Table 3A.

Sample K–N scoring guide for a single selected K–N stage.

STAGE 3: ALIGN THE PARTNERSHIP	Basic	Intermediate	Advanced
Partnership leadership ensures strategy is cascaded and embedded into all operating units, (e.g., research sites) shared service and support units (e.g., coordinating centers, labs, data management, HR, IT, finance) strategy. All employees are aligned with the strategy.
1. Aligning operating units/functions (e.g., research sites): Strategy maps and Balanced Scorecards are used to align all operating units.
2. Aligning Support Units: Support and shared-service units (e.g., coordinating centers, labs, data management, HR, IT, finance) develop strategy maps and Balanced Scorecards to enhance the strategies of the operating units they support.
3. Aligning Employees: All employees of the partnership understand the strategy and are motivated to help successfully execute the strategy. Aligning employees with the strategy includes leadership-driven communications. Employees set personal objectives that have a clear line of sight to strategic objectives. Training and experience-building programs help employees develop competencies to achieve strategic objectives.
4. Senior leadership: Senior leadership drives alignment of all parts of the partnership with the strategy and communicates vision, values, and strategy to all those involved in implementing it.

Table 3A. Excerpt from K–N scoring guide for a single selected K–N stage (Stage 3: Align the Partnership), including description of the K–N stage emphasis and the factors (1–4) to be considered in the assessment.