Purpose: The purpose of this service is to align resources, determine vision for the future, select product and market focus, and enhance core competence in order to strengthen business value and improve your ability to compete and prosper. We help you analyze information and make decisions amidst incomplete information and conflicting demands. There is no single right answer in business, but we can help you sort out your best choices.

Intended Results: Many businesses start out trying to be all things to all people to generate cash flow and survive. This is not a viable long term strategy but rather represents the absence of a strategy. The intended result is to clarify the best way to combine your vision, your products and services and your core competence to clearly identify who you are, what you stand for and where you are going. Once this strategy is clear, it is easier to determine how you will get there, that is, the tactics. In too many businesses, the strategy (where you are going) is not clear and, as a result, managers spend too much time debating tactics (how you will get there). It's the wrong debate. First, the group must agree on strategy. Then, and only then, does the group discuss tactics. For example, if the strategy is to go to Calgary, then our options are flying, driving, taking the bus or driving a car. However, if someone thinks we are going to Winnipeg, they may be headed in the wrong direction or choose the wrong method. Employees exemplify this lack of strategic clarity everyday. If your strategy is high quality, then you should not pay for high volume because they will rush production and have call back issues later on.

Structure: This service typically includes the following major steps. We analyze your current strategy, what is and isn't working, what resources (people, skills, equipment, financial) you have available, where is the market or industry trending, and what are the critical success factors for the future. We discuss the future and where you want to be. We work with your management team to analyze this current and future information to help you develop alternatives. We then help you evaluate your alternatives compared to your goals, your resources, risks and management's preferences. Then, the management team makes strategic choices and sets the future direction.

Once the strategic direction is clear, the team develops tactics, timelines and accountabilities for implementation. Holding people accountable is critical to successfully pursuing business strategy. Otherwise, it's just talk and actually reduces the owner's credibility. This process can take one to two months. Managers should be given time to digest information and reflect on the choices available. Although a one day session is time efficient, conducting this strategic analysis in one day is very ineffective because people get tired and just want the day to end. This is not an optimal way to determine the future of your business.

Highly profitable businesses build this model into a quarterly framework where key information is evaluated and strategy is tweaked on a regular, ongoing basis. At this point, strategy is very much part of the management culture. 

Questionnaire

1=very poor. 2=poor. 3=below average. 4=average. 5=good. 6=excellent.

Using the above scale, how would your rate your company on the following:

1. Our employees understand and can articulate our strategy.
2. Our employees know what we stand for and what values are important to us.
3. We understand our customers' needs and how our products and services benefit them.
4. We rank our customers for profitability and future potential.
5. We have customized strategies for each major customer.
6. We rank our products and services for profitability.
7. We are developing products or services for the future which aren't even in the market yet.
8. We understand and can articulate our core competence.
9. We have a plan that guides us for the next three to five years.
10. We have contingency plans for potential risks and competitor activities.

To discuss your results to this questionnaire and how our services can help you achieve both your business and personal goals, please call Phil at 866.537.9111.