Underlying actions

Sometimes you just want to add a little more detail to an action. What are the intermediate steps of an action? This is the case, for example, with programs and projects.

• Action: Program X
• Intermediate steps:
  • Project A
  • Project B
  • Project C

In such a case you can add underlying actions to an action.

Add underlying actions

• Open an action by clicking on it.
• Click under the heading Relationships on Add new underlying action. Or click Add existing action as a underlying action to select an existing action.

• New action: type the title of the underlying action and click Save.
• Existing action: select the action you want to add as an underlying action and click Save.
• The underlying action is added. Click it to edit the action.

Once there are underlying actions, they sit together under the heading Relationships as Related actions. You see the whole branch there: the action you opened is highlighted, with the action it hangs under above it and the actions underneath it below. Also read the article: Linking items to each other.

If there are already underlying actions, use the buttons that appear when you hover over the action:

• Click the plus button to create a new underlying action.
• Click the link button to add an existing action.

Dragging underlying actions

On the OGSM canvas you can also drag underlying actions:

• Drag an underlying action within the same action to change its order.
• Drag an underlying action to another action to move it there.
• Drag an action onto another action to make it an underlying action there.
• Drag an underlying action onto the strategy to make it a regular action again (no longer underlying).

You can also change the order on the detail screen of an action. Under Related actions, drag the actions that hang directly under the action you opened. This works on a computer, not on a phone.

Adding underlying actions to another OGSM

You can assign underlying actions to other OGSMs. The underlying action is then visible as an action in that OGSM, while it stays under the main action in the Related actions block. The number next to the title tells you in how many places an underlying action appears.

• Open the underlying action.
• Link the action to the right OGSM. Read more…

Make underlying actions visible in the OGSM and the action plan

By default, underlying actions are not visible in the OGSM or the ‘Actions’ page. You can make them visible via the view settings.

• In the toolbar, click Components.
• Tick the box at Show underlying items.

The underlying actions are now visible in the OGSM or action plan.

Adding an existing action as an underlying action

You can add an action as a underlying action to another action.

• Open the action you want to make a underlying action of.
• Click on Add relation under the heading Relationships.
• Under What do you want to do?, choose the type Underlying action in the group Add as.
• Select the action under which you want to place the underlying action and click Save.