V2MOM: A Guide to Strategic Planning

Understanding the Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles, and Measures framework.

Key Takeaways

Write the vision as one clear, concise statement of the end goal. It aligns the entire team toward a unified objective.
List the values that will guide decisions. These principles and beliefs steer actions across the organization, such as empathy and integrity in healthcare.
Spell out methods as specific steps and processes. They tell the organization how to proceed and what actions to take toward the vision.
Name obstacles before you start. Funding constraints, regulatory changes or staff shortages identified in advance can be planned around.
Choose quantifiable measures from the free Measure Library. Each should be objectively verifiable, like readmission rates or net promoter scores.

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V2MOM stands for Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles, and Measures. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff developed the framework to help with strategic planning and execution. V2MOM gives organizations a clear roadmap: define the vision, then set the steps to reach it.

Understanding the V2MOM Framework

Vision

The vision states what the organization wants to achieve in the future. It describes the end goal clearly and concisely, and aligns the whole team on one objective.

Values

The values are the principles and beliefs that guide the organization's actions and decisions.

Methods

Methods are the specific steps and processes the organization will follow to achieve the vision. They tell people what to do next.

Give every method a named owner. In ClearPoint platform data across 324 organizations, an initiative with a named owner is more than twice as likely to be completed (21.5% against 8.7%). As our post on turning mission and vision into execution puts it, the vision didn’t need better words. It needed a person.

Obstacles

Obstacles are the challenges and risks that could get in the way of the methods. Name them in advance and you can plan how to overcome them.

Measures

Measures are the specific metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) that show whether the methods are moving you toward the vision. They should be quantifiable and objectively verifiable.

V2MOM in Action: Sector-Specific Examples

Healthcare

In a healthcare organization, the vision might be to "Provide high-quality, patient-centered care to improve the health of our community." The values could encompass empathy, integrity, and continuous improvement. Methods could include developing advanced patient management systems, conducting regular staff training, and focusing on preventative care. Obstacles might be funding constraints, regulatory changes, or staff shortages. Measures would include patient satisfaction scores, readmission rates, and staff retention rates.

Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), a 211-bed hospital with over 40 clinics, builds its reporting around its values. Its summary dashboard includes the “Big Five Strategic Values”: Safety, Quality, Service, Teamwork, and Finance. Each department has its own dashboard linked to these values, with KPIs shown in graphs and charts for a quick assessment. All 200+ providers, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, also have an individual dashboard with their own performance metrics.

Banking and Finance

A banking institution might set a vision to "Lead the digital revolution in banking and provide unrivaled financial solutions." Values would likely revolve around trust, innovation, and customer service. Methods could include digital transformation, developing new financial products, and using data analytics. Obstacles might be cybersecurity risks, regulatory compliance, and competitive market conditions. Measures could include net promoter scores, digital adoption rates, and return on investment.

First National Community Bank (FNCB) in Pennsylvania is a real example. Around 95% of its operations are online, and its mission is “to make your banking experience simply better.” FNCB keeps its methods focused: in one year it went from 155 long-term goals to 35, prioritizing quality over quantity. Vice President Tom Lunney also stresses linking the budget to the strategic plan: “they have to be married.”

Utilities and Energy

An energy company's vision might be to "Transition to 100% renewable energy and promote environmental sustainability." Values may include sustainability, accountability, and innovation. Methods could be investment in renewable energy technologies, reducing carbon footprint, and community education. Obstacles would likely be technological limitations, regulatory hurdles, and economic viability. Measures could be the percentage of energy generated from renewable sources, reductions in CO2 emissions, and customer adoption rates.

Cobb EMC, a not-for-profit electric cooperative based just outside of Atlanta, started with the same building blocks. Its Board of Directors and upper management completed a multi-level SWOT analysis, identified high-level goals, and refreshed the company’s core values to align more with member satisfaction and culture. Its mission is “to safely deliver reliable, competitively priced electricity while being accountable to member-owners through sound governance, management, operating practices, and improving quality of life in their local communities.” Cobb EMC then tracked both quantitative goal data and qualitative project information in one place.

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Implementing V2MOM with ClearPoint Strategy

ClearPoint Strategy is software that helps organizations run their strategic plans, including a V2MOM. You define the vision, values, methods, obstacles, and measures in one place and track progress toward your goals. ClearPoint makes the vision and values visible to every stakeholder. Teams plan methods in detail and set timelines, so everyone knows their tasks and what is expected.

ClearPoint's performance management features let you set, track, and analyze measures. Real-time performance data helps decision-makers evaluate progress and adjust.

In the context of healthcare, for instance, ClearPoint could monitor patient satisfaction scores or readmission rates and show where to focus improvement. In banking, ClearPoint can track digital adoption rates and net promoter scores to show customer satisfaction and digital progress. For energy companies, ClearPoint can monitor the percentage of energy generated from renewable sources to show progress on sustainability.

ClearPoint also supports alignment and communication. All stakeholders can see the strategic plan, so everyone works toward the same goals. Businesses can cascade their strategies to every level of the organization, which makes execution an organization-wide effort.

ClearPoint Strategy also gives teams one place for regular updates, which encourages a collaborative environment where everyone knows when the strategy changes. That breaks down the usual silos and keeps the organization working toward one vision.

Conclusion

Every organization has to plan and execute well. The V2MOM framework aligns the organization's work behind its vision. ClearPoint Strategy adds the tools to implement, track, and communicate that strategy. In any industry, V2MOM with ClearPoint Strategy helps organizations reach their goals. See the software in action today!