Applying the eight principles of OM increases the likelihood that outcomes will be achieved thus leading to results at the organizational level.  In this way, people, partners and the organization all achieve more; they enjoy “Shared Success.”

Acknowledgement

The principle of Acknowledgement ensures that an individual or partner who owns an outcome understands it and accepts responsibility for achieving it.

Rationale.  People who are clear about what they are setting out to achieve and who take the responsibility for achieving it are much more likely to succeed than those who are unclear or who are reluctant to be responsible.  Being clear about an outcome and accepting responsibility for it are the first steps toward successfully achieving it.

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Prioritization

The principle of Prioritization      contributes to the likelihood of successful achievement of an outcome by      ensuring that it is assigned an appropriate priority.

Rationale.  Not every outcome can or should be a top priority.  Some outcomes are more important than others just as some goals and initiatives are more important than others.  Some outcomes have to be achieved before other outcomes can be achieved.  Care should be taken to establish appropriate priorities for any and all outcomes for which a person is responsible.

3. Contribution.  The principle of Contribution      contributes to shared success by making clear to all concerned how an      outcome contributes to larger, longer-term organizational goals and      initiatives.

Rationale.  The achievement of an organization’s goals and initiatives occurs as a result of people achieving smaller, shorter-term outcomes.  It is important that the people responsible for an outcome know how it contributes to larger, longer-term goals and initiatives.  It is equally important that those responsible for these larger goals and initiatives are aware of all the outcomes that link to them and how they contribute.  Organizations can then assess how well things are likely to go and individuals can see how their efforts add value.

4. Agreement.  The principle of Agreement      centers on obtaining agreement regarding the value and priority of an      outcome and that it is part of an appropriate workload for the responsible      individual or partner.

Rationale.  People in organizations often can and should take the lead in defining, proposing and prioritizing the outcomes for which they will be responsible.  However, it remains the responsibility of management to review those outcomes and agree as to their value, their priority and their fit with the overall workload of the responsible individual.

5. Association.  The principle of Association      focuses on identifying, clarifying and managing any relationships between a      given outcome and other outcomes.

Rationale.  Achievement of an organizational goal or initiative can involve many outcomes on the part of many people.  It is important that any relationships between and among outcomes, especially those related to functional or timing dependencies, are identified and addressed through suitable forms of cooperation and collaboration.  People who own associated outcomes must contribute to and share in each others’ success as well as the organization’s success.

6. Motivation.  The principle of Motivation      ensures that people and partners who are responsible for outcomes are      provided with suitable incentives for achieving them and that any      disincentives are identified and managed.

Rationale.  People can be encouraged to strive to achieve an outcome by providing them with positive and appropriate incentives.  It is also possible for disincentives to exist and these can discourage pursuit of an outcome.  Management is responsible for working with people to identify and address incentives and disincentives so that the individual has adequate motivation to achieve the outcome.

7. Requirements.  The principle of Requirements      focuses attention on identifying and addressing any conditions that must      be met or satisfied in order to achieve a particular outcome.

Rationale.  Successful achievement depends  in part on ensuring that any necessary support is provided (e.g., resources, funding, staffing, etc.).  It also depends on addressing any factors that might prevent successful achievement (e.g., eliminating barriers, obstacles and other interferences).  Ensuring that such requirements are addressed increases the probability of successfully achieving an outcome.

8. Knowledge.  The      principle of Knowledge encourages sharing of relevant knowledge that      emerges in the course of pursuing an outcome thus increasing the      likelihood of achieving it.

Rationale.  Not everything can be foreseen.  As people pursue the outcomes for which they are responsible, new knowledge often comes to light.  Other people also become aware of new and relevant information affecting the achievement of an outcome.  Sharing this information increases the probability of achieving the outcome and that increases the probability of shared success.