Design Visual Strategy Maps and Cause-and-Effect Links
Using the drag-and-drop Strategy Map Canvas, linking leading and lagging objectives, and visualizing status heatmaps.
1. Overview & Business Value#
This comprehensive operational guide details the architecture, business workflows, configuration parameters, and execution steps for Design Visual Strategy Maps and Cause-and-Effect Links within SmartERP.
Using the drag-and-drop Strategy Map Canvas, linking leading and lagging objectives, and visualizing status heatmaps.
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2. Prerequisites & Security Access Groups#
- Required Modules:
smarterp_balanced_scorecard, smarterp_strategy - Security Groups:
Strategy Officer(Technical ID:smarterp_balanced_scorecard.group_bsc_user)Strategy Director(Technical ID:smarterp_balanced_scorecard.group_bsc_manager)Executive Committee Member(Technical ID:smarterp_balanced_scorecard.group_bsc_executive)
- Master Data Dependencies: Strategic themes, 4 BSC perspectives (Financial, Customer, Internal Process, Learning & Growth), corporate KPIs, and quarterly appraisal periods.
3. Step-by-Step Configuration & Execution#
Step 1: Navigating to the Module Interface#
- Log into your SmartERP instance at
https://smarterp.et/odoo. - Open the main App Switcher (grid icon in the top-left corner).
- Select the Strategic Execution app icon.
- From the top navigation bar, open Strategic Execution → Perspectives → Strategic Objectives / KPIs / Action Plans.
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Step 2: Creating and Parameterizing Records#
- Click the New button in the top-left control panel.
- Complete the mandatory fields in the record form:
- Objective / KPI Name (Mandatory): Precise strategic outcome statement
- Perspective (Mandatory): One of the 4 balanced perspectives with mandated weighting
- Weight (%) (Mandatory): Percentage allocation contributing to overall perspective score
- Target Value & Baseline (Mandatory): Quantifiable numerical goal and historical starting point
- Configure optional operational parameters and localized tags as required:
- Calculation Formula (Optional): Automated SQL query or module model metric extraction
- Initiative Champion (Optional): Department head or senior manager accountable for result
- Review Frequency (Optional): Monthly, quarterly, or annual appraisal cadence
- Click the Save icon in the control bar to commit the record.
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Step 3: Validating and Processing Transactions#
- State Transitions: Execute operational state progression (Draft → Active Target → Mid-Term Review → Final Appraisal → Locked).
- Ledger & System Impact: Financial perspective KPIs dynamically read General Ledger balances, revenue growth metrics, and cost ratios directly from the accounting engine.
- Audit Verification: Automated recording of author ID, timestamp, and immutable revision history.
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Purpose of the Strategy Map#
A Strategy Map is a visual representation of an organization's strategy that illustrates the cause-and-effect relationships between strategic objectives across the four perspectives. In SmartERP, achieving objectives in Learning & Growth drives excellence in Internal Processes, which delivers superior Customer Value, ultimately yielding Financial Success.
Procedure: Constructing a Strategy Map#
- Navigate to Balanced Scorecard > Strategy Maps and click New Canvas.
- Title:
Five-Year Enterprise Growth Strategy Map (2026-2030). - The interactive canvas displays the four perspective swimlanes.
- Adding Strategic Objectives:
- Click Add Objective in the Learning & Growth lane:
Implement ERP-Driven Automation & Reskill Workforce. - Click Add Objective in the Internal Processes lane:
Streamline Supply Chain Cycle Time & Zero Stockouts. - Click Add Objective in the Customer lane:
Deliver 98% On-Time Delivery Across Regional Branches. - Click Add Objective in the Financial lane:
Achieve 25% Operating Margin & 500M ETB Revenue.
- Click Add Objective in the Learning & Growth lane:
- Drawing Cause-and-Effect Arrows:
- Click the connecting anchor of the Learning objective and drag an arrow to the Internal Process objective.
- SmartERP establishes the structural relationship in the relational database.
- Activating Live Performance Heatmaps:
- Toggle Live Heatmap Overlay. The canvas colors each objective node based on real-time aggregated KPI achievement: Green (>95%), Amber (80-95%), Red (<80%).
4. Advanced Configuration Points#
- Automated Actions & Scheduled Tasks (Crons):
BSC: Calculate quarterly KPI achievements(smarterp_bsc.ir_cron_compute_kpi): Runs quarterly on the 5th to compute composite achievement scoresBSC: Issue appraisal cascade reminders(smarterp_bsc.ir_cron_appraisal_alert): Runs monthly to remind objective champions to update progress
- Custom Print Templates & Reports:
- Institutional Balanced Scorecard Executive Dashboard
- Departmental Strategic Cascade Matrix
- KPI Performance Variance & Trend Analysis
- Corporate Strategy Execution Summary
- Multi-Company Rules: Record-level security isolation under Company 1 (
Ashewa Technology Solutions S.C.), preventing cross-company ledger leakage across parent and subsidiary legal entities.
5. Comprehensive Troubleshooting Matrix#
| Error Symptom / Exception | Probable Root Cause | Corrective Action / Resolution |
|---|---|---|
Weighting Error: Perspective weights do not equal 100% | Total weights assigned to objectives within perspective fail to sum to 100.00%. | Adjust individual objective weightings so the perspective total equals exactly 100%. |
Data Feed Error: Automated KPI metric returned null | Underlying model query failed or target database view has no records. | Verify connected model name and filter domain in the KPI automated calculation parameters. |
Lockout Error: Period results locked for executive review | Current appraisal quarter has been locked by the Strategy Director. | Obtain written authorization and request temporary unlock from the Strategy Director. |