Leader 2030 - The 5 Traps of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Balanced Scorecard (II)

 The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “Leader 2030 - The 5 Traps of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) (II)” was held by Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 1^st Sep 2026. The part 2 webinar aims to discuss traps of KPIs and strategy maps. In the beginning, Dr. Mark Lee reviewed previous two KPI traps and they are “Not Linking to Strategy” and “Not Validating the Links”.

Then he introduced the trap three named “Not Setting the Right Performance Targets”. Sometimes, the individual performance targets were contradiction and not benefited to the overall financial performance.

For example, short-term focus results may be damage but it improved long-term financial target.

The fourth trap named “Validity and Reliability”. Measuring indicators should be correct and representative.

The fifth trap entitled “Sticking to Your Numbers Too Long”. Based on company status and development, KPIs should be changed. The challenge is performance assessment systems evolved behind the business development.

Finally, Dr. Mark Lee introduced the strategy maps and briefed the “Fundamentals of a Strategy”.

Four levels to link KPIs to Strategy based on BSC are Financial, Customer, Internal Process and Learning & Growth Perspectives. It demonstrated the link of cause-and effect chain, as well as, visual framework provided.

Reference:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (亞太策略研究所有限公司) – www.apifs.org

ESG facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/esg08

Leader 2030 - Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders - https://www.apifs.org/Leader2030-en

Leader 2030 series:

20250307: Leader 2030 Webinar – Lean Startup: Quick Innovation Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-lean-startup-quick.html

20250319: Leader 2030 Webinar – How Are AI Projects Different from Traditional IT Projects - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-how-are-ai-projects.html

20250422: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/04/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250502: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250515: Leader 2030 -Negotiation Strategy to Lead Changes - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-negotiation-strategy-to.html

20250806: Leader 2030-Innovation Strategy-How to Increase Customer Satisfaction and Reduce Costs Simultaneously - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/08/leader-2030-innovation-strategy-how-to.html

20250915: Leader 2030 -How to Turn Customer Loyalty to High Profits - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/09/leader-2030-how-to-turn-customer.html

20251023: Leader 2030 Webinar – Motivational Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/10/leader-2030-motivational-strategy.html

20251107: Leader 2030 Webinar – Motivational Strategy (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/leader-2030-webinar-motivational.html

20251125: Leader 2030 – The Success Secrets of Japan Richest Man from UNIQLO - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/leader-2030-success-secrets-of-japan.html

20260430: Leader 2030 - Entering the AI Era: How to Effectively Change the Old Mindsets of Your People - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/04/leader-2030-entering-ai-era-how-to.html

20260519: Leader 2030 - Managing Profit-Shifting Forces - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/05/leader-2030-managing-profit-shifting.html

20260819: Leader 2030 - The 5 Traps of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Balanced Scorecard (I) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/08/leader-2030-5-traps-of-key-performance.html

Previous talks summary:

https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/search/label/Executive%20Study%20Group

ESG Webinar - From AI Adoption to Enterprise Impact

 The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “From AI Adoption to Enterprise Impact” was held by Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 26^th Aug 2026. Generative AI has moved faster from technological curiosity to boardroom agenda. AI usage can rise rapidly while financial performance barely moves. The webinar aims to discuss four disciplines that drive enterprise value.

In the beginning, Dr. Mark Lee mentioned uncomfortable contradiction that is task-led improvement and enterprise value. Most companies fall into the “Micro-productivity Trap” when introduced AI. The old processes remain unchanged.

He explained the bottleneck still there (e.g. manual approvals). Speeding up one link in a tangled network doesn’t just fail to help.

Most of company implemented GenAI asked wrong question rather than right question. It is different between experimentation and transformation. Value is created not because employees receive a smarter tool, but because companies redesign “Revenue Generated”, “Customers Served’, “Decisions Making” and “Work Move Across Boundaries”.

And then Dr. Mark Lee gave a quick poll to us “Where are you on the micro-productivity trap?” Most participants selected “Just Getting Started” (43.3%) and “Stuck at the Task Level” (35.2%).

After that he discussed four disciplines/principles that drive AI transformation including “Narrow Strategically”, “Reimagine Workflows”, “Engage Frontline” and “Measure Outcomes”. 

For Narrow Strategically, he quoted the portfolio selection framework with four factors included “High Economic Value”, “Technological Feasibility”, “Organizational Readiness” and “Strategic Differentiation”.

Another AI prioritization criteria employed by Lowe included “Technology Maturity”, “Scale of Opportunity”, “Readiness for Change” and “Risk Assessment”.

For Reimagine Workflows, it separated into “Automation” and “Redesign”. Then he quoted Siemen’s redesigning their engineering work. 

And then he consolidated the rule that value lives between boxes from traditional approach to AI transformation approach.

After that Dr. Lee conducted a survey of us, asking which obstacle was closest to our home. The number one obstacle was “No one owns the End-to-End” (34.2%).

For Engage Frontline, it is because frontline employees know data reliability, customer pain points, valueless approvals and information gaps.

He used BBVA as example that implemented governance first, AI wizards and leadership participation.

Finally, Dr. Mark Lee concluded that both bottom-up and top-down approaches were applied.

The final principle is to “Measure What Matters”, including activity metrics and business results.

Actually, he mentioned to measure both business performance and system performance.

He quoted Lowe again and showed its’ measurement process that is continuous evaluation loop.

Lastly, he surveyed us about the biggest challenge for implementing GenAI. The distribution was even.

At the end, Dr. Mark Lee concluded that the management logic is consistent covered “Focus”, “Redesign”, “Mobilize” and “Measure”. 

Reference:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (亞太策略研究所有限公司) – www.apifs.org

ESG facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/esg08

Leader 2030 - Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders - https://www.apifs.org/Leader2030-en

ESG AI related:

20260430: Leader 2030 - Entering the AI Era: How to Effectively Change the Old Mindsets of Your People - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/04/leader-2030-entering-ai-era-how-to.html

20260318: ESG Webinar – AI-Age Leadership Strategy – The NAHQ Model - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/03/esg-webinar-ai-age-leadership-strategy.html

20251107: ESG Webinar – AI Prompt Tips - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/esg-webinar-ai-prompt-tips.html

20250908: ESG Webinar – AI Strategy for Workplace - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/09/esg-webinar-ai-strategy-for-workplace.html

20250806: ESG Webinar – AI Strategy by GenAI Risk Slope - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/08/esg-webinar-ai-strategy-by-genai-risk.html

20250625: ESG Webinar – Future-Proof Your Career: Strategies to Stay Irreplaceable in the Age of AI - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/06/esg-webinar-future-proof-your-career.html

20250319: Leader 2030 Webinar – How Are AI Projects Different from Traditional IT Projects - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-how-are-ai-projects.html

Leader 2030 - The 5 Traps of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Balanced Scorecard (I)

The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “Leader 2030 - The 5 Traps of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) (I)” was held by Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 19^th Aug 2026. The part 1 webinar aims to discuss objectives and traps of KPIs.

In the beginning, Dr. Mark Lee mentioned three objectives of KPIs apart from financial measures and they are to capture intangible values not recognized by standard accounting rules, provide early insights into business progress before final financial results are determined, and offer actionable information to achieve strategic goals.

Then he raised a case about non-financial measure of startup and discussed its’ pitfalls.

And then Dr. Lee explained the disappointing reality that there was a lack of causal relationship between key performance indicators and financial returns.

In the part I of this webinar, 2 out of 5 traps were discussed. The first trap named “Not Linking to Strategy”. Trap One occurs when non-financial measures are not properly aligned with an organization's unique strategic objectives, leading to difficulties in selecting the right metrics, ineffective resource allocation, and the risk of blindly benchmarking against competitors.

The second trap named “Not Validating the Links”. Trap Two involves failing to empirically validate the presumed links between non-financial measures and financial outcomes, resulting in tracking too many metrics, an inability to distinguish signal from noise, and suboptimal resource allocation.

Let’s look forward to the second part of the Leader 2030 webinar.

Reference:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (亞太策略研究所有限公司) – www.apifs.org

ESG facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/esg08

Leader 2030 - Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders - https://www.apifs.org/Leader2030-en

Leader 2030 series:

20250307: Leader 2030 Webinar – Lean Startup: Quick Innovation Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-lean-startup-quick.html

20250319: Leader 2030 Webinar – How Are AI Projects Different from Traditional IT Projects - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-how-are-ai-projects.html

20250422: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/04/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250502: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250515: Leader 2030 -Negotiation Strategy to Lead Changes - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-negotiation-strategy-to.html

20250806: Leader 2030-Innovation Strategy-How to Increase Customer Satisfaction and Reduce Costs Simultaneously - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/08/leader-2030-innovation-strategy-how-to.html

20250915: Leader 2030 -How to Turn Customer Loyalty to High Profits - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/09/leader-2030-how-to-turn-customer.html

20251023: Leader 2030 Webinar – Motivational Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/10/leader-2030-motivational-strategy.html

20251107: Leader 2030 Webinar – Motivational Strategy (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/leader-2030-webinar-motivational.html

20251125: Leader 2030 – The Success Secrets of Japan Richest Man from UNIQLO - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/leader-2030-success-secrets-of-japan.html

20260430: Leader 2030 - Entering the AI Era: How to Effectively Change the Old Mindsets of Your People - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/04/leader-2030-entering-ai-era-how-to.html

20260519: Leader 2030 - Managing Profit-Shifting Forces - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/05/leader-2030-managing-profit-shifting.html

Previous talks summary:

https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/search/label/Executive%20Study%20Group

ESG Webinar – High-Stakes Presentation Skills

The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “High-Stakes Presentation Skills – Lessons from King Charles’ Speech to the U.S. Congress” was held by Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 11^th Jun 2026. The webinar topics included 11 strategies of meaningful presentation using King Charles’ speech as case study. 

Firstly, Dr. Mark Lee explained why business leaders need to study this speech, as it covers the historical, institutional, and political sensitivities they often face. Many common high-stake occasions executive would face including annual dinner speech, seminar opening, conference keynote, industry association speech, town hall and board presentation, etc.

Then he pointed out common communication challenges for today’s leaders such as explanation of transformation, cost cutting, introduce AI, ESG, defend profitability and uncertainty.

And then he raised some mistakes leaders made in their presentation such as more slides, more statistics, etc. But they missed what actually works such as to help an audience make sense of a moment.

After that he explained the background of the case study – King Charles at Congress on 28^th Apr 2026. He said “A presentation is not an act of speaking. It is an act of meaning-making.”

Dr. Mark Lee said to start with the right question. He quoted King Charles’ speech “On your 250^th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world.” that King Charles didn’t come to celebrate but he came to call both nations to present-day responsibility. It indicated that communication is not equal to transmission.

And then he surveyed the participants about meaning-making sounds that 30% were trained to inform, 26.6% didn’t understand audience. 

The following case showed how to locate the audience inside a narrative (story/situation/context). Charles opening said “…to thank the American people for welcoming us to the US to mark this semi-quincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence.”

The second case demonstrated powerful presenter understand the audience’s identity. Referenced “A Tale of Two Georges”- Washington and King George III that named the tension to praise the founding fathers and then to reframe conflict as shared history.

After that Dr. Lee introduced three-level presentation structure through three questions and they were “Where we came from”, “What moment we are in” and “What responsibility we must accept”.

And then he introduced six leadership presentation roles including visionary, teacher, steward, challenger, host and witness. I focused on teacher that need to clarify complexity to simple. We need to avoid style mismatching that CEO is not motivational speaker, crisis response is not sales pitch, and public lecture is not board reporting.

Audiences commit to a purpose they can see themselves inside. Moral architecture is the deep logic that explained why the audience should care. King Charles built it in five dimensions including democracy, alliance, rule of law, nature and memory.

Finally, Dr. Lee briefed the different between strong endings and weak endings. He said a strong ending does not close the presentation but it opens the audience’s sense of responsibility.

The above cases were covered by 11 strategies of meaningful presentation showed in the following diagrams.

Lastly, Dr. Mark Lee concluded a real task as a presenter who not to perform well but to help others see well.

Reference:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (亞太策略研究所有限公司) – www.apifs.org

ESG facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/esg08

Previous talks summary:

https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/search/label/Executive%20Study%20Group

Leader 2030 - Managing Profit-Shifting Forces

 The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “Leader 2030 - Managing Profit-Shifting Forces” was held by Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 19^th May 2026. The webinar aims to discuss how to manage profit-shifting forces based on Prof. Michael Porter strategy. The content included to understand industry profitability drivers and consider buyer, supplier, new entrant, competitor and substitute.

In the beginning, Dr. Mark Lee mentioned the profit formula that profit equal to revenue minus cost. He said we don’t discuss the revenue and cost but another factor could enhance the profit!

Then Dr. Lee quoted Prof. Michael Porter foundation strategy and focused on finding right position in the industry.

He reviewed average return on invested capital (ROIC) in US industries from 1992 to 2006 and found that the ROIC range was from 7% to 25%. 

After that we surveyed our idea which industries have low or high ROIC. It demonstrated that not higher technology product had higher ROIC. 

And then he used Southwest Airlines as case study and showed its unique position in focusing to the price- and convenience-sensitive travelers.

Based on the profit-shifting analysis compared with American Airlines, Southwest Airlines removed Buyer expense and reduced Terminal fee in Supplier expense.

Finally, Dr. Mark Lee demonstrated the Southwest Airlines had higher ROIC and he concluded that positioning is one of key factors to manage profit-shifting force.

Reference:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (亞太策略研究所有限公司) – www.apifs.org

ESG facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/esg08

Leader 2030 - Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders - https://www.apifs.org/Leader2030-en

Leader 2030 series:

20250307: Leader 2030 Webinar – Lean Startup: Quick Innovation Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-lean-startup-quick.html

20250319: Leader 2030 Webinar – How Are AI Projects Different from Traditional IT Projects - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-how-are-ai-projects.html

20250422: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/04/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250502: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250515: Leader 2030 -Negotiation Strategy to Lead Changes - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-negotiation-strategy-to.html

20250806: Leader 2030-Innovation Strategy-How to Increase Customer Satisfaction and Reduce Costs Simultaneously - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/08/leader-2030-innovation-strategy-how-to.html

20250915: Leader 2030 -How to Turn Customer Loyalty to High Profits - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/09/leader-2030-how-to-turn-customer.html

20251023: Leader 2030 Webinar – Motivational Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/10/leader-2030-motivational-strategy.html

20251107: Leader 2030 Webinar – Motivational Strategy (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/leader-2030-webinar-motivational.html

20251125: Leader 2030 – The Success Secrets of Japan Richest Man from UNIQLO - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/11/leader-2030-success-secrets-of-japan.html

20260430: Leader 2030 - Entering the AI Era: How to Effectively Change the Old Mindsets of Your People - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2026/04/leader-2030-entering-ai-era-how-to.html

Previous talks summary:

https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/search/label/Executive%20Study%20Group