Research Appendix

This appendix describes the range of tools and surveys used to support our findings. Wherever possible, we have referenced reliability and validity scores.

1. Strategy Acceleration

The Strategy Accelerator Questionnaire (SAQ)

The SAQ is a diagnostic tool that provides an accurate “acceleration profile” based on an assessment of the 13 drive factors of adaptive strategy:

  • Mobilize: embrace uncertainty, pressure-tested decision making, and shared vision
  • Execute: future core competencies, execution feasibility, and adaptive playbook
  • Transform: balanced portfolio, fail fast, and rapid response
  • Agility: foresight, learning, adaptability, and resilience

The SAQ evaluates the extent to which the process of defining strategy in an organization enables acceleration and examines how it positions the organization to outperform competitors in terms of profit and growth, no matter what the future brings.

The tool allows us to identify blind spots in the organization’s ability to realize growth aspirations and readiness to respond to the changing external environment (see Figure A.1).

Diagram shows SAQ model that accelerates strategic performance. To drive this strategic performance, the four areas that need to be considered are mobilize, execute transform and agility.

FIGURE A.1 The SAQ model

HOW THE SAQ WAS DEVELOPED Our underlying hypothesis was that in today’s constantly evolving world, organizations that accelerate are capable of sensing and acting in a timely manner. A study of 1,200 leaders from a variety of industries, conducted by faculty ...

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