What is MOST and What is GOSPA? | Video

I often find simple, hierarchical frameworks to be good thinking tools and mental models to help me understand and describe a situation. So, what is MOST and what is GOSPA?

This video is safe for viewing in the workplace.

This is learning, so, sit back and enjoy

What is MOST?

MOST Analysis is a business tool for setting Strategic Direction.

MOST stands for:

• Mission (or mission statement)
• Objectives
• Strategies
• Tactics.

You can use MOST analysis to analyze an organization’s internal environment and transform a woolly vision and set of ambitions into realistic, achievable goals.

MOST analysis can create clear targets for each member of a team. At its core, it helps you ask the question, “how does this help us get to the next level?”

This helps you keep your strategies relevant, accountable, and focused on the goals that matter most. You can use MOST analysis not just at the enterprise level, but to further in delivering functional results, for example in marketing, sales, operations, and human resources. And, of course, it works at the project level too.

Mission

What your organization or project is there to achieve. Your purpose and reason for being there. So, if you don’t have one, craft a mission statement.

Objectives

These are what you can measure your success against. Usually, they register success against your goal or mission.

Strategies

Medium to long-term approaches to achieving your objectives. Strategies change to accommodate external changes.

Tactics

Short-term activities within the broad parameters set by your strategies. for furthering your progress towards your objectives. Tactics can change far more quickly than strategies, to accommodate immediate problems, challenges, or opportunities.

What is GOSPA?

GOSPA is similar to MOST, but is more clearly project-oriented. It stands for:

• Goal
• Objectives
• Strategy
• Plan
• Activities (or Actions)

GOSPA is a hierarchy that covers project definition, tailoring, planning, and delivery.

Goal

Articulates the aim of your project and answers the question ‘what do you want?’ as posed to your sponsor and key stakeholders.

Objectives

Objectives set out the basis for assessing success. They answer the question ‘how do you want it?’ in terms of functionality, quality, cost, and schedule. 

It’s often helpful to make SMART objectives that are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Agreed (by the parties)
• Realistic
• Time-bound

Strategy

I think of this as about choosing the right development approach, life cycle, and contracting method to best secure an effective project. What frameworks, tools, and methodologies will you draw from.

Plan

This is the project planning process that draws together scoping, scheduling, resourcing, budgeting, quality management, and other factors.

Activities

Finally, here are the detailed tasks that you need to get done, to deliver your project. 

Recommended Videos

Carefully curated video recommendations for you:

• What is a Project Definition? | Video
• Project Definition: Three Big Questions about Your Project | Video
• What is Strategic Project Definition? | Video
• Project Lifecycle and the Project Process: 5 Tips | Video
• What are OKRs? | Video
• Project Planning Process – How to Build Effective Project Plans | Video
• The Key Deliverable of Your Project Plan | Video

Recommended articles

• Robust Project Definition: How to Build it and the Components you Need
• Project Planning Process: Navigate the Many Steps You Need

What Kit does a Project Manager Need?

I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own. 

Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs

Note that the links are affiliated.

Learn Still More

For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to the OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

If you want basic Management Courses – free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses.

For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.

For more of our videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.