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PKM Consulting Services

Strategic and Generic ManagementPKM413

Strategic Cascading, Tracking and Communication Using Balanced Scorecard

Public sector institutions often produce strong strategic plans — National Development Plans, Medium-Term Strategic Frameworks (MTSF), Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), Sector Master Plans — yet struggle to translate them into measurable service delivery outcomes.

Overview

This programme equips public sector leaders and performance practitioners with practical tools to:

  • Cascade strategy from national or ministerial level down to departments and individuals
  • Align budgets, projects, and performance agreements with strategy
  • Design meaningful KPIs that drive public value
  • Establish disciplined tracking and review systems
  • Communicate performance transparently to citizens and oversight bodies Using the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a strategic management system (not just a measurement tool), participants learn how to move from:
  • Compliance reporting ➜ Strategic execution
  • Activity tracking ➜ Outcome delivery
  • Fragmented KPIs ➜ Aligned performance systems The programme integrates strategy mapping, cascading frameworks, dashboard design, governance rhythms, and public accountability mechanisms to ensure sustainable institutional capability.

Programme objectives

By the end of the programme, participants should be able to:

  1. 01Explain the Balanced Scorecard as a public sector strategy execution framework
  2. 02Develop a strategy map aligned to public value and citizen outcomes
  3. 03Cascade strategy vertically (Ministry → Department → Unit → Individual)
  4. 04Align KPIs with policy mandates and budget programmes
  5. 05Distinguish between outputs, outcomes, and impact indicators
  6. 06Design dashboards for executive decision-making
  7. 07Facilitate structured performance review meetings
  8. 08Communicate strategy clearly to staff, oversight bodies, and citizens
  9. 09Avoid common public sector BSC implementation pitfalls

Who should attend

  • Strategy and Planning Managers
  • Monitoring & Evaluation Units
  • Performance Management Officers
  • Policy Analysts
  • Programme Managers
  • Directors-General / Permanent Secretaries
  • Deputy Directors-General
  • Municipal Managers
  • Chief Directors
  • SOE Executives
  • CFOs
  • Budget Directors
  • Internal Audit
  • Risk & Compliance Managers

Programme outline

9 modules · 63 topics

  1. 01The Balanced Scorecard in the Public Sector Context5 topics
    • Evolution of BSC: From corporate tool to public value framework
    • Differences between private and public sector scorecards
    • Public value perspective vs shareholder value
    • Linking policy mandates to measurable results
    • Public Sector Case Study 1: City of Charlotte, USA. One of the earliest public- sector adopters of BSC — used to align city departments to council priorities, improve service performance, and increase transparency.
  2. 02Building a Public Sector Strategy Map8 topics
    • Translating national/ministerial goals into strategic objectives
    • The four BSC perspectives adapted for government:
    • Public Value / Citizen & Stakeholder
    • Financial Stewardship
    • Internal Processes
    • Learning & Growth (People, Systems, Culture)
    • Cause-and-effect logic in public service delivery
    • Workshop: Develop a draft strategy map for your institution.
  3. 03Strategic Cascading in Government9 topics
    • Vertical alignment model:
    • National Plan
    • Ministry Strategy
    • Department Operational Plan
    • Individual Performance Agreements
    • Aligning SOEs and agencies with central strategy
    • Horizontal alignment across departments
    • Cascading to individual performance management
    • Public Sector Case Study 2: Rwanda – Imihigo Performance Contracts.
  4. 04Designing Effective Public Sector KPIs6 topics
    • Moving from activity metrics to outcome indicators
    • SMART KPIs in government
    • Leading vs lagging indicators
    • Avoiding KPI overload
    • Linking KPIs to programme budgeting
    • Public Sector Case Study 3: United Kingdom NHS Trust Scorecards. Use of balanced scorecards to monitor patient outcomes, financial sustainability, and operational efficiency.
  5. 05Strategic Tracking & Performance Governance7 topics
    • Designing executive dashboards
    • Red-Amber-Green (RAG) reporting
    • Monthly operational reviews
    • Quarterly strategic reviews
    • Root cause analysis
    • Escalation mechanisms
    • Public Sector Case Study 4: South African National & Provincial Departments. Use of Annual Performance Plans (APPs) and quarterly reviews linked to Treasury reporting frameworks
  6. 06Strategic Communication & Public Accountability5 topics
    • Communicating strategy internally (townhalls, digital dashboards)
    • Translating strategy into simple language
    • Communicating performance externally (citizen reports, parliamentary committees, media)
    • Transparency and trust building
    • Public Sector Case Study 5: Dubai Government Excellence Program. Use of scorecards and performance dashboards to communicate strategic progress across government entities.
  7. 07Linking Strategy to Budget, Risk & Projects5 topics
    • Programme-based budgeting alignment
    • Linking capital projects to strategic objectives
    • Portfolio management
    • Risk-adjusted performance monitoring
    • Avoiding initiative overload
  8. 08Governance & Sustainability of the Balanced Scorecard10 topics
    • Executive sponsorship
    • Role of Strategy Office
    • Integration with HR performance systems
    • Embedding into culture
    • Common failure points in public sector BSC:
    • Treated as compliance tool
    • Too many indicators
    • Poor data quality
    • Weak leadership ownership
    • No review discipline
  9. 09Capstone – Institutional Cascading Framework8 topics
    • Participants develop:
    • Strategy map
    • Cascading model
    • KPI structure
    • Dashboard template
    • Governance review calendar
    • Communication framework
    • Each team presents its implementation roadmap.

Upcoming dates

In-house training

Run this programme for your team

We can deliver PKM413 at your premises, anywhere in Africa, with content aligned to your organisation's internal policies.

Discuss in-house delivery How in-house training works

Related courses

All Strategic and Generic Management programmes

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How do I register for a course?

Choose a programme and date, then send an enquiry from the course page — the course and dates are filled in for you. Our team replies with the programme information and registration forms. You can also contact us on WhatsApp at +27 73 708 3507.

Do you offer in-house training at our premises?

Yes. Our group booking option allows us to bring our expert facilitators to your location anywhere in Africa. We can also customise the course content to align with your organisation’s internal policies.

How does pricing work for group bookings?

Pricing depends on your organisation's requirements, so we don't publish it. Please contact us with your programme, group size and preferred dates, and we'll get back to you with the details.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept electronic funds transfers (EFT), direct bank deposits, and corporate or government purchase orders.

Do online delegates receive certificates?

Yes. Upon successful completion of a virtual course or programme, delegates receive a digital certificate of completion equivalent to our classroom-based training.

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