Why Value Creation Planning Needs Better Execution

Private capital firms understand that value creation planning is essential to delivering returns. Yet across the industry, many initiatives fail to reach their potential. The issue is rarely with strategy. Instead, the breakdown happens in execution.

Recent analyses show that a significant share of portfolio companies underperform against their value creation plans not because the ideas were wrong, but because execution lacked structure, discipline, and visibility. This gap between ambition and delivery is costing firms real value.

Where execution falls short

Too often, execution is undermined by:

• Siloed ownership where portfolio company leaders and investment teams are not fully aligned.
• Weak KPI measurement with reliance on high-level financial targets while neglecting operational drivers.
• Poor accountability as initiatives are launched without clear ownership or consistent follow-up.
• Static reporting cycles that delay identification of risks and underperformance.

Without consistent tracking, issues surface too late, leaving little room to intervene before targets slip.

Why it matters now

Investors increasingly expect transparency not only on financial outcomes but on how those outcomes are being achieved. They want to see credible evidence that portfolio companies are on track with the operational and strategic levers promised at acquisition.

At the same time, external conditions such as rising costs, volatile rates, and regulatory changes have made execution risk higher. Funds that cannot demonstrate control over value creation initiatives risk losing trust and struggle to raise follow-on capital.

A framework for better execution

High-performing funds are taking a different approach. They are embedding execution discipline into the operating model:

• Playbooks and best-practice libraries ensure initiatives like 100-day plans, bolt-ons, or digital upgrades can be replicated consistently across companies.
• Granular KPI tracking links initiatives directly to financial impact, enabling faster course correction.
• Automated workflows reduce manual updates and surface exceptions in real time.
• Central risk registers allow leadership to anticipate issues and coordinate mitigation before they spread across the portfolio.

This structured approach transforms value creation from a static plan into a living system that adapts and responds as conditions evolve.

How Untap enables disciplined execution

Untap was built to close this execution gap. Our value creation management framework links every initiative to measurable outcomes, assigns clear ownership, and provides transparent dashboards for tracking progress. Features such as initiative templates, playbooks, and automated reminders ensure accountability is embedded in daily operations.

By connecting initiatives directly to financial and operational KPIs, Untap helps firms prove not only that plans exist, but that they are being delivered with precision. Automation reduces the burden of reporting, freeing investment professionals to focus on driving impact.

Turning plans into performance

Unlocking hidden value is no longer about identifying opportunities. It is about executing against them with rigour, visibility, and adaptability. Firms that embed execution discipline and leverage technology to enforce it will consistently deliver on their investment thesis.

At Untap, we believe value creation deserves better execution. That is why our platform integrates data, workflows, and stakeholders in one solution, transforming plans into measurable performance and helping funds outperform in today’s market.