Every enterprise sets ambitious strategies, but execution can often break down. The missing link is usually not technology, but capabilities: the things your business must do well to succeed.
Capability-based planning makes those capabilities the anchor for investment decisions. With SAP LeanIX solutions, you can connect strategy to execution in five steps: define objectives, assess your current and target state, identify gaps, prioritize investments, and measure outcomes.
Explore the five-step method below to start connecting your strategy with the right investments.
Start with clarity. Capture three to five measurable goals that describe what your business must achieve. Each should have an owner, KPI, and target date.
Record guiding principles—like clean core or cloud first—and document them in SAP LeanIX solutions as tags or in a custom “principal” fact sheet so they remain traceable across planning. Then link objectives directly to the business capabilities you expect to influence.
Tip: If you use SAP Signavio solutions, connect objectives to process KPIs such as cycle time, rework, or NPS.
Finish Step 1 with a clear line of sight from strategy to the capabilities that will make it real.
Build or refine your business capability map (L1–L3) and assign owners. Rate each capability using key fields: maturity (1–5), strategic importance, risk and cost, and pace layering (commodity, differentiation, or innovation). Use heat maps to spot weak points and prioritize focus areas.
For each priority capability, define a capability increment: what outcome you want, how KPIs should change (for example: inventory accuracy from 86% to 97%), and which enablers—applications, data, or technologies—are required.
Tip: Map capabilities to SAP scope items (for example: source-to-pay and order-to-cash processes) and keep process and capability terms aligned using dictionaries for SAP Signavio solutions.
This leaves you with a heat map of current health and a prioritized list of increments, each tied to clear KPIs and enablers.
Not every gap can be closed at once. Bundle related capability increments into initiatives or projects, then score them on business value, risk, and estimated effort. Visualize results with portfolio reports from SAP LeanIX solutions, and create a “now-next-later” road map.
Draft transition architectures by grouping initiatives into waves. This keeps your road map realistic, fundable, and directly tied to capability outcomes. By the end of this step, you’ll have a prioritized backlog and a road map that sequences investments in line with business value.
Move from planning to action by approving selected initiatives, assigning budgets, and linking them back to capabilities and objectives. SAP LeanIX solutions support full traceability across objectives, capabilities, capability increments, and initiatives—better ensuring each investment is directly connected to strategic goals. Set KPI targets and establish a review cadence. Build governance dashboards for your architecture board—covering compliance, risk, and principle adherence.
Tip: Align capability KPI targets with process KPIs with SAP Signavio solutions, so your reporting connects strategic and operational views.
Step 4 gives you a funded, transparent portfolio with clear governance and accountability across initiatives.
Execution is where capability planning becomes real. Track initiative status, risks, and spend with SAP LeanIX solutions. As improvements go live, update capability maturity ratings and objective KPIs. Regularly review outcomes: did automation rates increase, did lead times drop, did KPIs move as expected? Capture lessons learned and feed new demands into the next cycle of increments.
Tip: Validate improvements with SAP Signavio process data—for example, reduced order-to-cash lead times.
This helps ensure you can show measured results, update your heat maps with confidence, and carry forward a backlog that powers the next wave of transformation.
Before you close the page, check if you’ve covered the essentials:
Objectives are measurable and have clear owners.
Capability map is current, rated, and linked to objectives. I
ncrements are defined with outcomes, KPIs, and dependencies.
Prioritization balances value, urgency, effort, and dependency.
Road map and budget are approved, with governance in place.
KPIs are tracked, and lessons learned feed the next wave.
Capability-based planning turns strategy into a living road map. With SAP LeanIX solutions, you can keep that road map connected, transparent, and continuously improving.
Reach out to our Professional Services team or your Customer Success Manager to collaborate on a tailored solution, gain deeper insights, and effectively address this use-case together.
Take the next step: explore capability road maps in SAP LeanIX solutions and start shaping your investment plan today. Request a demo.