Clarifying and Measuring Organizational Vision

This is the continuation of the transcript on "Top Ten Business Intelligence Mistakes” hosted by InetSoft. The speaker is Christopher Wren, Principal Consultant at TFI Consulting.

Clarity in the Vision

So if you need to have clarity in the vision, you first have to know where you are going to go; my vision is work five days a month and pay all my bills. Does everyone understand that? Could you tell whether I did it or not if you checked back with me in five years? Yeah you can. I have a way to measure that but I could say I want to be a world class consultant but that’s a little vague, right? How do you measure that? What does that even mean?

So when you have clarity in your vision then the measures related to that vision become very easy to determine. I see a lot of goals although there may be no way to measure and see their clear vision, but still they have a goal.

I was working with the army corps of engineers and one of their top three goals was improved communication. That sounded like a good one. A lot of people have that one right, we need to improve communication.  So I went back to them the next year in their strategic planning and meeting where they reviewed how they did last year and I said, “Well that’s goal number two improved communication. How did we do on that one?” Somebody got up with their PowerPoint and said they started a new website and got 482 hits every month. Then we started the new employee newsletter and started to have an all hands meeting with the CEO every quarter. Somebody then asked, “well did we improve communication or not?” Nobody knew.  

So they had this goal, which was improved communication, and the only measure of it is we had a lot of activity, we were very, very busy doing all these things but they didn’t really know if they improved communication or not. So you have to have a measure for your vision, for your strategies, for your goals, and for your objectives. You have to have a way of measuring whether or not these things actually produce what you are intending them to produce.

So go through and look at all these things in your strategic plan, your goals, your objectives, your vision, and your mission and say, is everything linked together, do I have measures for all these things, or there are some disconnects there.

Key Performance Indicators Tracked by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) monitors Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate performance in military construction, civil works, and environmental sustainability. These metrics ensure alignment with its mission to deliver engineering solutions, reduce disaster risks, and support economic growth. Below are key KPIs drawn from USACE’s sustainability reports and operational objectives.

• Energy Use Intensity Reduction

  Measures the reduction in energy consumption per square foot across USACE facilities, targeting efficiency improvements. The 2020 Sustainability Report noted a 35% reduction since 2003, reflecting progress in energy-efficient infrastructure. This KPI supports cost savings and environmental goals.

• Water Use Reduction

  Tracks the percentage decrease in water consumption across USACE projects and facilities. A 12% further reduction was reported in 2020, building on a 32% decrease from 2008. This metric ensures sustainable resource management in civil works like reservoirs and navigation.

• LEED Certification Compliance

  Evaluates the percentage of new projects meeting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, particularly silver certification. In 2008, 78% of projects met this standard, though short of the 100% goal. This KPI drives sustainable construction practices.

• Hazardous Waste Management

  Monitors the production and management of hazardous waste, with a noted 35% increase in 2008, indicating a challenge area. Effective tracking ensures compliance with environmental regulations and minimizes ecological impact. USACE aims to reduce this through improved processes.

• Project Completion Timeliness

  Assesses the percentage of projects completed on schedule, critical for military construction and civil works like flood control systems. Timely delivery ensures public safety and economic benefits. USACE prioritizes this to meet federal mandates and stakeholder expectations.

• Cost Efficiency

  Measures project costs against budgets, especially for high-priority initiatives funded by appropriations like the $6.8 billion in 2018. This KPI ensures fiscal responsibility and maximizes taxpayer value. It’s critical for large-scale disaster recovery and infrastructure projects.

• Flood Risk Reduction

  Evaluates the effectiveness of flood control projects, such as dams and levees, in reducing flood damage risks. Metrics include the number of protected properties and reduced economic losses. This aligns with USACE’s civil works mission to enhance community resilience.

• Navigation System Uptime

  Tracks the operational availability of locks, dams, and dredged waterways to support commercial navigation. High uptime ensures efficient transport and economic activity. USACE monitors this to maintain navigable waterways critical to trade.

• Ecosystem Restoration Success

  Measures the impact of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, such as wetland recovery, through metrics like restored acreage or biodiversity improvement. This KPI supports USACE’s environmental mission under the Clean Water Act. Success is gauged by ecological health and compliance.

• Permitting Efficiency

  Assesses the speed and accuracy of environmental permitting processes, such as those under the Clean Water Act Section 404. In 2025, USACE fast-tracked over 600 energy projects, emphasizing streamlined approvals. This KPI balances regulatory compliance with project acceleration.

These KPIs reflect USACE’s commitment to sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and mission success in engineering and environmental stewardship. Tools like those from InetSoft could enhance tracking by integrating data from diverse sources for real-time insights. Regular monitoring ensures USACE meets its goals for national security, economic vitality, and disaster risk reduction.

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