STRATEGYWeeks to result

Testing Top Ideas

Evaluate ideas

Problem it solves

unclear strategic direction

Best for

Teams and organizations with multiple goals and ideas

Not ideal for

Individuals with simple, straightforward goals

Overview

Why this framework exists

This framework involves testing top ideas against four specific criteria to determine their potential impact on the overall organizational goal. It helps teams evaluate their ideas and focus on the most important ones.

Core principles

3 total
  1. Test ideas against four specific criteria
  2. Evaluate the potential impact of each idea
  3. Focus on the most important goals

Steps

2 steps
  1. Test ideas against four specific criteria
    Test each idea against four specific criteria: alignment with the overall goal, measurability, ownership of the result, and ownership of the game.
    Pro tipUse a checklist to evaluate each idea
    WarningBe careful not to overlook any of the criteria
  2. Evaluate the potential impact of each idea
    Evaluate the potential impact of each idea on the overall organizational goal.
    Pro tipUse a financial model to estimate the impact of each idea
    WarningBe careful not to overestimate or underestimate the impact of each idea

Checklist

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Examples

1 cases
Regulatory Affairs Division

The Regulatory Affairs Division used the testing top ideas framework to evaluate their ideas and focus on the most important ones.

OutcomeThe team was able to reduce the time to market for new products by prioritizing the most important goals

Common mistakes

2 traps
Overlooking one of the criteria
Overlooking one of the criteria can lead to evaluating ideas incorrectly
Underestimating the impact of an idea
Underestimating the impact of an idea can lead to missing out on important opportunities

Origin story

How this framework came to be

The framework was developed by the authors of the book 'The 4 Disciplines of Execution' as a way to help teams evaluate their ideas and focus on the most important ones.

Source

Traced to primary
Source · BOOK
Covey, Sean - The 4 Disciplines of Execution
Covey, Sean · 2020
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