A Strategy Map is a visual representation that illustrates how an organization creates value by connecting strategic objectives across multiple perspectives—typically financial, customer, internal process, and learning/growth dimensions—showing cause-effect relationships between strategic components and enabling alignment of architectural initiatives with business strategy.
Strategy Maps translate abstract strategic ambitions into concrete, interconnected objectives that demonstrate how organizational capabilities combine to deliver strategic outcomes. Based on Balanced Scorecard methodology but extended for architectural use, these maps provide crucial context for prioritizing architectural investments by establishing clear linkages between technology capabilities and business value creation. The visual nature of Strategy Maps makes complex strategic relationships accessible to diverse stakeholders, creating shared understanding of how different initiatives contribute to overall strategic intent.
Modern architectural practice has extended traditional Strategy Maps to incorporate digital transformation objectives, highlighting how technology capabilities enable new business models, customer experiences, and operational efficiencies. Leading organizations use Strategy Maps as alignment tools that connect enterprise architecture roadmaps directly to strategic objectives, ensuring that architectural decisions remain focused on business outcomes rather than technology imperatives. When integrated with portfolio management processes, Strategy Maps provide evaluation criteria for initiative prioritization, helping organizations balance strategic alignment with resource constraints. This integration is particularly valuable during transformation initiatives, where Strategy Maps help maintain focus on intended outcomes while navigating the inevitable adjustments required during complex change programs.
« Back to Glossary Index