How to create a new X-matrix and set it up with the guide

A new plan is created with a short form and then filled in with the help of a built-in guide. If you want to see where you are heading first, open the sample plan.

Create the plan

1. Open Strategy Deployment and click the create icon (or go to Create new).
2. Enter the name of the plan.
3. Pick a template. It decides how many levels the plan has and how the four lists are named. Each template shows its matrix and its list names right in the picker.
4. Choose the Default View – the tab the plan opens in (X-matrix unless you choose otherwise).
5. In Where to Display choose the folder of your organisation structure, then click Create.

The new plan is public, owned by you, and gets a main metric dashboard for its KPIs if you may create metric dashboards in its folder. You can change the owner, visibility and everything else later in the plan settings (see How to change the settings of an X-matrix).

Fill it in with the setup guide

An empty plan shows a matrix with placeholder bars where your items will go, and below it the guide Set up your plan in 5 steps.

Go through the steps in order. Each step starts editing the right part of the page and puts the cursor into the field for a new item:

1. 5-year goals – where you want to be in 3–5 years.
2. Annual goals – what has to change this year. Link each one to a 5-year goal.
3. Priorities – what you will do for the annual goals. Link each one to an annual goal.
4. KPIs (Targets to Improve) – the metrics that show you are on track. Mark the priorities each one measures.
5. Responsibles – assign a person to each priority and KPI.

The guide shows your progress (0 of 5 steps done). Click Hide guide when you do not need it; Show guide in the … menu brings it back.

Sections that have no data yet show a short explanation of when they fill in – for example Overall Status appears once the matrix has annual goals with linked priorities and KPIs.

Add a main objective and connect plans

Click Add a main objective or link plans above the matrix to write the objective of the plan and link it to a parent or child plan. See How to link X-matrices into a plan hierarchy.

Not sure what a good plan looks like?

Click Show sample plan (the eye icon above the matrix). The sample is a filled-in model manufacturing plant with all three views. It is read-only and has nothing to do with your data. Back to my plan returns you to the tab you came from.