Smit: “Have you tested your strategy lately? Ten timeless tests can help you kick the tires on your strategy, and kick up the level of strategic dialogue throughout your company.” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2011. Accessed online March 5, 2011 via https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Strategy/Strategic_Thinking/Have_you_tested_your_strategy_lately_2711