Self-Assessment
The Charge:
Imagine you have just been hired to review your company and the way it conducts its business. For each item below, circle the number which, from your role as advisor, most accurately reflects the business as it stands today.
1. Priorities and Resource Allocation
1 2 3 4 5
We have no regular meetings to review priorities. We meet regularly to set and review priorities.
2. Liquidity
1 2 3 4 5
We never seem to have enough cash. Cash isn’t an issue for us.
3. Planning
We have no written business plan. We have a comprehensive, written business plan.
4. Management Structure
1 2 3 4 5
Our employees wear many hats. Employee roles and responsibilities are narrowly defined.
5. Planning Horizon
1 2 3 4 5
Our focus is day-to-day. We have a long-term focus.
6. Business Processes
1 2 3 4 5
We figure it out as we go. Our business processes are well defined.
7. Employee Development
1 2 3 4 5
We have no formalized development programs. Employee development is well-established.
8. Technology
1 2 3 4 5
We don’t have a lot of tech infrastructure. Our tech infrastructure is strong.
9. Metrics and Feedback Mechanisms
1 2 3 4 5
Intuition plays the key role in guiding the business. Metrics are key to guiding the business.
10. Decision-making
1. 2 3 4 5
Our CEO alone makes all the key decisions. Most decisions are collaborative.
11. Strategic Leadership
1 2 3 4 5
Our leaders are very involved with the day-to-day. Our leaders work “on” vs. “in” the business.
12. Organizational climate
1 2 3 4 5
This place changes every time you look around. Change comes pretty slowly around here.
13. Organizational Purpose
1 2 3 4 5
Where this company is going is crystal clear. Our path forward is uncertain.
14. Customer Focus
1 2 3 4 5
The customer is at the center of everything we do. We are increasingly inward-focused.
15. Business Growth
1 2 3 4 5
We are having trouble keeping up with our growth. Lack of growth is a primary concern.
16. Competitive Knowledge
1 2 3 4 5
Our competitive knowledge is low. We have intimate knowledge of our key competition.
17. Focus
1 2 3 4 5
We respond to almost every fire. We have a process to determine and resource our key priorities.
18. Organizational Flexibility
1 2 3 4 5
We are nimble. We bog down when dealing with new issues or opportunities.
19. Risk Management
1 2 3 4 5
We embrace risk. We are risk averse.
20. Managing Employees
1 2 3 4 5
Our people policies are ad hoc. We have strong Human Resource systems.
21. Specialized Resources and Expertise
1 2 3 4 5
We have little specialized expertise in-house. We have an abundance of specialized expertise in-house.
22. Demand forecasting
1 2 3 4 5
Our forecasting is day-to-day. We have strong and reliable forecasting systems
23. Succession Planning
1 2 3 4 5
We have no succession plan. We have a succession plan that is reviewed regularly.
24. Employee Composition
1 2 3 4 5
Most of our employees started with the company. Our employee base is diverse.
25. Leadership Alignment
1 2 3 4 5
Our leadership is united. Our leadership is divided.
Please add up your scores from each line. My score is /125.
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To view the scoring key and results, see Bruce Hunter's article: Self Assessment Scoring Key and Results.
