Customer Reviews

Roadmaps and Revelations: Finding the Road to Business Success on Route 101

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Often I've contemplated the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. In my experience, that statement is true and I've also observed that the viewers frequently derive significantly different information from a picture. Some will see simply a scene or in abstract art they will be reminded of vastly different experiences than I might recall. What we learn from the picture will be different depending on the lenses through which we view the scene. Those lenses are shaped, polished and given refractive characteristics through our values and life experiences.

Much the same happens when we hear an interesting story, which, next to a picture, is the second most engaging and inspiring way to share information. In Road Maps and Revelations, Niven spins a compelling fable and manages to fit in very sound principles for developing a strategic business plan. The story takes place in a trip down the California coast between San Francisco and San Diego. This was especially interesting to me since I have made that very same trip several times. Rory Newman, the protagonist, uncovered many lessons through the improbable character, Sydney Wise, who is both a surprise visitor and a successful serial entrepreneur who has figured out exactly how to create a strategic plan. He doesn't make it easy on Rory, but rather seeks to engage Rory's imagination in discovering the lessons for himself.

Those lessons are: (1) Start with a consistent definition of strategy; (2) examine the organization's core purpose and timeless mission; (3) create a strategy that is simple, clearly understood and easily implemented by the employees; (4) create an organic plan which is dynamic rather than details of facts and figures; (5) develop a plan that fits with, complements and creates synergy with your corporate culture; (6) communicate your plan as a story in which every employee is central to the exciting success of the company. Niven further espouses getting clear on your mission and then answer four fundamental questions: (1) what propels us forward? (2) What do we sell [not really a trivial question!]? (3) Who are our customers? And (4) how do we sell? Each of these questions is answered looking at them through the lenses of social/cultural impact, Human point of view, technological issues and financial point of view. Keep in mind that this is a high level method of creating and presenting a plan. There is much work hidden in these simple steps.

When written and summarized in this short list, the lessons seem boring and somewhat trivial. Niven's book itself, on the other hand, demonstrates exactly why weaving a story to make your point and communicate your plan is the most effective way to get everyone on board. In using his story to develop how to go through the sometimes overwhelming task of developing a clear and compelling strategy, the author manages to break things down into bite-sized tasks. We know that each one is going to be a challenge by itself, yet we no longer feel that we have such a monumental task in front of us. And best of all, the plan developed will be easily understood and will not comprise reams of paper with incredible detail. All that will, of course, exist. However it will be backup data rather than the plan itself. I am reminded of Chief Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes who once famously said, "I would not give a fig for simplicity on this side of complexity. But I would give my life for simplicity on the other side of complexity." Niven gives us a simply understood method for digging through the incredible complexity required of a solid strategic business plan so that we arrive at a concise and simple to understand strategy on the other side.

I happened upon Roadmaps and Revelations, by Balanced Scorecard expert Paul Niven, during a critical time of strategic planning for my non-profit organization. The book, with the engaging fable and model summary at the end, gave a nuanced yet direct way to apply outcomes-oriented strategic thinking to an organization's change process. I will adapt the Roadmap Strategy to my organization's strategic planning efforts to enable us to change, grow and become an even more effective organization. And it is because of the accessibility and clarity of Roadmaps and Revelations that I am able to embark on this process with a firm plan and a high degree of confidence. I recommend this book to anyone involved in strategic planning, whether in a non-profit or for-profit organization, getting started or renewing a strategic plan that has already been in place. I'm ordering copies for my whole strategic planning team. This is great stuff!

This is a book on how to get an executive team to efficiently create a strategy. As the author explains, the experiences from his leading many strategy development sessions are the basis for the book. While he was born into the world of Balanced Scorecard consulting, he appears to have found those nuggets of practicality in the sea of Kaplan and Norton academia. I too have led strategic development sessions and agree that distant case studies, sterilized academic theories and distilled acronyms (e.g. SWOT, PEST, TQM), as critical as they are, only get you so far. You have to have stood in front of many desperate, frustrated and confused executives to really get it. Paul Niven gets it - executing among the complex and abundant roadblocks of the executive and upper manager psyche involves some technique, but a lot of artful finesse. As Niven points out, one step is to have all participants read, understand and talk-to a common methodology before holding strategy sessions. By presenting his methodology as a fable, keeping it very simple, and leaning towards reality (e.g. more emphasis on finances and customers); it will be that much easier to get everyone on the same page. But, herein lies the greatest strength of the book - Niven has integrated classical theories (e.g. SWOT, Drucker, von Clauswitz), with solid new-age concepts (Collins, Raynor, Kaplan & Norton) with his proven experiences - an approach I value. I always look for methods to help my clients avoid "strategic retreat" hell which leads to SOTS (Strategies on the Shelf) - this book fits that need well.

Paul Niven's latest book, Roadmaps and Revelations, is a quick read full of countless jewels of insight on strategic planning. For those of us who have practiced the art of strategic business planning for more than a couple of decades, Mr. Niven's book is a creative approach to capturing many key insights regarding what works and what doesn't work. For anyone that's attended even a short session at "the school of hard knocks," it will be difficult to keep from nodding one's head up-and-down in agreement as each page reveals a new practical example of how to apply strategic thinking at all levels of an organization. If you've ever struggled through an academic treatise on the subject of strategic planning or worked on a strategic planning assignment that involved more lip-service to a detached process than an exercise in critical, tough assumption-challenging thinking, then you'll find the engaging story of Roadmaps and Revelations a "breath of fresh air." The approach to planning described in Mr. Niven's book is more than a process - it's a mindset for creating a meaningful and executable business roadmap. This book is a must-read for every business executive!

Allen Mills, CEO
Bluecrane, Inc.

Easy reading with a definite roadmap approach. I recommend this book for anyone desiring a basic understanding of the principles of strategic management in business. The applications are clear. He frequently recaps the subject matter before proceeding to the next step.

In his latest book Road Maps and Revelations Paul Niven was able to turn the dry subject of Strategic Planning into a brilliant and clever page-turner. This book simplifies and clarifies the much dreaded subject, by ninety percent of C-suite members, of strategy formulation and makes actionable, an until today, virtual and academic subject.
A great book and must read.

Paul Niven has again simplified the Balanced Scorecard. His road trip format makes it easy to understand how to define and establish our strategy. Although we already had a Strategy Statement we were able to simplify and align it with these simple steps. His website, tied into the book, was of great help.

Although Norton and Kaplan may have invented the BSC, it is Paul who has made it accessible and easy to understand.

This book is a fast read that is engaging and informative. I like the way the author simplifies some of the larger concepts like "What is the mission?" Many strategic planning documents miss the large picture because they are more focused on goals and numbers to measure those goals. This book provides a concise method to go beyond creating year end goals and developing a clear vision of what the company is, what it does well, and how it can excel by focusing on those items.

I found the content to be excellent and this rated 5 stars. However, I lowered my overall rating due to an excess of hyperbole that frequently left me rolling my eyes. Instead of engaging me in the story, I found the exagerated figures of speech to be a distraction.

Karen L. Jett, CMA, author of Grow Your People, Grow Your Business

Paul Niven's book is historic.

Not since 1908 when the Harvard MBA Program was formed has the world of business been offered such vision and critical fundamental guidance.

Niven writes about strategic planning in the most refreshing way. From the moment you pick up the book, you begin to realize how all human beings, including business managers with long "to do" lists to complete each day, can easily get derailed from achieving company and personal goals. As you read this book, you become convinced that having and knowing a clear strategy is Job 1 for any company, business manager, or individual. Without it, most activity is just molecular chaos with random highs and lows. Kudos to Niven for taking busines planning and strategy to a whole new level. A valuable tool for business managers and any person interested in maximizing their performance. And Niven's storybook approach makes it an easy read. Get it for your next airline flight and you'll still have time to watch the movie.

Greg Berk,
Irvine, California

Paul Niven's book is important and well timed. This book is really about questions. What questions should leadership take on that they are uniquely positioned to answer. I think many organizations have moved away from taking on some of the fundamental questions that drive long term value. Paul tries to show in a fun narrative that it doesn't have to be overly structured, but at the end of the day, leadership must find the time and a workable framework to address these questions. He offers a great framework that should work for any enterprise.

It's a quick read, with lots of good pop references to keep the story moving. Sydney can be a little annoying at times, but it really works in the end.