EA - IT Business Management > Defining the Strategy > Identifying Strategic Transformation Elements > Enterprise Strategic Elements > Defining Enterprise Strategic Elements
Defining Enterprise Strategic Elements
Strategic elements of an enterprise are classified in the following categories:
• Means, see: Defining Means.
• The transformation stages, see Defining Transformation Stages.
Identifying enterprise ends
Describing the Enterprise Vision 
*A vision is the ultimate, possibly unattainable, state the enterprise would like to achieve. A vision is often compound, rather than focused toward one particular aspect of the business problem. A vision is supported or made operative by missions. It is amplified by goals.
To describe an enterprise vision:
1. Open the Strategy properties page of an enterprise.
2. In the End section, select the Vision field.
Identifying enterprise goals 
The enterprise goals are determining elements in your enterprise model since they interconnect the ends of the enterprise transformation with the objectives of the transformation stages.
*A goal tends to be longer term, and defined qualitatively rather than quantitatively. It should be narrow-focused enough that goals can be defined for it.
To create an enterprise goal:
1. In the Strategy property page of an enterprise, open End section.
2. In the Goals section, click New.
The Creation of an Enterprise Goal dialog box opens.
3. Specify the goal name and click OK.
The goal appears in the list.
The Characteristics page of the property pages of an enterprise goal is used to access:
• its Name,
• its Owner, by default the current enterprise.
• the Comment text.
• the Strategic Theme Category section, which specifies the Strategic Themes connected to the enterprise goal.
Defining Means
To ensure that the strategies and tactics implemented in the enterprise correspond to the enterprise goals, you can use HOPEX IT Business Management to align the objects representing the ends of the strategy with the means to be implemented.
*A strategy is a component of a mission. It represents a means of action essential to achievement of ends of the enterprise, and more practically its goals. A strategy channels enterprise efforts towards these goals. A strategy is the approach considered by the enterprise as being the best suited to achieving its goals, taking account of constraints imposed by the environment and by risks.
To check the consistency of the transformation plan, each strategy is connected to an enterprise goal.
Describing a Mission 
*The mission describes what the business is or will be doing on a day-to-day basis. A mission makes a vision operative; that is, it indicates the ongoing activity that makes the vision a reality. A mission is planned using strategies.
To describe an enterprise Mission :
1. Open the Strategy property page of the enterprise.
2. In the Means section, select the Mission field.
Defining Strategies 
*A strategy is a component of a mission. It represents a means of action essential to achievement of ends of the enterprise, and more practically its goals. A strategy channels enterprise efforts towards these goals. A strategy is the approach considered by the enterprise as being the best suited to achieving its goals, taking account of constraints imposed by the environment and by risks.
To create a strategy:
1. Open the Strategy properties page of an enterprise.
2. In the Mean section and the Strategy Sub-section.
3. Click New.
The Creation of a strategy dialog box opens.
4. Specify the strategy and click the OK button.
The new strategy appears in the list.
The Characteristics properties page of the strategy provides access to:
• its Name,
• Its Enterprise,
• the Comment text.
• the list of Supported Goals.