Draft A New Strategic Objective
Drafting a Strategic Objective begins with the planning committee selecting two critical components that serve as the foundation for all subsequent workflow activities.
First, the committee selects a Strategic Initiative from the list of initiative categories defined in the institution’s strategic plan.
Next, the committee selects a specific Strategic Initiative from the list of initiatives outlined in the plan.
Example: The demonstration dataset includes 14 sample Strategic Initiative categories.
The planning committee has now selected the following initiative: Expand the use of smart classroom technologies and pedagogies that meet the needs of today’s digitally savvy students.
This selection establishes the foundational initiative from which all subsequent workflow activities—such as defining measurable objectives, assigning responsibilities, and associating budget components—will derive within the Apogee Workflow environment.

Seven Sequential Workflow Activities
Drafting a new Strategic Objective now involves completing 7 sequential workflow activities within the Apogee Workflow environment.
Each activity guides the planning committee through a structured process that ensures alignment between institutional strategy, operational planning, and budget development.

1. Enter General Information
The first sequential workflow activity is to enter the general information related to the Strategic Objective.
In recap, the committee selected “Academics and Instruction” from the list of Strategic Initiative categories defined in the institution’s strategic plan.
From this category, the committee then identified the following strategic initiative:
Expand the use of smart classroom technologies and pedagogies that meet the needs of today's digitally savvy students.
The committee then assigned this Strategic Objective to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for implementation and oversight.

From this point forward, the planning committee has two options. The committee may either (1) complete all remaining sequential workflow activities required to fully develop the strategic objective, or (2) assign the partially completed strategic objective to a designated recipient, who will then be responsible for completing all remaining workflow activities.
For this example, let’s assume the planning committee has elected to complete all remaining sequential workflow activities. The remaining workflow activities guide the committee through each step required to fully develop and operationalize the strategic objective.

2. Draft A Strategic Objective
The next committee activity is to draft a Strategic Objective closely aligned to the strategic initiative. A Strategic Objective is a specific, measurable goal that supports an institution's broader mission and short and long-term strategy. It defines what the organization aims to achieve over a defined period—one to five years—and provides direction for decision-making, resource allocation, and performance measurement and should be ...... 1. Specific2. Measurable3. Results oriented 4. Time Bound5. Aligned to a Strategic Initiative6. May or may not require a budget
Here is a sample Strategic Objective.

3. Draft A Strategy
The next committee activity is to draft a strategy closely aligned with the strategic objective.
A strategy is just a clear plan of intended actions to successfully accomplish the Strategic Objective.
Here is a sample strategy aligned with the strategic objective.

4. Select Applicable KPI's
The next logical step is to select Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure progress toward the strategic objective (quantifiable metrics that evaluate how effectively an institution, department, team, or individual is achieving specific objectives).
Key Performance Indictors are unique to and defined by the institution.
Once a KPI is selected, users can click to view a detailed data grid where performance outcomes are recorded and tracked over time.
Example: The KPI tracking FTIC student retention showed an improvement, with 82 more students returning in the spring term compared to the previous fall semester.

5. Select Applicable Institutional Goals
Once the strategic objective, strategy, and key performance indicators (KPIs) have been selected, the next committee activity is to link them to one or more institutional Goals.

6. Select Applicable Commission Standards
The next committee workflow activity is to select regional or programmatic Commission Compliance Standards that align with the Strategic Objective.
For this example, the institution is accredited by SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges). By default, Apogee workflow displays standards specific to SACSCOC.

7. Add A Budget Component
After defining all essential elements of a Strategic Objective, the next activity is to add a budget commitment. Determine whether funding is required to achieve the objective, noting that not all strategic objectives need funding.
If a budget is essential for successful completion, the committee will add the necessary funding components
● Select a Fund Category – This identifies the source of funds (e.g., General Fund, Grant Fund, Auxiliary Fund, Capital Fund)
● Select an Account Code – This links the expense to the correct financial account (e.g., salaries, equipment, software, professional development).
● Enter Quantity and Cost – Specify the number of items, or units needed, along with the per-unit cost, so the system can calculate the total budget allocation.
● Assign to the Appropriate Department – The department responsible for implementing the strategic objective receives the budget allocation. This ensures accountability and ties financial resources to operational responsibility.