At first glance, balanced scorecards or BSC are usually used in businesses and industries. However, this template is also utilized in nonprofit organizations and government institutions. A balanced scorecard template's popularity means it works in most organizations. The key is to know how the template and best practices flesh out the concise information from the diagram.
What is the balanced scorecard?
A balanced scorecard is a unique strategic management and planning framework that allows institutions to communicate better what the group hopes to complete, prioritize tasks and projects, assess the progress of strategic initiatives, and align members' daily work with the organization's overall strategy.
The framework aims to balance strategic developments with financial progress so decision-makers can see the organization's performance clearly. Using the diagram, you'll connect strategic planning initiatives with daily management.
Main components of a balanced scorecard
When making a balanced scorecard template, there are four main areas in which your team must provide specific information. See the list below.
Finance
Financial data like expenditures, income, and sales are used under this component to understand the organization's financial performance. The metrics show whether the business's strategy and implementation contribute to improving business profits. Most importantly, the data in this section help see if there are lapses in the financial aspect of the organization so they can quickly create initiatives to correct them.
Customer
Most businesses collect customers' perspectives to gauge satisfaction regarding the price, quality, and availability of services and products. This space in the balanced scorecard template will have feedback on customer satisfaction with the existing products involved. Along the way, it allows business managers to understand customers better and provide marketing strategies that can generate considerable financial returns.
Internal Process (Internal operation)
Efficiency and quality in the organization's business processes constitute this section in the diagram. Managers will identify the significant internal processes which the organization excels in. Furthermore, managers will analyze operational management to track possible gaps, bottlenecks, delays, waste, or shortages.
Learning and Growth
Employee performance records show a transparent framework to keep track of their success and satisfaction. Monitoring employees' performance will help facilitate growth and learning toward the team's overall goal. Team managers also keep track of team members' turnover and morale, their knowledge levels, and their effectiveness in using the company's best practices.
Benefits of a Balanced Scorecard
Improved organizational alignment and focus
When you look at a balanced scorecard sample, you'll see that the framework is made in a series of strategy maps so your team can communicate the strategies. As a result, employees will know where the company wants to go and how each member can contribute to achieving it. In short, using the diagram will have members focus on one goal and the initiatives to fulfill it.
Increased employee engagement and accountability
It may be a team goal, but every organization member generally owns the balanced scorecard template. This means when something goes wrong, you will know who to call. Meanwhile, the team knows who gets the credit if something goes right. The BSC does not only promote accountability but also efficiency in terms of addressing organizational concerns.
Enhanced communication and collaboration
The BSC also serves as an instrument to communicate the group's strategy. Since you're using the strategy map, you can visualize the organization's initiatives on a single page. A balanced scorecard sample visualizes your strategies efficiently, which makes it easier to relay objectives to the whole team. Even external stakeholders can grasp the idea just by looking at the diagram.
Greater strategic agility and adaptability
In market shifts or unexpected events in the industry, using the balanced scorecard sample helps prevent your new strategies from being unbalanced. The diagram gives you and your team the confidence to quickly make the necessary changes while paying attention to other aspects of your business.
Best Practices for Balanced Scorecard Implementation
Clearly define objectives and key metrics
Your team must prioritize the strategic objectives concerning your vision and mission. This includes the high-level results you want to realize in the four main components. For example, the financial goals include reducing costs and increasing revenue. You can consist of loyalty and retention under the customer objectives section. Make the objectives as specific as possible.
Ensure alignment with vision and strategy
As you design strategic initiatives, ensure they align with and support your overall goal. In your balanced scorecard sample, you can consult with team members in the organization for programs, projects, and activities to improve performance and close the evident gaps between the current and desired situations.
Regularly review and update the scorecard
Like in any other situation, marketing conditions and the industry change. With this, you must realize that you must constantly update your balanced scorecard template to adjust to different scenarios effectively. Additionally, this ensures that the scorecard remains relevant, useful, and valid amidst external and internal conditions. As you go along the process of reviewing the diagram, your team also learns and improves from the feedback and results.
Promote organizational communication and collaboration
Creating the scorecard is not a one-person show. It has to be a collection of ideas from all the members involved in creating the diagram. This would mean brainstorming with various departments to develop realistic objectives and initiatives to achieve specific goals. At the same time, every employee must be aware of how your final scorecard looks, including the elements placed for every component.
Identify and prioritize critical success factors
The success factors must be vital to the company's success and should benefit the company or the departments involved. Examples of such factors include increasing market share with current customers and practicing a service-oriented approach when working with the target market.
Most importantly, teamwork will be the key to creating the scorecard. Thanks to technology, you can collaborate with other team members through an editable balanced scorecard template from Boardmix. You can provide edit access to selected members and viewing access for others. It works like a virtual whiteboard which is ideal for brainstorming and collaboration.
