OE Tools

Organizational Excellence Tools

Activity Scope

Description: Use an Activity Scope to easily summarize and communicate key elements of a project to a broader audience. The Activity Scope becomes a resource document for the team to gauge progress and direction.

Template and Example (PPT)

Communication Plan

Description: The Communication Plan helps you identify key attributes of your messaging and communication strategy. The plan should include: your audience (who), your intent in communicating your message (why), the media that will best convey that message (what), who will be communicating (how), and the ways your communication will be best received.

Template (Word), Example (Word)

Eisenhower Matrix

Description: Eisenhower Matrix is a workflow decision-making tool that plots tasks in a square based on a comparison of two attributes: urgency and importance. Depending on where a task falls in the matrix, it should either be done now, scheduled for later, delegated to someone else, or eliminated from the workflow. At its most basic, the Eisenhower Matrix is binary (urgent / not urgent, important / not important), but depth could be added with a rating scale.

Template (PDF), Template (Word), Example (PDF)

Gantt Chart

Description: The Gantt Chart is a project planning tool that can be used to represent the timing of tasks required to complete a project. In a Gantt Chart, each task takes up one row. Dates run along the top in increments of days, weeks or months, depending on the total length of the project.

Template (XLS), Example (XLS)

Ground Rules

Description: Run a smooth meeting by making up-front agreements about phone use, deadlines, inclusion, etc.

Template (PDF)

Kanban

Description: Kanban is a Japanese word for “visual signal” or “card.” Toyota uses kanban to track work moving through their car manufacturing process. Visual cards help teams to communicate work needing to be done, in what order and by when. Personal Kanban was created by Jim Benson and Tonianne Demaria Berry to apply to knowledge workers to increase personal efficiency and to reduce stress.

Kano

Description: The Kano Model is a visual framework for customer-focused product development. It suggests looking at different aspects of a product’s features and seeing how their performance can impact customer satisfaction. Kano says that customers have Basic Needs, Conscious Requests, and Delighters. There is no inherent scale in the Kano Model.

Template (PNG)

Leading and Facilitating Effective Meetings

Description: We all spend countless hours in meetings. Core elements to make meetings effective and a good use of time include activity scopes, ground rules and agendas; the roles of leader, member, scribe and sponsor; decision making; and how to have inclusive conversations while achieving the goals of the meeting.

Learn more by viewing this Slide Deck (PDF) on meeting management.

Meeting Agenda Template

Description: An agenda communicates to attendees that the meeting will be conducted in an orderly fashion and that productivity is the goal. We hold meetings to get things done, share information, develop plans, document progress, provide clarity and make decisions. Having an agenda provides a roadmap to accomplishing all of these things and helps teams function effectively.

Template (Word)

Netiquette

Description: Use this guide to learn more about email etiquette, including an overview of how compose a good message and subject line, how to be succinct, and best practices in cc-ing and forwarding.

Template (Word), Template (PDF)

Project Management Lifecycle

Description: The Project Management Lifecycle shows the steps of a project management process. This version was developed by UW Finance & Facilities.

Template (PDF), Template (PPT)

Project Plan

Description: A project plan is a formal document designed to guide the control and execution of a project. It can be as simple or complex as needed. Use the project plan to track tasks, milestones, key dates, resources, and more.

Template (XLS), Sample (XLS)

RACI

Description: The RACI (Responsible/Accountable/Consulted/Informed) model is a straightforward tool used to identify roles and responsibilities and avoiding confusion over those roles and responsibilities during a project.

Template and Sample (XLS)

Roadmap

Description: This tool provides strategies to address leadership, customers, people, processes, and infrastructure at different phases of organizational growth. The Roadmap identifies what needs to happens in the startup, growth, and maturity phases and the changing pace at which these strategies need to be implemented.

Template (PDF), Template (PPT)
Strategy Map

Description: The strategy map is a diagram used to document the strategic goals identified by an organization so that projects and operational tactics can align with the overall vision, mission, and values.

Template and Sample (PDF), Template and Sample (PPT)

SWOT

Description: The SWOT analysis is a process to help you develop a strong strategy for accomplishing your work. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A SWOT analysis is an organized list of your area’s greatest strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Template (PDF), Template (PPT), Sample (Word)

Team Effectiveness Critique

Description: The Team Effectiveness Critique is a 10-question scaling tool for evaluating how well a team works together to accomplish its goals. Responses to the statements build a picture of how participants feel about the team’s functionality, and forms a useful jumping-off point for further discussion.

Template (PDF), Template (Word), Sample (Word)