What is VSEM?

VSEM is a framework developed at CISCO to create alignment and communicate this in a simple way.

It is an acronym, and each letter is a section to be filled out in a document:

• Vision — what do you want to achieve (where do you want to go, your North Star)?
• Strategy — defining goals and initiatives to get to the vision (and what resources are needed)
• Execution — what at the steps to see the strategy through successfully?
• Metrics — how do you know when you have it (quantitive preferred)?

This framework is designed to give teams a unified language for implementing and communicating strategy and action.

When deciding on metrics team members need accountability for these metrics, and this accountability needs to be real. Team members need to see executives give importance to meeting the strategy otherwise they will fall back to the whirlwind (e.g. day to day non strategic activities).

The 4 points can easily fit into a single sheet of paper to ensure the team can easily stay up to date.