doelstaat

Doelstaat (Dutch for "target state" or "desired state") is a term used in change management, enterprise architecture, and program management to denote the envisioned end state of a system, process, or organization after implementing a change initiative. It describes how the future should operate once the transformation is complete.

Typically the doelstaat encompasses scope, processes, information, technology, organization, governance, and performance metrics. It provides a compact description of the intended organization and its functioning, including how data moves, how systems interact, and which roles and responsibilities are required.

Developed through stakeholder dialogue, business goals, requirements, and constraints, the doelstaat describes future processes, data flows, system interfaces, and organizational roles. It should be measurable, with criteria such as performance targets, service levels, and clear acceptance criteria to determine when the target state is achieved.

In practice the doelstaat sits alongside as-is descriptions; a gap analysis identifies changes needed to move from the current state to the doelstaat, and a transition plan or roadmap outlines the sequence, dependencies, and milestones. This helps align design decisions and investments with the intended outcomes.

Artifacts commonly include a doelstaat model or blueprint, process and data models, and the governance arrangements to sustain the future state. The doelstaat supports decision-making, vendor selection, and change management by providing a shared vision of the future and a basis for measuring progress.

Common challenges include ambiguous definitions, scope drift, evolving business needs, and the complexity of coordinating changes across systems and departments.