Recently, I came across an enlightening article penned by Graham Kenny on how companies can identify the right strategic goals. I realized this strategic process could serve as a useful framework for innovative organizations like ReLeaf in Austin, Texas.
ReLeaf, a cooperative committed to saving money for businesses by reducing and upcycling their waste, has an intrinsic environmental purpose. They create stunning vertical gardens from materials that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. But like any organization, ReLeaf needs clear, measurable objectives to ensure they're making progress in their noble mission.
Kenny's article outlines a three-step process to identify business objectives: identify a behavioral outcome for each stakeholder group, convert these outcomes into organizational objectives, and identify key performance indicators (KPIs). Let's apply this to ReLeaf.
Firstly, ReLeaf's primary stakeholders are businesses (clients), the local community, and employees. Each of these groups has specific behaviors that ReLeaf would like to encourage. For businesses, this might be increasing their usage of ReLeaf's waste reduction and upcycling services. For the local community, the goal could be to generate support and participation in ReLeaf's activities. And for employees, it could be fostering commitment and innovative contributions.
Next, these behavioral outcomes can be transformed into tangible objectives. For businesses, the objective might be to increase the number of businesses signing up for ReLeaf's services and the volume of waste managed. For the local community, the aim might be to boost community engagement with ReLeaf's initiatives. And for employees, the goal could be to improve engagement and promote innovative contributions to upcycling initiatives.
Lastly, we identify KPIs to measure progress towards these objectives. The total number of businesses signed up, the volume of waste managed, the number of community events held, and the number of new upcycling ideas implemented could all serve as valuable KPIs.
These objectives and KPIs provide a roadmap for ReLeaf's mission, aligning stakeholders' behaviors with the organization's goals. However, they're not set in stone. Like any strategic plan, they should be revisited and revised as necessary to respond to the ever-changing business and environmental context.
Are you in Austin and want to help make a difference? Get involved with ReLeaf! By participating in ReLeaf's initiatives, you're not just supporting a local business - you're contributing to a greener, more sustainable Austin.
And if you're not in Austin, consider how these strategic processes could be applied in your own local context. Whether you're part of a cooperative, a business owner, or a community member, there's always room to make a difference in our world's sustainability journey. Let's take a leaf from ReLeaf's book and think strategically about our environmental objectives. Together, we can contribute to a more sustainable future.