Strategies – Business Plans – Business Development

 
Vision, Mission & Strategy 
 
Most companies are built on a vision. The fundamentals of the vision are rarely changed. However, from time to time the vision may require being ‘updated’ or ‘adjusted’. Sometimes a correction of the overall direction is needed and sometimes it is just necessary to reformulate or ‘tune’ the actual wording.
 
Missions should be reviewed more often as both the external environment and the organization evolve and change. It might be necessary to reconsider the impact of new technologies, a changing competitive landscape, new organizational competencies, changes in cost structures or prices, etc. Relevant questions could be: Should we have another role in the value chain? Should we create value for our customers or shareholders in new ways?
 
Strategies can be developed at several levels and should be reviewed and updated on an annual basis or whenever material changes in the operating environment or the performance of the company occur.
 
Strategy process
Our recommended strategy process has three steps as listed here:
 
1) Strategic analysis
 
The starting point for any strategy is a situation analysis; discovering the facts and identifying the problems we want to address or the opportunities we want to explore. Where are we now? What are our strengths and weaknesses? Should we do something different? Is our business model sustainable? Are we addressing the right market? Are we doing more for our customers than our competitors? Will we be able to deal with and adapt to changes in the market place? Are we leaving money on the able? Who controls our destiny? This phase it is really about creating a holistic picture of the company and its environment; pulling on relevant data and insights and trying to see our situation from different angles. Asking ‘really good’ questions is the best starting point for a valuable strategic analysis. When your challenges and opportunities are well described you can start to consider what the most appropriate strategy is. 
 
2) Strategic optionsMapping of different paths and options that could be chosen and their respective potential consequences of different strategic choices.

 

3) Strategy 

The result is the final analysis and strategy that defines strategic goals and explains how to achieve them. The strategy lists the identified threats and opportunities as well as the current competencies, strengths and weaknesses in relation to the defined strategic goals. The strategy will identify key success factors and how the organization will ensure the right competencies and resources needed to achieve its strategic goals. The strategy leads naturally to the business plan for the venture or organization – as described hereunder.

 

Business Plans

Making your strategy operational – and achievable.

Any new venture, business idea or business development activity deserves its own operational business plan that clarifies objectives, milestones, risks & mitigations, actions and needed resources.

We develop business plans in a simple and clear format, alone or together with clients to ensure that:

  • Goals and objectives are clear
  • Milestones laid out
  • Opportunities and threats are identifies
  • Risk and mitigations are addressed
  • Key success factors are considered and specified
  • Necessary resources are identified
  • Progress and results can be monitored and corrective actions taken timely