strategy development

Strategy should be simple but it's rarely easy.   All too often the challenges of strategy development and implementation result in a business as usual approach, incrementing the previous plan by 10%.

Strategy is the pattern of ideas connecting the present with the future.  More specifically, strategy describes how an organisation creates value for shareholders, customers and employees.  The reason why strategy is so important is that it determines how resources such as time, effort and money are allocated.  Simple strategies generally work best, but identifying these and achieving the most effective resource allocation is rarely easy.

Aligning resources to maximise profit

The allocation of resources needs to be aligned to make the most profitable use of them.  This may sound obvious but it can be very challenging in practice.  For example, departmental activities such as production, human resources and marketing need to be aligned not only with each other, but also with the business plan as a whole.

A misaligned organisation is like a misfiring engine; it probably still runs but it’s not particularly efficient and it's likely to break down.

Risk, return and corporate governance

Most organisations have a strategy of sorts but it is often implicit, weak or disconnected.  From a corporate governance perspective, a good strategy results in an appropriate balance of risk and return.

Strategy development

Strategy development requires discipline and objectivity.  The leadership team normally develop the organisational strategy and individual departments prepare functional strategies.  An integrated, cross-functional approach ensures that plans are aligned and promotes understanding throughout the organisation.

A variety of techniques can be used to develop and describe strategy ranging from traditional business plans to graphical representations such as strategy maps.

The ability to measure progress is key. After all, if you can't measure it, you can't manage it.

Choose your level of support

We can work with you at a variety of levels, as appropriate to your business:

  • coaching  - supporting and helping bring structure to the process of strategy development
  • facilitation - workshop-based strategy development for the leadership team and functional teams
  • facilitation plus - as above but enhanced by additional services such as customer surveys, leadership development or change management

Our customer value proposition

We are flexible and will tailor our service to your needs.  We will avoid academic jargon but will make use of world class models and techniques. As a small organisation, your business really matters to us; we promise value for money and  a high quality, professional service.

developing strategy

mission and values

Describe what your organisation is attempting to achieve and what matters to you.

assess current position

Review customers, competitors, market trends and all aspects of your business.

evaluate opportunities

Identify and evaluate opportunities; decide the best balance of risk and reward.

customer value propositions

Develop distinctive customer value propositions to take the focus off price by explaining the superior value of your offering.

align resources

Ensure that departments and individuals have sufficient resources and are all working towards the same goals.

communicate the strategy

Make strategy everyone's job. Ensure that the links between departmental plans and organisational plans are accepted and understood.

monitor the strategy

Identify and measure the key areas of business performance which enable the strategy to be realised - including difficult to measure soft areas such as culture.

call now: 023 9224 0243