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ISIS (Integrated Strategic Intention System is an
Integral Mapping System. It is both a linear and non-linear
mapping system which can be built through a series of
reductionistic mapping levels, or seen and used in a
non-linear/dynamic system where each level is a fractal of the
whole, the whole always being holographic. In every level we find
parts of the whole and in the whole we find the parts.
This may be difficult for some people to
conceptualize therefore it might be easier to consider it in a
linear sequence where each level is either transcended and
included moving from lesser to greater scope or from top down—each
level leading to a level below it, such as a Russian Doll Set.
The following is an attempt to describe the 5 levels. While there
are only 5 levels identified, in reality an infinite number of
levels exist. For the purposes of Integral Mapping Systems in
most systems, 5 levels are sufficient to describe the system:
·
ISISPrime - ongoing
strategy map for overarching domain or system
·
ISISInitiative - ongoing strategy map for perspective
·
ISISObjective longer term strategy map for specific
focus in time
·
ISISProject – short term strategy map for
specific focus now
·
ISISiMAP
- short or long term strategy map for a specific
individual role and specific individual issue that may evolve over
time.
ISISPrime
-
Most encompassing Level of Mapping: ISISPrime
is the
overarching strategic map from a personal, business or network
point of view. At this mapping level, strategy is broad and
overarching. One way to map is to use perspectives from the
“realms” of the Cash Flow Quadrant by Kiysoki. Each of the
quadrants identified in this system present a set of assumptions
and beliefs or mental models that provide often rather unique
strategy maps. It is important that a person, business or
network understand the implications of mapping from each realm
in the strategy process.
The four realms
are:
-
Employee
-
Self-employed
-
Business
-
Investment
Each realm
presents different mental models as well as challenges to the
mapping system. Mapping from the E/S side is MUCH different than
mapping from the B/I side of the Cash Flow Quadrant. Often times
mixing them up requires in depth testing of the mental models
being used, especially when the map creates constraints governed
through partial views from the personal, business and network
domains.
It is often
helpful to utilize the “rubik’s cube” metaphor utilized in B\Coach
Systems, LLC Integral Leadership Training where personal, business
and network domains are mapped against Internal, External,
Financial, and Developmental Perspectives arising from the
Balanced ScoreCard Methodology proposed by Kaplan and Norton;
across 3 dimensions of time: now, near and far.
Generally, if
one person is mapping on a personal basis it is usually best to
decide to do either a “life” or “business” map. Either map your
life, if your life strategy governs your business (which is the
case for most self-employed persons) or move to the B/I side and
map your business, using the business strategy to govern whether
or not you employee yourself in the business. It goes without
saying, the easiest way to sub-optimize either is to confuse the
mental models and create constraints that serve to limit the
positive effects of either quadrant. Self-employed people often
create an ISISPrime that
encompasses both and therefore become victims of their strategy.
ISISPrime becomes a
guiding strategy for all other levels of mapping which links
strategy throughout the personal, business, and network domains in
life or business.
Visit an Example
here
ISISInitiative
-
ISISInitiative is a level of mapping which
generally addresses one of the perspectives from the “prime”
map: internal, external, financial and developmental. Mapping
from this level allows more specific detail to be mapped at a
more focused level, where in the “prime” view, we’re looking for
general strategic direction, in the initiative level, we’re
becoming more specific to the area of focus. Internal usually
looks a operations, business process improvement in the internal
area or those “systems” that may be contributing to internal
perspectives. External dealing with customers, the value chain
or demand chain, financial dealing with financial systems and of
course developmental being aligned with learning, growth,
innovation, usually seen as R&D. The key to mapping at this
level is the execution of strategy from an overarching point of
view. This level of mapping is like the “prime” level in that
this map remains over time and is continuously evolved and
improved to guide the personal, business and/or network domains.
Visit an
Example here
ISISObjective
-
ISISObjective is a strategic map designed
to create more specificity in addressing what might be a
specific objective that will in most cases not be
continuously mapped, possibly in relation to an ISISInitiative.
For example,
the above organization may create an ISISObjective for
the purpose of mapping a process which may be installed into the
organization such as when GE added “Six-Sigma” to it’s set of
business practices and process in the 90s. While this is
connected to, it required a separate map because it was an
additional strategy being added which required a ramp up period, a
set of new practices, the allocation of separate resources and
additional leadership. Since it was a part of the overall
initiatives stemming from the “Internal” perspective, which in
most cases, would have been identified as a “goal” or “task” to
accomplish in the “ISISInitiative, it required a
separate map that once executed became a part of the underlying
standards of behavior in the Internal perspective.
However, up
until that moment, the mapping of it as a separate objective can
be vital to get the depth of execution required to create a
successful implementation. Most of the time, this level of
mapping can be done to accomplish specific objectives that may
obsolete themselves over time and become part of the nature of
other levels of strategy. This level of mapping is used to focus
resources specifically in an organized and deliberate manner in a
specific domain of effect in the near term of time.
This level of
mapping is also used for developing a set of skills that may be
identified as necessary in either levels above or levels below
depending on one’s focus or how one comes to this system. Often
entry points for the
ISIS are “Prime and iMAP.”
Visit an Example
here
Visit other Examples
here
ISISProject
-
ISISProject is a plan around a specific
project, for example, creating a specific product or perhaps
creating the packaging for a product integral to the success of
an objective. In the case of the Six-Sigma Objective becoming a
part of the Initiative for Operations, project mapping was
critical to put in place parallel streams of activity that must
occur “now” that are converging into the objective in the near
term. A moniker of project mapping is that it normally has a
shorter time dimension and now or near term effects. It is used
to focus resources like a laser beam on the domain at hand.
Visit an
Example here
ISISiMAP
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ISISiMAP
is an individual person’s strategy map that may be aligned with
other levels of strategic mapping depending on the scope of the
previous mapping. The ISISiMAP
may revolve around a specific developmental role usually
specific to a point of leverage that has been identified as
constrained by the person’s behavior usually leading to a
specific set of behaviors that must be altered. Often there is
a specific issue.
For example:
A person might
have identified that “conflict resolution” is a constraining
competence and may work with a coach to identify a specific role:
supervisor/executive and a specific issue: failing to invite other
perspectives as a leading indicator constraining the level of
competence. In order to remove the constraint or barrier to the
perception of higher levels of competence in conflict resolution,
an iMAP strategy mapping system may be engaged to deliberately
identify what factors are involved in changing the dynamics
surrounding the indicators identified.
The iMAP is
used by the individual as a guiding strategy when they are focused
on a specific issue that is a barrier to improvement in an area of
competence. It is almost always developmental in nature and if
performance is connected to the issue, using the objective level
along with the iMAP level can be helpful in driving the
performance and developmental aspects of the competence in the
domain required.
Examples of
an iMAP can be found
here
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