science

OGSM

OGSM is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand OGSM rather than just read about it. In short: Objective, goals, strategies and measures (OGSM) is a goal setting and action plan framework used in strategic planning. It is used by organizations, departments, teams and sometimes program managers to define and track measurable goals and actions to achieve an objective.

Key takeaways

OGSM belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect OGSM to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of OGSM from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Objective, goals, strategies and measures (OGSM) is a goal setting and action plan framework used in strategic planning. It is used by organizations, departments, teams and sometimes program managers to define and track measurable goals and actions to achieve an objective. Documenting your goals, strategies and actions all on one page gives insights that can be missing with other frameworks. It defines the measures that will be followed to ensure that goals are met and helps groups work together toward common objectives, across functions, geographical distance and throughout the organization. OGSM's origins can be traced back to Japan in the 1950s, stemming from the process and strategy work developed during the occupation of Japan in the post-World War II period. It has since been adopted by many Fortune 500 companies. In particular, Procter & Gamble uses the process to align the direction of their multinational corporation around the globe.

Purpose The OGSM framework forms the basis for strategic planning and execution, as well as a strong management routine that keep the plan part of the day-to-day operations. It aligns the leaders to the objective of the company, links key strategies to the financial goals, and brings visibility and accountability to the work of improving the capabilities of the company. Due to the concise format (usually one page) and simple color-coding to signal progress, OGSM allows for quick management by exception of any underperforming activity or underperforming (key) performance indicator. And finally, it is simple, robust and developed as a team. OGSM is designed to identify strategic priorities, capture market opportunities, optimize resources, enhance speed and execution, and align team members. Each component of OGSM plays a distinct role: the Objective sets a qualitative ambition, Goals are quantitative targets, Strategies are the key approaches to reach the goals, and Measures define how progress is tracked and translated in to concrete action.

History Research indicates that the OGSM method was developed by Procter & Gamble, but the verifiable origins of OGSM remain unclear. Brought from Japan to corporate America in the 1950s, the OGSM concept was used initially by car manufacturers. Today, larger corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, employ this framework to keep their workforces centered on goals and objectives. Ideally, this tool attempts to express in one page what a traditional business plan takes 50 pages to explain.

Development in the U.S. The OGSM has been employed by multinational corporations around the globe, including but not limited to:

Coca-Cola Company Procter & Gamble KPN Royal FloraHolland Reckitt Benckiser Honda Mars MetLife Triumph International

Procter & Gamble (P&G) provides an example of how these ideas translate into organizational practice. A.G. Lafley, the CEO of P&G, uses the OGSM tool (as illustrated in OGSM § Considerations) to provide a framework for organizing the discussion about goals and strategic direction. While notably implemented at fortune 500 companies, startups and SMBs also use OGSMs to create strategic alignment.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with OGSM

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what OGSM claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to OGSM before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about OGSM ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of OGSM

In research: OGSM appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses OGSM in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: OGSM is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Management frameworks, Organizational cybernetics, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for OGSM outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study OGSM in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what OGSM means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain OGSM out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is OGSM in simple terms?

Why does OGSM matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study OGSM?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on OGSM.