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206 6 SECRETS TO STARTUP SUCCESS

ALIGNMENT

E15. Motivational Alignment: What are the most important interests/
goals of each key venture player (partner, team member, major
customer, etc.)? How well do these align with the interests/goals
of the business? Where is misalignment? What needs to be done
to correct?

E16. Capability Alignment: Are the right people in the right roles? Are
key players deployed in ways that capitalize on their strengths
and cover for weaknesses? How might capabilities be better
aligned?

E17. Financial Alignment: How do compensation arrangements incent
key members and partners to give their all in support of the new
venture’s goals? In what ways can salary, commission, bonus,
ownership, and benefits structures be tweaked to maximize
alignment?

E18. Time Alignment: What are your (or founding team’s) top priori-
ties? How well does your use of time align with these priorities?
Where is misalignment? How should your time be reallocated,
and what obstacles must be removed for this to occur?

American Management Association • www.amanet.org