The Power of CPQQRT to Manage Complexity.

Updated 17 August 2023.

Business leaders operate in a complex, fast-paced environment that requires them to balance multiple priorities while making ongoing strategic decisions that will impact the futures of their business. That’s why they need effective tools and frameworks to help them thrive in their role. One such framework is CPQQRT. Developed by Elliot Jaques(1), a Canadian organisational psychologist, this approach can help executives frame projects, provide directions and hand over information to manage complexity more efficiently.

Let's explore the power of CPQQRT and how business leaders can use it to drive success.

Context: The first step in the CPQQRT framework is "context." Context aims at setting the scene and providing clarity about what instigated the project, how it links to other activities, what has been done previously, who the key stakeholders are and anything that could in any way influence what needs to get done.

Purpose: The second step in the CPQQRT framework is "purpose." It involves defining the reason for doing the work. It is essential not to confuse purpose with outcomes. Outcomes are the deliverables that we will define in the Quality/Quantity elements. Purpose is the answer to the question, “Why are we doing this?" There should be either a problem to solve or an opportunity to capture.

Quality/Quantity: The next steps in the CPQQRT framework are "quality and quantity." These elements relate to "How many?" (quantity) and "To what standard?"(quality). Here we want to distinguish between outputs and outcomes.

Outputs are an action that we take towards our goal, things like initiatives, plans, sub-projects, tactics, documents, artefacts, presentations, reports and events. Outcomes are the measurable results that you want to see from the outputs.

For example, the instruction to "submit two reports" relates to quantity, whilst the instruction "the reports should contain sections on Background, Research Results, Future Scenarios and Recommendations using both text and visual elements" relates to quality. Combined these are an output. Additional detail in the instruction like "the reports will be used by the Board and Executive to support an informed discussion on how the next Annual Plan will influence and support impact and growth over the next 10 years, and make supporting investment decisions" is the desired outcome.

Resources: The next step in the CPQQRT framework is "resources." These are the resources that will be available to deliver the project to the desired quantity/quality. It is important to understand the resources available and their limitations, especially if they are external and/or limited. This should include all the people, tools and materials etc required.

Time: The final step in the CPQQRT framework is "time." This element is about establishing detailed timelines for the project – when activities need to be completed, by what date and how much time is available for each stage of the project. It should also include other timings, such as when decisions need to be made, or when reviews need to take place.

CPQQRT is an effective framework for managing complexity and achieving success. By creating clarity around the context, purpose, quality/quantity, resources and time of a project, business leaders can provide direction for their teams and be sure that their projects will be delivered according to plan.

Understanding the power of CPQQRT and learning how to apply it to different activities can help business leaders make more informed decisions, work with multiple stakeholders and manage complexity more efficiently. By implementing a framework such as CPQQRT, leaders can increase their chances of project success and improve their organisation’s strategic planning process.

Advantages of Implementing CPQQRT in Your Business.

The CPQQRT framework can have a wide range of benefits for businesses, including:

• Increased clarity and visibility across projects. The CPQQRT framework provides a structure that enables leaders to clearly define the context, purpose, quality/quantity, resources and time available for each project. This allows them to monitor the progress of their projects more effectively while providing regular updates to stakeholders.

• Improved communication and collaboration between teams. By allowing business leaders to articulate their goals more clearly, the CPQQRT framework facilitates better collaboration between teams by providing a unified understanding of what needs to be done and how it should be achieved.

• More efficient decision-making process. The CPQQRT framework provides clarity on the context, purpose, quality/quantity, resources and time available for a project. This helps business leaders make informed decisions based on all the factors involved and reduces uncertainty in the decision-making process.

• Reduced risks of failure. By establishing a clearer framework to work within, leaders can reduce the risk of projects failing due to lack of clarity or miscommunication between teams. The CPQQRT framework helps identify any potential risks early on and makes sure that all stakeholders are on the same page.

The CPQQRT framework is a powerful tool for managing complexity and achieving success, both in business and in life. By taking the time to learn how to apply this approach, business leaders can develop their skills and become even more effective at managing the projects they work on and delivering the results they need.

References.

(1) Jaques, Elliott, and Stephen D. Clement. 1994. Executive leadership: a practical guide to managing complexity. Malden, Mass: Blackwell.