Initiatives

What it is (why)

An initiative is time-bound work — a project, program, or workstream — meant to improve one or more KPIs. Initiatives carry status, health, owners, sponsors, and optional outcome fields for post-delivery evaluation.

Initiatives answer: *What work are we doing to move the numbers?*

When to use it

Use an initiative when:

A defined body of work should influence measurable KPIs
You need to track health (on track / at risk / off track) and report in weekly updates
Ownership spans weeks or months with a target end date

Do not use an initiative when:

You only need a one-line follow-up from a meeting → Action item
You are stating a strategic outcome → Goal
You are defining the metric itself → KPI

How to use it

Create an initiative

Open Initiatives → New initiative.
Enter name, title (optional display title), description, dates, and owner.
Set status and health.
Link KPIs on the form or on the detail page after saving.
Optionally set executive sponsor and expected outcome fields.

Edit and collaborate

Open an initiative from Initiatives to update health, dates, or links.
Use Comments on the detail page for discussion (when your role includes CanComment).
On Intelligence+ plans, Suggested initiatives can propose new work from company context (AI recommendations plan required).

Weekly updates

Department weekly updates can reference linked initiatives and blockers. See Weekly updates.

Outcomes

When an initiative completes, capture actual outcome and evaluation fields on edit. This supports later executive reviews and AI summaries.

Milestones

Add milestones on the initiative detail page for high-level checkpoints (phases or delivery gates)—typically three to six named steps with target dates. They are not a substitute for Action items (short owner tasks) or for the initiative’s overall target date.

Mark milestones complete or skipped as work progresses so executives and briefings can see what is coming next.

Who typically owns it

Managers and department leaders own most initiatives
Executives may sponsor cross-functional initiatives
Contributors view initiatives and reference them in updates; create/edit depends on permissions

KPIs — metrics this initiative should influence
Goals — indirect link via shared KPIs
Action items — short follow-ups tied to an initiative
Weekly updates — execution rhythm
Performance model — find orphan initiatives (no KPI link)

Common mistakes

Initiatives with no KPI link — acceptable for early planning, but link before execution starts
Treating every task as an initiative — use action items for discrete follow-ups
Health “green” while linked KPIs are off track — reconcile narrative with data
Forgetting to update health after weekly updates surface blockers