Duty of Care

Chapter 8Clarity

As shown in Figure 8.1, the case of Visa, companies that find the confluence of investment level, focus, and priority are better able to develop clear digital plans. This chapter will guide you through turning your strategy into an executable plan. Figure 8.2 frames the challenge and the opportunity – how to find clarity in the eye of the storm.

Figure 8.1 The Case of Visa

Figure 8.2 The Perfect Storm Model

Parts of this chapter may go deeper than you would like, but the devil is in the details. Successful digital directors recognize that clarity requires specificity, and that clarity will make their investments more successful.

There are four ways to improve clarity in your investment plan:

• Vision – Make sure that everyone understands what you are investing in, and why.
• Direction – Set boundaries for how you expect the investment to take shape.
• Time and scope – Balance your expectations so you get what you need when you need it.
• Risk – Allow for what can go wrong

In the book Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick, McKinsey talks about the importance of being bold.¹ In this chapter, we will focus on clarity as leverage for bold technology investments.

Vision

Think of vision as the “what” and “why” of your investment. It is the point on the horizon that you are ...