Objectives & Actions

Objectives and actions are where strategy meets execution. This guide explains how to create and manage them effectively.

Understanding Objectives

Objectives are specific, measurable goals within your strategic plan. They answer the question: “What do we want to achieve?”

Each objective typically has:

• Title - A clear statement of what you want to accomplish
• Description - Additional context and details
• Priority - Low, Medium, or High
• Responsible Person - Who owns this objective
• Linked Orientation - Which strategic direction it supports
• Actions - Tasks to accomplish the objective
• Key Results - Measurable outcomes (OKRs)

Creating Objectives

1. Open your plan

   Navigate to the plan where you want to add an objective.

2. Go to the Objectives tab

   Click on “Objectives” in the plan navigation.

3. Click “Add Objective”

   Look for the add button, usually at the top or bottom of the list.

4. Fill in the details

   • Enter a clear, specific title
   • Add a description explaining the objective
   • Set the priority level
   • Assign a responsible person (optional)
   • Link to an orientation if applicable

5. Save the objective

   Click “Create” or “Save”. You can now add actions and key results.

Tip

Write objectives that are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Understanding Actions

Actions are specific tasks or initiatives that contribute to achieving an objective. They answer: “What do we need to do?”

Each action has:

Field	Description
Title	What needs to be done
Description	Details and context
Status	Pending, In Progress, Completed, Blocked, Cancelled
Priority	Low, Medium, High
Assignee	Who is responsible
Due Date	When it should be completed
Tags	Categories for organization

Creating Actions

1. Open an objective

   Click on the objective where you want to add an action.

2. Find the Actions section

   Look for “Actions” within the objective details.

3. Click “Add Action”

   Create a new action linked to this objective.

4. Complete the details

   • Write a clear, actionable title (starts with a verb)
   • Add any necessary description
   • Set status (usually starts as “Pending”)
   • Assign to a team member
   • Set a due date
   • Add relevant tags

5. Save the action

   The action is now linked to the objective and will appear in the assignee’s “My Follow-ups”.

Action Statuses

Actions move through these statuses:

Pending

Pending - Not yet started

The action has been created but work hasn’t begun. This is the default status for new actions.

In Progress

In Progress - Currently being worked on

Someone is actively working on this action.

Completed

Completed - Done

The action has been finished successfully.

Blocked

Blocked - Cannot proceed

Something is preventing progress. Add a comment explaining the blocker.

Cancelled

Cancelled - No longer needed

The action is no longer relevant or has been superseded.

Linking Actions to Other Entities

Actions can be linked to multiple things for better tracking:

• Orientations - Connect actions to strategic directions
• Key Results - Link actions that contribute to specific metrics
• Mandates - Associate with steering group responsibilities
• Meetings - Track which meetings discussed this action

To add a link:

1. Open the action details
2. Find the “Links” section
3. Click “Add Link” and select the type
4. Search and select the entity to link

Using Tags

Tags help organize and filter actions:

1. Adding Tags - Click the tag icon on an action and select or create tags
2. Filtering - Use the filter bar to show only actions with specific tags
3. Managing Tags - Organization admins can create and manage available tags

Note

Tags are organization-wide. The same set of tags is available across all plans and steering groups.

Bulk Operations

For efficiency, you can perform bulk operations on actions:

• Select Multiple - Check the boxes next to multiple actions
• Change Status - Move all selected actions to a new status
• Assign - Reassign multiple actions at once
• Delete - Remove multiple actions (use with caution)

Tracking Progress

Monitor objective and action progress through:

• Plan Dashboard - See overall completion percentages
• Objective View - Track actions within each objective
• My Follow-ups - Personal view of all your assigned actions
• Reports - Generate detailed progress reports

Best Practices

For Objectives

• Keep objectives focused and achievable
• Limit to 3-7 key objectives per plan
• Review progress regularly (monthly or quarterly)

For Actions

• Use action verbs (Create, Review, Implement, Schedule)
• Be specific about deliverables
• Set realistic due dates
• Break large actions into smaller tasks
• Update status promptly when things change

Next Steps

• OKRs - Add measurable key results to objectives
• Reports - Track and report on progress
• My Follow-ups - Manage your personal action list