Early-warning visibility
When the dashboard does not tell the whole story
The CMI® Diagnostic is especially useful when progress looks steady on paper but something feels off — when the numbers are green and leadership confidence is not. It surfaces the organizational conditions that dashboards and status reports cannot.
If any of these conditions are present, the CMI® Diagnostic can give leadership the clarity needed to act before momentum erodes further.
The process
A focused diagnostic built for executive action
The CMI® synthesizes evidence across Clarity, Commitment, and Execution to reveal where transformation momentum stands, what is driving it, and where leadership attention can have the greatest effect.
01
Frame the transformation
NSP works with the executive sponsor and designated program leaders to define the initiative, intended outcomes, critical milestones, stakeholder groups, and decisions the diagnostic must inform.
02
Gather targeted inputs
Input may include sponsor and leadership interviews, a targeted stakeholder questionnaire, selected working sessions, existing transformation materials, and relevant readiness, adoption, or workforce data. Participation is tailored to the initiative — the entire organization does not need to participate.
03
Analyze momentum
NSP evaluates the inputs to determine the initiative's Change Momentum Zone, the conditions strengthening momentum, the risks most likely to slow or destabilize execution, meaningful differences across leadership levels or stakeholder groups, and the leadership actions most likely to improve movement.
04
Brief leadership and set the next 90 days
A senior NSP advisor conducts a decision-focused executive readout and presents a prioritized roadmap for protecting strengths, addressing constraints, and improving execution over the next 90 days. Most diagnostics are completed in approximately four weeks.
What you receive
What leaders receive
A decision-ready view of transformation health.
01
CMI® Zone and momentum profile
A clear view of where the transformation stands across Clarity, Commitment, and Execution.
02
Execution-risk and opportunity map
The conditions most likely to strengthen, slow, or destabilize progress.
03
Stakeholder pattern analysis
Meaningful differences across leadership levels, functions, workstreams, or affected groups.
04
Priority leadership interventions
Targeted actions aligned to the findings most consequential to execution.
05
90-day momentum roadmap
A sequenced plan for strengthening alignment, readiness, adoption, governance, and execution.
06
Executive briefing materials
Decision-ready findings for sponsors, steering committees, and senior leadership teams.
The CMI® does not produce another status report. It shows where leadership attention is most likely to strengthen execution.
Designed to complement your existing approach
What the CMI® is — and is not
What it is
- An early-warning diagnostic for active transformation
- A multidimensional view of organizational execution conditions
- A tool for executive prioritization and intervention
- A complement to existing reporting, governance, delivery, and change methods
- A structured way to identify where momentum is strengthening or eroding
- A repeatable view that can be used at significant transformation milestones
What it is not
- A broad employee-engagement survey
- A replacement for program governance or performance reporting
- A maturity assessment producing generic benchmarks
- An evaluation of individual leaders or employees
- A prescribed change-management methodology
- A software implementation requiring new infrastructure
Focused on organizational conditions — not individual evaluation
Participant input is analyzed to identify patterns affecting transformation execution. Findings are reported at an appropriate aggregate level and are not designed to evaluate individual employee performance. The diagnostic scope, participant groups, confidentiality approach, and intended use of findings are agreed with the sponsor before input is gathered.
After the diagnostic
Insight that leads to action
The diagnostic is designed to leave leadership with a clear path forward. Following the executive readout, organizations may activate findings immediately or engage NSP for continued support.
The CMI® is not a one-time event. It can be repeated at significant milestones to assess movement, identify emerging risks, and evaluate whether leadership interventions are having the intended effect.
- Activate the roadmap through their existing transformation team
- Facilitate sponsor or leadership alignment
- Address a specific execution constraint
- Strengthen readiness, adoption, or governance
- Repeat the diagnostic at a future milestone to assess movement
- Engage NSP for targeted advisory or transformation execution support
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Is the CMI® a survey?
The diagnostic may include a targeted stakeholder questionnaire, but it is not a conventional sentiment survey. It combines multiple forms of evidence to evaluate the conditions affecting transformation execution.
Does it replace our existing change methodology or PMO reporting?
No. The CMI® adds an early-warning view of organizational momentum to the strategy, governance, delivery, and change-management approaches already in place.
Does the entire organization need to participate?
No. NSP works with the sponsor to identify the participant groups and data sources most relevant to the transformation.
Can the diagnostic be used on a transformation already underway?
Yes. It is particularly useful when an initiative is active and leaders need a clearer view of whether momentum is strengthening, stalling, or becoming vulnerable.
Can the diagnostic be repeated?
Yes. The CMI® may be repeated at significant milestones to assess movement, identify emerging risks, and evaluate whether leadership interventions are having the intended effect.
Is the diagnostic available for government agencies?
Yes. The CMI® can be tailored to government transformation, including mission continuity, workforce readiness, stakeholder complexity, oversight, modernization governance, and public-sector operating conditions.
Request a Change Momentum Briefing
See what your transformation needs next.
Request a focused conversation with a senior NSP advisor to discuss your initiative, the decisions facing leadership, and whether the CMI® Diagnostic could provide useful early-warning visibility.
Request a Change Momentum Briefing
Request a Briefing30 minutes · Senior-led · No formal assessment or obligation