Strategy Domain

The Strategy domain defines the organization's long-term vision, goals, and priorities that guide efforts to achieve mission and connect aspirations to actionable initiatives. It provides a structured framework for strategic planning, execution, and performance monitoring across the enterprise.

Schema Version: 2.2
Schema Location: /schemas/strategy.schema.json
Specification: JSON Schema Draft-07

Overview

What is Strategy?

Strategy represents the deliberate choices about how to achieve objectives through coordinated actions and resource allocation. It encompasses the direction, scope, and priorities that guide decision-making and resource deployment to achieve desired outcomes.

The domain emphasizes:

• Performance integration — KPIs embedded directly into strategic objectives
• Data-driven insights — Rapid scenario analysis and strategic planning
• Agile response — Model different scenarios and respond to changing conditions

Purpose and Value

The Strategy domain enables architects and planners to:

• Align initiatives to objectives by linking projects and programs to strategic goals
• Track strategic performance through embedded KPIs and success metrics
• Model scenarios by defining responses to different business conditions
• Communicate direction with clear, structured strategic documentation
• Enable governance through traceable strategy-to-execution linkages

For Data Engineers

The Strategy domain maps directly to analytics and governance concepts:

• Strategic Objectives → Business outcomes driving data priorities
• KPIs → Metrics to track in dashboards and reports
• Time Horizons → Planning cycles for data projects
• Risk Categories → Risk dimensions for data quality monitoring

Core Components

The Strategy domain includes essential elements that work together:

1. Strategy Objectives: Specific measurable targets that support strategic goals
2. Strategic Empathy: Elements that integrate human insight into strategy formulation

Domain Attributes

Core Attributes

Attribute	Type	Description	Required
title	String	Name/title of strategy	✓
description	String	Detailed explanation	✓
purpose	String	Intended function	✓
owner	String	Responsible individual/team	✓
orgUnitTitle	String	Most closely linked organizational units
strategyCategory	Enum	Broad categorization of strategy type
strategyType	Enum	Specific type of strategy
strategicFocus	Enum	Primary focus area
timeHorizon	Enum	Strategy time frame
scopeLevel	Enum	Organizational scope
objectives	String	Specific measurable targets
keyActivities	String	Critical implementation actions
resources	String	Allocated resources
timeline	String	Achievement timeline
keyPerformanceIndicators	String	Success metrics
dependencies	String	Required dependencies
relatedStrategies	String	Related/linked strategies
risks	String	Associated risks
riskCategories	Array[Enum]	Categories of risks
mitigationStrategies	String	Risk mitigation approaches
improvementOpportunities	String	Enhancement areas
strategicAlignment	String	Goal alignment
businessObjective	String	Supporting business goal
competitiveAdvantage	String	How strategy creates competitive advantage
marketPosition	Enum	Desired market position
investmentLevel	Enum	Required investment level
successCriteria	String	Criteria for measuring success
stakeholderImpact	String	Impact on key stakeholders
changeManagement	String	Change management approach
parent	String	Parent strategy
child	String	Child strategy
strategyObjectives	Array[Object]	Specific objectives supporting the strategy

Enumeration Values

Strategy Category (strategyCategory)

Value	Description	Example
Corporate	Enterprise-wide corporate strategy	Overall company direction and portfolio
Business Unit	Division or business unit strategy	Product line or market segment strategy
Functional	Functional area strategy	Marketing strategy, HR strategy
Operational	Operational execution strategy	Process improvement, efficiency
Military	Armed forces and defense strategy	Defensive positioning, deterrence
Political	Political power and governance	Electoral campaigns, coalition building
Diplomatic	International relations	Treaty negotiations, alliance building
Economic	Economic competition and development	Market manipulation, trade strategy
Technological	Technology development and control	Innovation races, cyber strategy
Social Movement	Social and cultural change	Advocacy campaigns, activism

Strategy Type (strategyType)

Value	Description	Example
Growth	Expansion and scaling	Market expansion, M&A
Innovation	New product/service development	R&D investment, digital innovation
Digital Transformation	Technology-driven change	Cloud migration, automation
Cost Leadership	Cost reduction and efficiency	Process optimization, economies of scale
Differentiation	Unique value proposition	Premium positioning, specialization
Offensive	Aggressive action to gain advantage	Market attack, hostile takeover
Defensive	Protecting existing position	Market defense, fortification
Containment	Limiting opponent's expansion	Competitive blocking
Deterrence	Preventing action through threat	Sanctions threat, legal warning
Coalition Building	Creating alliances	Strategic partnerships, trade blocs
Flanking	Attacking from unexpected direction	Market disruption from new angle
Preemption	Acting first to prevent opponent	First-mover advantage

Strategic Focus (strategicFocus)

Value	Description	Example
Customer Excellence	Customer experience and satisfaction	Service quality, customer journey
Operational Excellence	Process efficiency and quality	Lean operations, Six Sigma
Product Leadership	Product innovation and quality	R&D investment, patent portfolio
Market Expansion	Geographic or segment growth	New markets, new segments
Technology Leadership	Technology-driven competitive advantage	Platform leadership, tech innovation
Cost Optimization	Cost reduction and efficiency	Shared services, automation
Talent Development	Workforce capability building	Training, recruitment, retention
Sustainability	Environmental and social responsibility	ESG initiatives, carbon reduction
Resource Dominance	Control of critical resources	Supply chain control, raw materials
Innovation Leadership	Leading through new capabilities	Technological superiority

Time Horizon (timeHorizon)

Value	Description	Example
Short-term (1 year)	Immediate tactical strategies	Annual operational improvements
Medium-term (2-3 years)	Medium-term strategic initiatives	Technology implementation projects
Long-term (4-5 years)	Long-term strategic direction	Major transformation programs
Extended (5+ years)	Extended strategic vision	Generational technology shifts

Scope Level (scopeLevel)

Value	Description	Example
Enterprise-wide	Entire organization	Corporate strategy
Division	Business division	Product division strategy
Department	Departmental level	Marketing department strategy
Function	Functional area	Supply chain function
Regional	Geographic region	EMEA strategy
Global	Worldwide scope	International expansion
National	Single nation	National market strategy

Market Position (marketPosition)

Value	Description	Example
Market Leader	Dominant market position	Largest market share
Market Challenger	Strong competitive position	Challenging the leader
Market Follower	Following market trends	Adapting to leader strategies
Niche Player	Specialized market focus	Focused on specific segments
Disruptor	Disrupting existing markets	New business models
Emerging Player	New entrant to market	Startup, new participant

Investment Level (investmentLevel)

Value	Description	Example
High Investment	Significant capital allocation	Major technology overhaul, M&A
Medium Investment	Moderate resource commitment	System upgrades, process improvements
Low Investment	Limited resource requirement	Minor enhancements, efficiency gains
Minimal Investment	Very low resource needs	Process optimization, reorganization

Risk Categories (riskCategories)

Value	Description	Example
Strategic	Strategic planning and execution risks	Market shifts, competitive threats
Operational	Operational execution risks	Implementation delays, resource constraints
Financial	Financial and investment risks	Budget overruns, ROI shortfalls
Technical/Technology	Technology-related risks	System failures, obsolescence
Market	Market and competitive risks	Market changes, competitive response
Regulatory	Regulatory and compliance risks	Regulatory changes, compliance issues
Organizational	Change and organizational risks	Resistance to change, capability gaps
External/Environmental	External environmental risks	Economic conditions, supplier issues
Reputational	Brand and reputation risks	Public perception, stakeholder confidence
Cybersecurity	Security and data risks	Data breaches, cyber threats

Strategy Objective Elements

Attribute	Type	Description	Example
title	String	Name/title of objective	"Zero Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Accidents"
description	String	Objective explanation	"Eliminate all accidents at highway-rail grade crossings"
purpose	String	Intended purpose/function	"Protect public safety at rail crossings"
owner	String	Responsible individual/team	"Grade Crossing Safety Director"
orgUnitTitle	String	Aligned organization units	"Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Division"
objectiveType	Enum	Type of objective	Financial, Operational, Customer, Innovation, Sustainability
priority	Enum	Priority level	Critical, High, Medium, Low
timeline	String	Target completion timeline	"Q4 2025"
keyResults	String	Measurable key results	"50% reduction in crossing incidents"
dependencies	String	Related dependencies	"Track monitoring systems, public awareness campaigns"

Strategic Empathy Elements

The Strategy domain supports strategic empathy—the intentional use of emotional insight, stakeholder awareness, and political acuity to lead through complexity.

Attribute	Type	Description
empathyFocus	Enum	Primary stakeholder group for empathy: Customer, Employee, Partner, Community, Shareholder
empathyIntegrationLevel	Enum	Maturity of empathy integration: Ad-hoc, Defined Process, Systemic, Core Capability
stakeholderEmotionalInsight	Boolean	Whether strategy incorporates stakeholder emotional states
politicalAcuity	Boolean	Whether strategy navigates power dynamics
trustBuildingMandate	Boolean	Whether strategy includes trust-building mechanisms
fearNavigationCapability	Boolean	Whether strategy addresses stakeholder fears during change
empathyDrivenKPIs	Array[String]	KPIs linked to empathetic outcomes

Domain Relationships

The Strategy domain integrates with other metamodel domains:

Target Domain	Relationship Type	Description
Organization	Governance	Organization units govern and execute strategies
Capabilities	Enablement	Capabilities enable strategy execution
Initiatives	Implementation	Initiatives implement strategic objectives
Performance	Measurement	Performance metrics track strategic success
Stakeholder	Influence	Stakeholders influence and are impacted by strategy
Policy	Alignment	Policies align with strategic direction
Value Stream	Delivery	Value streams deliver strategic outcomes
Customer	Focus	Customer needs drive strategic priorities
People	Enablement	People execute and enable strategy
Intelligence	Insight	Intelligence informs strategic decisions

Examples

Example 1: Digital Transformation Strategy

{
  "title": "Predictive Track Maintenance Program",
  "description": "Implementation of AI-powered track defect prediction system across the national rail network",
  "purpose": "Reduce track-related accidents by 35% through early detection and predictive maintenance",
  "owner": "Director of Track Technology Innovation",
  "orgUnitTitle": "Technology Innovation Division",
  "strategyCategory": "Corporate",
  "strategyType": "Digital Transformation",
  "strategicFocus": "Technology Leadership",
  "timeHorizon": "Medium-term (2-3 years)",
  "scopeLevel": "Enterprise-wide",
  "objectives": "Deploy sensors on 85% of mainline track by 2026",
  "keyActivities": "Sensor installation, data integration, model development",
  "resources": "$145M budget, 23 technical staff, 4 AI systems",
  "timeline": "36 months: 2024-2026",
  "keyPerformanceIndicators": "Defect prediction accuracy: 92%, False positive rate: <3%",
  "dependencies": "Track geometry systems, weather monitoring network",
  "relatedStrategies": "Digital Track Inspection, Rail Stress Monitoring",
  "risks": "Sensor reliability in extreme weather, data quality issues",
  "riskCategories": ["Technical/Technology", "Operational", "Financial"],
  "mitigationStrategies": "Redundant sensor deployment, enhanced data validation",
  "strategicAlignment": "Directly supports 25% accident reduction goal",
  "businessObjective": "Reduce unplanned track maintenance by 40%",
  "competitiveAdvantage": "Industry-leading predictive maintenance capabilities",
  "marketPosition": "Market Leader",
  "investmentLevel": "High Investment",
  "successCriteria": "25% reduction in track-related incidents, ROI > 15%",
  "stakeholderImpact": "Improved safety for passengers, reduced costs for operators",
  "changeManagement": "Phased rollout with extensive training and communication",
  "parent": "FRA Technology Modernization Plan",
  "child": "Rail Temperature Monitoring Strategy"
}

Example 2: Safety Compliance Strategy

{
  "title": "Zero Accident Initiative",
  "description": "Comprehensive safety strategy to eliminate preventable accidents across all operations",
  "purpose": "Achieve zero preventable accidents through systematic safety improvements",
  "owner": "Chief Safety Officer",
  "orgUnitTitle": "Safety and Compliance Division",
  "strategyCategory": "Corporate",
  "strategyType": "Defensive",
  "strategicFocus": "Operational Excellence",
  "timeHorizon": "Long-term (4-5 years)",
  "scopeLevel": "Enterprise-wide",
  "keyPerformanceIndicators": "Lost-time injury rate, safety incident frequency, near-miss reporting rate",
  "investmentLevel": "Medium Investment",
  "riskCategories": ["Operational", "Regulatory", "Reputational"],
  "strategyObjectives": [
    {
      "title": "Zero Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Accidents",
      "description": "Eliminate all accidents at highway-rail grade crossings",
      "purpose": "Protect public safety at rail crossings",
      "owner": "Grade Crossing Safety Director",
      "orgUnitTitle": "Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Division",
      "objectiveType": "Operational",
      "priority": "Critical",
      "timeline": "2027",
      "keyResults": "100% reduction in fatal crossing accidents"
    }
  ]
}

Implementation Guidelines

Strategy Development Best Practices

1. Start with outcomes — Define what success looks like before determining activities
2. Align vertically — Ensure department strategies cascade from corporate strategy
3. Embed measurement — Include KPIs at objective level for traceability
4. Consider stakeholders — Use strategic empathy elements for human-centered strategy
5. Plan for change — Include change management approach from the start

Strategy Cascade Pattern

OpenMetadata Integration

For Data Platform Teams

When integrating with OpenMetadata, map Strategy entities as follows:

Orthogramic Element	OpenMetadata Entity	Notes
Strategy	Glossary Term	Strategic vocabulary
Strategy Objectives	Custom Entity	Track strategic objectives
KPIs	Data Quality Tests	Link metrics to data assets
Risk Categories	Tags	Apply to data assets
Time Horizon	Custom Property	Planning context

# Example: Link strategic objectives to data assets
def link_strategy_to_data(strategy, data_assets):
    """
    Tag data assets with strategic alignment information
    """
    strategy_tag = {
        "tagFQN": f"Strategy.{strategy['title'].replace(' ', '')}",
        "description": strategy["purpose"],
        "source": "Orthogramic"
    }
    
    for asset in data_assets:
        if asset_supports_strategy(asset, strategy):
            asset["tags"].append(strategy_tag)
            asset["extension"] = {
                "strategicAlignment": strategy["strategicAlignment"],
                "timeHorizon": strategy["timeHorizon"],
                "priority": get_priority(strategy)
            }
    
    return data_assets

Schema Reference

• Repository: Orthogramic/Orthogramic_Metamodel
• Schema Location: /schemas/strategy.schema.json
• Version: 2.2
• Specification: JSON Schema Draft-07
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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