Cascade brings planning, execution, dashboards, and people management into one seamless system with the aim of enhancing business performance. The all-in-one solution can be used to create customized strategic plans, manage goals, projects, and KPIs, track performance with dashboards, and manage human capital. Users can benefit from features including single sign-on, data encryption, integrations with over 500 third party apps, and more.
Pros
The Cascade program aligned strongly with the needs of our business. We needed a tool to help us manage our business strategy across 20 different functional departments. We chose Cascade as the concept of cascading goals matched the way our business performed strategic planning. The system allows each of the areas to manage their own strategic plan, whilst enabling visibility and accountability of alignment with the high level business strategy. The transparency of the system is one of it's biggest benefits. At the click of a button you are able to assess the health of the organisation according to its strategic objectives and associated goals. It is very user friendly and easy to customise. In a matter of minutes, anyone can set up team dashboards to use in meetings or as a general communication tool. The snapshot reports are great for sharing with others outside of the system and provide an up to date gantt chart of project status. I would highly recommend this tool to anyone.
Cons
Occasionally you will stumble across features that don't exist in the system which would be useful. The chat function allows you to communicate directly with the Cascade team and get a real time response to any issues you might have or any ideas for improvement. This is really great for efficiency, as you can just continue working through any challenges with the help of the Cascade team. They take the feedback on-board, and we have already experienced a number of system optimisations which have been rolled out as a result of our company's suggestions. It is empowering for the team to have that kind of influence on the software, and really aids in employee engagement.
Mainly, we use Cascade Strategy with our clients that don't want their strategic plans to become BOTS (Books On The Shelf). Cascade allows for constant updating, new goals & initiatives, real-time reporting, etc. It provides an easy-to-use platform to keep the plan alive and active throughout the life-cycle of the plan.
Pros
Cascade Strategy Execution SaaS takes the complex area of generating accountability around strategic initiatives and makes it clear, concise, and transparent. The thought that has been put into the structure of getting it set up essentially forces you to consider the alignment of your goals, objectives, focus areas and ultimately vision. Cascade is one of the few that gets that the fundamental unit of strategy implementation is NOT individual goals or tasks - it is people, and Cascade re-emphasizes this point subtly throughout the platform.
Cons
The platform is quite elegant on the screen, but Cascade still has some work to do around the printed reports. Its a bit of a conundrum as showing the sometimes complex and always multi-layered relationships between people, tasks, goals, vision, etc is likely impossible given the static format of the printed page - but I do feel like it could still probably be a bit better than it is. Most importantly, if you go down the path of using strategy management software, just realize that the dynamic connections that you are able to create with the platform will not always easily translate to the printed page.
I use i tas a standard tool when I help my clients to create and implement business plans. In my experince the program makes it easier to understand the theory and the practical use of strategy to achieve company goals and success. In addition, once you have built the structure, it´s much easier to follow up departments, teams and even individuals in order to create engagement in the whole company
Pros
It´s a perfect tool for helping companies to understand the importance of creating and implementing a strategy plan to achieve their visions and goals. It´s easy to understand in most features, it has an excellent support, a very good thinking and backgrond theory that is generously shared and also very good tutorials
Cons
The price is a bit stiff for small mediumsize companies.
Pros
The user interface is intuitive and allows for the creation instant, real-time outputs that can be used to assess/track/discuss business strategy without creating standalone PowerPoint slides.
The tool allows for business strategy to be discussed and embraced by the organization, creating clear alignment of goals to strategic pillars and thus allowed for the broader business discuss, interrogate and contribute to the strategic direction rather than having it handed down.
Cons
The tool isn't something that can be used half-heartedly. To realize the benefit, it needs to be embraced by the entire organization where possible. This isn't a criticism of the tool itself, more an observation that it needs the buy-in of the organization to make it effective.
Real time tracking of key initiative status is difficult to achieve in absence of a tool like Cascade. Cascade is an effective environment within which to manage getting key things done.
Pros
Simple and intuitive - easy to populate focus areas and goals, track performance and extract status in real time.
Cons
UI could be enhanced to introduce drag and drop capability.
Pro: $33/user/month (or $29/user/month when billed annually)
Enterprise: $48/user/month (billed annually)
Enterprise plus: contact Cascade for a pricing quote
Below are some frequently asked questions for Cascade Strategy.
Cascade Strategy offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: US$29,00/month
Pricing model: Subscription
Free Trial: Available
Pro: $33/user/month (or $29/user/month when billed annually)
Enterprise: $48/user/month (billed annually)
Enterprise plus: contact Cascade for a pricing quote
Cascade Strategy offers the following features:
Cascade Strategy has the following typical customers:
Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Non Profit, Public Administrations, Small Business
Cascade Strategy supports the following languages:
English
Cascade Strategy has the following pricing plans:
Subscription
Cascade Strategy supports the following devices:
iPhone
Cascade Strategy integrates with the following applications:
Zapier
Cascade Strategy offers the following support options:
Knowledge Base, Online Support, Phone Support, Video Tutorials
Transparency of goals, and alignment of priority. It also enables better accountability for all staff.