Developing Strategy and Focus
Few endeavors, business or otherwise, succeed without careful plans that clearly define goals and the strategies to achieve those goals. These goals can be used to create a common purpose within the organization, putting everyone solidly on "the same page."
Paradigm Associates provides a format for developing a strategic plan, and then helps you take that strategy through the business planning process and to establish measurable goals. This process not only sets forth where your company is going, but also how it is going to get there.
The Paradigm Associates Strategic Thinking and Business Planning Approach
The core of the Paradigm Associates senior level Strategic Business Planning process is outlined below. In order to best meet your needs while you are
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continuing to "run the business" on a day-to-day basis, the process is designed to be extremely flexible. This means the decisions about the frequency and duration of the implementation sessions are reached jointly.
The components employed to help both the individual executive and the organization accomplish the desired results include:
- Written materials that ensure that everyone has the opportunity to start out with the same level of knowledge.
- Audio materials that are effective to help the subject matter become "internalized" through reinforcement and spaced repetition.
- A Workbook that both challenges and helps distill thought processes.
- A high degree of interaction among participants, in order to develop both consensus and commitment.
- A facilitator who will act as an "equal opportunity harasser" in order to maximize the beneficial outcome of the implementation.
Strategic Business Planning Content Overview
Strategic Business Plan
- Strategic Planning - includes your roles, five stages of strategic planning, creating a vision statement.
- Developing a Competitive Edge - includes external assessment, customer segments, competitive analysis, trend analysis, internal appraisal, organizational structure.
- Effective Planning Techniques - includes business planning, developing a mission statement, shortening your learning curve.
- Execution Is Everything - Includes critical goal categories and business planning goals.
Marketing and Sales Plan
- includes marketing communications and sales support.
Generating And Retaining Profits
- includes the sales process, financial planning, the review process.
Becoming a Customer-Driven, Enduring Company
- includes determining customer needs, handling complaints, consistency, integrity and values.
Outline of the Strategic Business Planning Workbook
Basic Foundation and Desired Business Objectives
- Why Are We In Business?
- What Are Your Short And Long Term Objectives?
- What Are Your Key Assumptions (a whole series of questions to elicit your thoughts on topics such as: responses by competition, economic trends, ability of others to develop products to replace yours?)
- Visioning Tools (a series of questions to elicit your thoughts on topics such as: where do you want to be in five, ten, twenty years etc., what is the scope of the business, how will you be different from competition, how will various aspects of your business need to change over time?)
Creating a Timeless Vision for the Organization
Creating Values & Principles (a series of questions to elicit your thoughts on topics such as; Determining stakeholders, defining corporate values, challenging your commitment to living those values etc.)
External Assessment
- Analyzing Market Segments And Opportunities (questions that ask you to discuss topics such as: customer needs satisfaction, who and why does someone buy from your firm, market share issues, share of wallet issues, perception issues, reputation issues
- Competitive Analysis-Product/Service (a whole series of questions to elicit your thoughts regarding how your products and services compare to your current and future competition)
- Competitive Analysis-Company (a whole series of questions to elicit your thoughts regarding how your organization compares to your current and future competitions' capabilities)
- Trend Analysis (questions that ask you to discuss the impact of various trends upon your future business and vision)
Internal Appraisal (a series of thought provoking questions that ask you to conduct a detailed analysis surrounding your operation)
- Examining Structure vs. Functions
- Determining Core Competencies
- Examining Product Resources
- Examining Support Resources
- Examining Other Resources
- Examining Strengths and Limitations
- Determining a Base Strategy
Creating Your Mission Statement (Determining your 24-48 month targets)
Establishing Critical Goal Categories (Determining what needs to happen to achieve the Mission)
- Setting Measurable Objectives
- Creating Goals and Achievable Action Plans
Establishing Market & Sales Plans (a series of thought provoking questions that ask you to conduct a detailed analysis surrounding the Marketing and Sales functions as it relates to achieving the Mission)
- Examining Segmentation Decisions
- Examining Marketing Communications
- Determining Sales Strategies To Employ
- Examining Customer/Client Service Structure And Function
Determining Financial Projections & Review Procedures
- Forecasting Sales and Revenue Levels
- Forecasting Expenses
- Reviewing Capital Requirements Needed to Execute the Mission
- Creating Review Procedures