Employee Resource Group Excellence

12Strategic Planning: Using the Google Maps Approach

Who doesn't love the Google Maps app? You know, the one many of us use to figure out how to get from where we are to where we want to go. This web mapping application is so popular that at one point not long ago it was determined that it was the world's most popular smartphone app. If you are not familiar with Google Maps, the application uses a global positioning system (GPS) to provide turn‐by‐turn navigation that allows someone to get from one point to another by following directions using a specific route.

How Google Maps works is simple. A person simply uses their computer, car, or smartphone and first indicates their current exact location, usually indicated by a blue dot on the device, followed by the desired destination, either by entering an address or selecting a location on the application. Then the application calculates several routes that allow the user to get from where they are to where they want to go. Some routes might be the fastest, some routes may be the shortest, or some might be the most scenic. The user can also indicate if they are driving, walking, or taking public transportation, and the map will determine the best route. Also, as someone starts toward their destination, the application provides updates based on traffic or road conditions. It simply is an amazing application.

As ERGs embark on their journey toward excellence, they should use the Google Maps approach when it comes to strategic planning. ...