Glossary
The strategy and goals glossary
Clear definitions for the language of goals and execution, across every framework: OKRs, KPIs, EOS, OGSM, SMART goals, the Balanced Scorecard, and Hoshin Kanri. Each entry includes a plain-language definition and a concrete example.
B
Balanced Scorecard
A strategy framework that tracks four perspectives: financial, customer, process, and learning.
BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
A bold long-term goal, often 10 to 25 years out, that focuses an organization on one ambition.
C
Cascading Goals
Aligning goals down the organization so each level supports the one above.
Catchball
The back-and-forth negotiation of goals between organizational levels in Hoshin Kanri.
Confidence Score
A subjective rating of how likely a goal is to be achieved, often red, amber, green.
E
Effort-Impact Matrix
A 2x2 that ranks initiatives by the effort they take against the impact they return.
EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)
A complete operating system for small businesses, built around Rocks, Scorecards, and L10 meetings.
Execution Risk
The gap between a goal and the effort, resources and focus actually pointed at it.
G
Goal Check-in
A periodic update on a goal's progress and confidence, usually weekly.
Goal Hierarchy
The nested structure linking company goals to team and individual goals and the work below.
H
Horizon Planning
Planning growth across three horizons: the core business, emerging bets, and future options.
Hoshin Kanri
A Japanese strategy-deployment method that cascades a few breakthrough goals top to bottom.
K
Key Result
A measurable outcome that proves an Objective has been reached.
KPI
A Key Performance Indicator: an ongoing metric that tracks the health of an activity.
L
Leading vs Lagging Indicator
Leading indicators predict an outcome; lagging indicators confirm it after the fact.
Level 10 Meeting
EOS's structured 90-minute weekly meeting for scorecards, rocks, and issue-solving.
M
MBO (Management by Objectives)
Drucker's approach where managers and employees jointly set and review measurable objectives.
MBR (Monthly Business Review)
A monthly review of trends and trajectory between the weekly and quarterly tiers.
N
North Star Metric
The single metric that best captures the core value a product delivers to customers.
NPS (Net Promoter Score)
A customer-loyalty metric from one question, scored from -100 to 100.
O
Objective
The qualitative, memorable outcome a team is aiming for in a goal cycle.
OGSM
A one-page plan linking Objective, Goals, Strategies, and Measures.
OKR
A goal framework pairing one qualitative Objective with a few measurable Key Results.
Operating Cadence
The recurring rhythm of meetings and reviews that keeps a strategy on track.
Q
QBR (Quarterly Business Review)
A quarterly review to score outcomes, learn, and re-plan the next quarter.
Quarterly Planning
The recurring session where a team sets or resets its goals for the next 90 days.
R
RACI Matrix
A grid that maps each task to who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.
Rock (EOS)
A single most-important priority to complete within a 90-day quarter in EOS.
S
SMART Goals
Goals written to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Strategic Initiative
A cross-functional effort funded to move a strategic goal forward.
Strategy Execution
The discipline of turning a strategy into delivered results, not just a plan.
Strategy Execution Gap
The distance between what leadership planned and what the organization is actually doing.
Strategy Map
A one-page visual of how objectives across perspectives cause one another.
Stretch Goal
An ambitious target set beyond comfortable reach to drive outsized effort.
T
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