Strategic Alignment

(Un)Ethical Practices

In today’s extremely competitive environment, professionals who get ahead are even more aggressive than their counterparts, aggressively going after that sale, hustling to get that next opportunity, or towing the lines to get the edge ahead of the competitor. Regardless of the “game”, at the end of the day, there is right, and then there’s wrong.

The challenge isn’t one’s ambition but their ethical practice. Professional Ethics. The guidelines determine whether the action is right, questionable, or unethical. Regardless of the reasons or excuse one gives, at the end of the day, there’s the Right Thing to do, Hustling with Zealous Integrity, or doing what’s Wrong.

Sign of the Blurring of The Grey Area

Some businesses, leaders and people with opportunities get their big break or succeed because they strive in the grey area. They learn the system, figure out the loopholes and then take advantage of them, leaving their competitors at a disadvantage without legal recourse. Do you know anyone, or are you aware of anyone in this situation?

No one ever started off blurring the ethical line in business; it evolves over time with one micro-indiscretion, then once they get away, take the bigger and bigger risk until it becomes their modus operandi.

One-way professionals start blurring the grey line is by assuming they have equal ownership of a co-worker’s work without first discussing it with them or asking, especially if that work wasn’t published for distribution.

I recalled this bitter-sweet experience a while back. My supervisor invited me to a meeting to discuss a project with one of the senior resources from head office. I felt proud being invited to the discussion requiring my professional expertise, especially since I recently earned my stripes by completing phase 1 of a multi-million-dollar project in an impossible seven months.  A project I worked tirelessly on effecting organizational change in communication, management practice and transparency at a level previously seen as too risky to the business. Working late nights to ensure that the business valued from the project and that it wasn’t just another case of software parading as a solution; being plastered on top of core issues as a fix.

Despite my youthful naivety, something felt off. It would have been more appropriate to provide a heads-up as to the organization plan instead of coming across as hijacking my work and only engaging me after they failed to understand the strategy.

Then it all shattered when I realized that the project plan they wanted to discuss was my project, copied and modified to replicate the solution in another office. Not only was my work butchered, but it was taken without any notice or heads up. Instead, I was sitting in a room with two senior members of the organization, educating them on project management, including explaining my critical and strategic thinking practices. At that moment, I felt cheated. I don’t mind sharing my work, training people, and helping when needed, but I do mind people assuming because I made it look easy that it was easy, assuming ownership and then, when they fail, to not explain or apologize, but expect me to help them.

I did it out of respect for my supervisor but lost some respect for my co-worker. Prior to this experience, I admired that person; after this, not so much.

Just Unethical:

Insider Trading, Trademark Infringement, Misleading Marketing Practices, and Manipulated Financials Statements are just a few common, highly damaging examples of unethical practices. Less obvious unethical practice includes Plagiarism, Pollution, and Abuse of Positional Power; which are decisions to pursue a course of action you know to be unethical yet decides to continue anyway because the chances of being caught are low.

Consequences:

Every action has consequences, whether the consequence is immediate or not. Plagiarizing someone’s work and presenting it as yours may not be called out; however, the person being cheated will eventually find out, it will be upsetting, and they will talk.

Peter Diamandis captures the essence of the consequence of unethical practice in his quote, “Bad news sells because the amygdala is always looking for something to fear.” The brain does not forget; it lives on as a lesson to remember, a message to share so others do not suffer the consequence you did, and also, because humans love justice, they will get involved when they notice an injustice being done. It is human nature in us to want others punished for their unjust behaviour.

“Bad news sells because the amygdala is always looking for something to fear.” ~ Peter Diamandis

Customer review, Social media and Networking Storytelling are means by which unjust practices can take on a life of their own; so before deciding to take an unethical risk, consider the real cost – damage to your reputation, damage to the business and even worst, your damage reputation through association, will impact those you love. It is not worth it.

Ethical, Sustainable Strategies:

Don’t despair; there are ethical strategies to give you the tools to get ahead and elevate your work experience so you stand out the right way and develop your ideas into solutions others will want to purchase. The best part is that it doesn’t have to take years; you can start benefiting in months with consistent practice. See our products page for more detail. Products – NM Corporate Strategy

Closing

If you want help or need coaching, reach out to those you admire – your mentors – because most successful people are willing to give back by helping others aspiring for success in their expertise. But do not assimilate their success as your own. This strategy may gain you short-term rewards; however, this practice will steal your credibility in the long term.

So, avoid the temptation to take the easy way out and make bad decisions which compromise yourself and the business.

It is also worthwhile to emphasize that not because you can get away with questionable action or that the other party has little to no legal recourse; doesn’t mean that it should be done.

Additional References:

Reach out to NMCS

– we provide practical strategies even the busiest leaders can execute without breaking the bank or disrupting the organization.

Why is Corporate Strategy Important?

It is common to find many senior leaders questioning the importance of having a Corporate Strategy. They question how practical it is to their current business and question the value it will create if they invest the time and resources required to develop and execute a Corporate Strategy.

This article will shed light on What a Corporate Strategy is, Why it is Important, and provide insights on How to execute a Corporate Strategy “Fit for the Purpose” of your Business.

“What is Corporate Strategy? Why it Corporate Strategy Important? How to execute a Corporate Strategy Fit for the Purpose of your business?”

What is Corporate Strategy?

In its most simple term, a Corporate Strategy is the Details and Specifics surrounding the Business’s Ultimate Goal, its “North Star”, its “Overarching Goal”; essentially, it is ultimately what the “Business wants to Accomplish”. It is more than ambitious statements citing a Vision or Mission that sounds great. It is the statements that inspire and guide the entire company’s actions.

There are many different formal and informal “versions” of a Company’s Corporate Strategy, “Fit for Purpose” acceptable Corporate Strategy could include:

  • The Business Vision & Mission, or
  • The Business Purpose Statement, or
  • The Business Value Proposition, or
  • The Founder’s Vision for creating the Business, or
  • The Leader’s Goal – what they would like to accomplish, or
  • The Business perceived Competitive Advantage and how they intend to win in the marketplace, or
  • Simply, the difference the founder wants to make through the Business;

each of which, provides management with guidance to ensure that they are optimizing their resources toward the same ultimate goals as their peers.

The Business Vision & Mission, or Purpose, are the formal versions of a Company’s Corporate Strategy, from which its Values, Value Proposition, Competitive Advantage, and Company’s Corporate & Annual Goals are defined. Goals designed to achieve the Company’s Corporate Strategy. While the last four are not officially formal Corporate Strategies, they each serve the objective of a Corporate Strategy by guiding the leadership of the Business toward common goals.

Reference: See our book, “Leadership Processes, elevating Critical & Strategic Thinking“, for our proprietary Leadership Process detailing how to unpack a Business Corporate Strategy, extracting actionable yet relevant strategies; business leaders can rally around as they aspire to achieve the Business’s Corporate Strategy. Check our product page for more detail.

Let’s look at each component of the Corporate Strategy in more detail.

The Business’s Vision Statement

The Business Vision Statement communicates the “Aspirational Goals” for the business.

The Business Vision Statement communicates the “Aspirational Goals” for the Business. Because the Vision Statement is aspirational, it is by nature non-specific. It is deliberately designed to be left open for leadership’s creative interpretations while being flexible to remain relevant despite forecasted changes in the micro and macro environment, simultaneously setting the overall direction for the Business.

Apple’s Vision Statement 2023: “To make the best products on earth and to leave the world better than we found it.“

Amazon Vision Statement: “To be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” 

The leadership at both Apple and Amazon can interpret the Company’s Vision Statement to determine precisely what each phrase means. Apple left its Vision open to venture into any product area as long as it fits the “best product” criteria while executing the Business’s operations with ESG consideration. On the other hand, Amazon set clear guidelines for its leadership to create the most customer-centric company that can sell anything online. 

The Business’s Mission Statement

Mission Statement primarily communicates what the business does and for whom.

The Company’s Mission Statement cites more achievable, shorter-term tangible goals the Business can pursue that are aligned with its Vision Statement. It primarily communicates what the Business does and for whom. While there are more complex structures of a Mission Statement encapsulating more details of the Business, the two key characteristics of a Mission Statement are to define what the Business does and for whom.

Apple’s Mission Statement: “bringing the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services.”

Amazon Mission Statement: “We strive to offer our customers the lowest possible prices, the best available selection, and the utmost convenience.”

Apple’s Mission statement states clearly that Apple provides innovative hardware, software and services in their products for users who appreciate a good user experience, while Amazon’s Mission statement states that Amazon’s desire to make shopping online on their platform convenient while providing a wide variety of products at the lowest possible prices. Both Apple nor Amazon state in their Mission Statements the specific products or services provided, only what their customers can look forward to.

Apple promises innovative products and excellent user experience, and Amazon promises convenient shopping with the widest variety of products at the lowest possible price.

The Business’s Purpose Statement

The Purpose Statement communicates “Why” a business exists and how its products and services benefit their customers.

It’s a general observation that a business either has a Vision-Mission driven Corporate Strategy or a Purpose driven Corporate Strategy. The differentiating factors determining whether a company is Vision-Mission-driven or Purpose-driven often are 1: The Complexity of the Business and 2: The Persona of the Business.

The Structure of the Organization combined with its Operating Model and type of services provided often dictates whether a business will have a Vision-Mission Corporate Structure or a Purpose driven Corporate Strategy.

Apple and Amazon are often perceived as unreachable by their customer base, who do not need an intimate relationship with the company to reap the full benefits of their goods and services, while Insurance type companies often rely on a more personal connection with their customers to provide excellent services; resulting in Insurance companies opting for a Purpose driven Corporate Strategy.

Allstate Purpose Statement: We help customers realize their hopes and dreams by providing the best products and services to protect them from life’s uncertainties and prepare them for the future.

When planning the Business Corporate Strategy, most Small and Medium size businesses will benefit from a more straightforward Purpose Statement Corporate Strategy; it communicates to the staff and target market what the Business is and who it serves and provides ample information for the target customer to connect with the Business.

Whereas more complex organisations will want to evaluate the pros and cons of each structure before determining which format best fits the needs of the Business.

Corporate Strategy Details

Having established that the Business Corporate Strategy is either Vision-Mission-driven or Purpose-driven, clearly stating what the Business wants to accomplish, what it does and who it serves. The next step is translating the Business’s Corporate Strategy into smaller tangible goals, objectives and actions the Business can execute.

Think of it like this. The Business Corporate Strategy is the destination the Business is hoping to arrive at, why it needs to get to that destination, and the mode of transport it will use to arrive at its destination.

The Corporate Strategy Details – the Values, Value Proposition and Competitive Advantage – are the details necessary for the Business operators to work in lockstep to achieve its Corporate Strategy. Think of it like this; the details are the plannedrequiredcessary for the Business to get to its final destination as efficiently as possible, with the best possible experience for itself and its customers, while building trust and loyalty throughout the journey.

Values: 

Values are essential because values set expectations for the quality of the experience for staff and customers with every business transaction.

Theoretically, “Values” define how employees ought to behave in the daily execution of their duties and are the building blocks of the Company’s Culture.

Practically, “Company’s Culture” is the sum total of the collective behaviours of the workforce, whether the behaviours are sanctioned or not by management.

Realistically, “Values” listed in the Company’s Corporate Strategy alone do not determine Company’s “Culture” and often, in reality, the Company’s Culture is not a reflection of the Company’s Values.

Brand:

 

The Company’s Brand is a reflection of the general public’s judgement. It’s a “sum-total” of how the staff and customers feel about their interaction with the company.

Theoretically, “Brand” is the image the Business wishes to create for the public.

In Practice, “Brand” is the Public Image the Business has because of the experience its staff and customers collectively form based on their experiences with the Business.

Realistically brand isn’t determined by a branding exercise. A branding exercise will shed light on what Brand the company should curate, with insights on how to create the desired image. However, the Company’s Brand is formed by how well the operators of the business behaviours are aligned with the image it wants to project.

The reality is most businesses’ Planned Brands, and their Actual Brand are not aligned.

Value Proposition:

Theoretically, “Value Proposition” is the value leadership want the business goods and services to create for its customers.

In Practice, “Value Proposition” is the perceived value gained by the customer from the consumption of the business goods and services.

Realistically, the “Value Proposed” and the “Value Gained” often differ for most businesses, with the Business overestimating the value created and the customers underestimating the value gained. It is advisable for the Business to frequently seek and evaluate customer feedback to determine its true value proposition, incorporating relevant insights into the creation, delivery and follow-up of its goods and services.

Competitive Advantage: 

Competitive Advantage is lessening its importance in business management primarily because it’s seen as extremely difficult to develop and execute, while the changes in technology and the economy make the information relatively obsolete relatively fast; there is little incentive for Businesses to invest the time and money to develop, and even less incentive for Small and Medium Size businesses. However, for a business to thrive and grow, it must manage a fit-for-purpose Competitive Advantage.

Theoretically, “Competitive Advantage” is how the Business differentiates itself from the competitors in a way that is more appealing to its customers than the competitors.

In Practice, “Competitive Advantage” is constructed by most using “Quality”, “Service”, “Price”, “Technology”, “Access”, and “Product” to create an offering that will win more often than the competitors.

Realistically, “Competitive Advantage” influences the target customer to believe that your products and service are more valuable than the alternatives available.

Corporate Strategy in Perspective:

The Vision – Defines Aspirational Goals the Business can eventually achieve.

The Mission or Purpose – Defines Practical Immediate Goals the Business can accomplish given its resources.

The Corporate Strategy Details – Defines the Strategies, Plans and Specific Details of how the Business will behave and operate to achieve its Mission or Purpose.

Why is Corporate Strategy Important?

In a nutshell, a business without a Corporate Strategy is synonymous with a Taxi driving without a destination.

Businesses, especially Small and Medium size businesses operate under the impression that as long as they are making money, they are doing ok; however, once the initial momentum has been exhausted, the Business begins to experience problems, and if nothing is done to solve the underlying problem correctly, it starts to decline.

The fallacy most businesses make is, believing that once a business begins to struggle, the solution is business process improvement, systems or tools, which rarely works. Why? Because any product, systems and tools layered upon inefficiencies will not resolve the underlying problem, only temporarily mask it resulting in the problems resurfacing only to frustrate management.

Dire Problem: I worked with a medium size organization citing dire problems with Professional Services, Product Development and Sales, a tangled web of weekly battles on whose fault it was that affected Sales. Product Development was forced to re-prioritize and modify its product roadmap, while Professional Services struggled to deliver on the promises made by Sales. A recurring nightmare. The Difficult Problems Leadership weren’t able to solve suddenly assigned to me. Problems that were blamed for the losses incurred monthly. Problems the traditional solutions failed to resolve.

The Solution: Clarity of the Business Corporate Strategy with relevant Corporate Strategy Details and a pivot of the Business In-Year Strategy, so the Business can resolve the root cause of the problems while redirecting its effort to focus on other revenue-generating opportunities. Only then did things truly turn around, and the Business was now able to move forward with its growth and value accretion plans.

Note: It is important to recognize that in addition to having a Corporate Strategy and the Corporate Strategy Details, EXECUTION is Key! And Execution is in the Business’s Operating Advantage, Operating Values, and Culture impact on its Brand. Reach out to us to learn more about Operating Advantages, Operating Values and Culture Impact on the Brand.

How to Start a “Fit for Purpose” Corporate Strategy?

Operating Business often falls into one of the following categories:

  • A functioning Corporate Strategy, or
  • An Ignored Corporate Strategy, or
  • A Dated Corporate Strategy, or
  • An Irrelevant Corporate Strategy, or
  • An Idea of what the Corporate Strategy is, or
  • A Wishful Idea of what the Business wants to do or achieve, or
  • No Corporate Strategy.

The challenge is for you, the leader, to determine if it is a Goal you can move forward with. Then develop the details to support the achievement of that goal. Then validate the Business’s ability to execute the activities necessary to achieve that goal.

If, however, you are either unclear as to what the Business’s Corporate Strategy is, or whether the Business Operations are strategically aligned with its written Corporate Strategy, or how to begin solving the Business’s dire problems. Start with gaining some clarity on why the Business exists and how it intends to serve its customers and ensure that you ask all the difficult questions.

Once you have clarity, communicate first to the team, then to the rest of the Business and be open to feedback on whether it’s feasible. Work through the Corporate Strategy Details and Execute!

With clarity on the Business’s Corporate Strategy and the details communicated concisely to the Business, you will begin receiving insights from your actions, decision and subordinates on where the daily activities of the business conflict with the Corporate Strategy; valuable Insights and Information you can then act on.

An idea without execution is only an idea that soon fades and dies. The same is true for a Business without a Corporate Strategy. The Business will ultimately be pulled into conflicting directions, consumed with how best to allocate its limited resources.

A simple test you can do today to help determine if the Business has an effective Corporate Strategy is to ask. Ask your leader, managers or supervisors what the business Goal is. If they are uncertain, then follow.

  1. Apply the insights provided in How to Start above, or
  2. Get our book Leadership Processes, elevating Critical & Strategic Thinking, and it will give the Leadership Process to develop a Corporate Strategy, or
  3. Contact Us, and we will help.

Final Thought: Having a Corporate Strategy (Goals) people understand is a sign that you are in control. At the same time, not having an active Corporate Strategy is a signal that the Business is reactive to the circumstances of the environment; they are being led, not leading. We understand that a business strives when the circumstances are favourable – getting lucky, and struggles when the circumstances are unfavourable. However, it is important never to take your business luck for granted; ensure that it is supported by a Corporate Strategy that serves as a lighthouse in periods of uncertainty. And DO NOT risk your Business on chances because regardless of the circumstances, with Strategic Management, you can create your own favourable circumstances.

Be Strategic! Nallanie Manick

Practical Competitive Advantage for SMBs

Introduction.

When we think about Competitive Advantage; we automatically think of Michael Porter, Market Research, TAM, SWOT, Five Forces, Competitive Analysis; or some intensive, expensive project only a few or large organizations can afford. Projects that are both intimidating and overwhelming for SMBs – small-and-medium size businesses.

Competitive Advantage can be intimidating and overwhelming for SMBs.

This article dives into a Practical Competitive Advantage Solution specifically for SMBs.

As Founders, Entrepreneurs, when we start a business, we start it with a certain Dream or Vision in mind. Something fundamental we would like to achieve through the business. Then as time passes and we get caught up in the day-to-day struggles; fighting to win that customer, competing against the competitors, building a team, and adjusting so we can keep up with the changes in the environment; our Dream or Vision fades. The Vision fades because, during the Survival Stage of the business, SMBs are forced to choose between pursuing their Vision and pursuing Sales, meaning going where the money is—an obvious decision for SMBs in survival mode.

Steve Jobs – iDownloadBlog

This struggle isn’t unique to just SMBs. It is present in all businesses with very few exceptions. Even large organizations like Apple struggled in the first decade of its existence to decide how best to achieve its ‘Founding’ Vision while deciding on how best to operate the business to gain a Competitive Advantage—resulting in Apple losing sight of its Vision over time, due to the compounded effect of None Strategically Coherent Competitive decision.

By 1997, Apple Inc., having gone out of sync with its Vision, resulted in the Historical Pivotal Point in Apple’s History. Despite being advised against it, Steve Jobs made the well-debated decision to cut over 70% of Apple Product lines, streamlining its Product and Operations in line with Apple’s Founding Vision.

Since this decision, the Pivotal Point in Apple’s History, Setting a Strategically Coherent Operating Mandatory Precedence for Apple moving forward, it can be argued that this was the reason behind Apple’s success and why Apple is “The World Most Valuable Company today – 2022.”

Capacity to Execute.

An Organization Capacity to Execute resides in the Leaders’ resourcefulness. Resourcefulness in utilizing the business’s resources to execute Competitive Advantage Strategies to win in the market. To win against the competitors. Not all businesses are created equally, and regardless of a business’s size and resources, all businesses have limitations that constrain business competitiveness in one way or another. Limitations such as:

  1. Leadership Capabilities,
  2. Staff Skillset,
  3. Organization Access to Funding or Money to pursue Competitive Advantage Strategies,
  4. The Market Access,
  5. Environmental / Governmental Factors,
  6. Technology.

Despite the constraints and limitations constricting the business, leaders are responsible for making the best decision for the business, Strategically Coherent Competitive Decision which; Hopefully the Business is Able and Equipped to Execute. The reality is that Leaders are often juggling multiple competing priorities, assessing Opportunity Cost, Cost- Benefits, and Prioritizing what can be compromised without compromising the business’s overall health.

Often, it leads to making decisions with Limited Insights, Limited Knowledge of its Limitations and Constraints, resulting in decisions that the Business may not necessarily have the Capacity to Execute. When the Business’s Capacity to Execute is overestimated, and the business decides to pursue Competitive Advantage Initiatives, it does not have the Capacity to Execute. The business is forced to reassign valuable resources from its Priorities to Initiatives of Lesser Importance. Compromising the Business in one way or another, which, when compounded over time, widens the Strategic Gap and erodes the Business’s Competitive Advantage.

Competitive Advantage.

In today’s ever-evolving environment, Leaders are shifting the conversation from Complex Competitive Advantage to; the more manageable Value Proposition. Given that Value Proposition is only a small subset of Competitive Advantage, Value Proposition should not be considered by any means necessary a comprehensive Competitive Advantage Strategy. Also, it is important to note that the more resources and capabilities organizations have, the more comprehensive their Value Proposition or Competitive Advantage Strategies will be.

Technology Disruption is another factor that justifies the shift from Competitive Advantage Strategy to the more economical Value Proposition Strategy. It only makes sense that given the fast pace with which technology is changing the competitive landscape, businesses have opted to NOT invest significant time and money just to develop short-lived strategies.

However, Businesses and SMBs do not have to compromise the business Competitive Advantage, but instead SMBs can adapt their Strategy from executing the Traditional Competitive Advantage Strategy to executing a more Modern Competitive Advantage Strategy.

Modern Competitive Advantage.

Modern Competitive Advantage is a shift in Competitive Advantage Strategy to one that is Executable, Flexible, and Adaptable to the changes in the micro-and-macro environments. Modern Competitive Advantage comprises

  1. Fuelling your Target Market with Immediate Gratification, while
  2. Fuelling the Business with Insights to Develop and Maintain Relevance in the Market, and
  3. Taking Decisive Action.
Fuelling your Target Market with Immediate Gratification.

To Fuel your Target Market with Immediate Gratification means to serve your Current Customers so they experience feelings of Gratitude towards the SMB or Appreciation for the Products/Services purchased. This strategy is based on the fact that everyone loves Recognition and to be Appreciated. This is true regardless of their job, status or position. I have worked in many organizations, and the best and most influential strategy is to genuinely recognize people for their contribution. To Appreciate Their Effort. To Demonstrate Gratitude for their Patronage.

However, it is critical that the strategy you adopt to Fuel your Target Market with Immediate Gratification; is genuine, not fabricated or does not come across as manipulative or disingenuous. If your customer walks away feeling manipulated, it will have the opposite effect, thereby creating a Competitive Disadvantage for the business.

Say My Name.

“Say My Name” is a perfect example of how Starbucks Fuel its Target Market with Immediate Gratitude.

Starbucks appeals to what is most important to a person, their name. With every order, the Starbucks representative is trained to gleefully request the customer’s name for the order, then repeat their name to ensure that they got it right. An act which immediately triggers a feeling of importance in the customer, a sense of being recognized in the most fundamental way; by their name.

The psychology behind this strategy is quite simple, within three seconds or less, the customer went from being unknown to someone with a Name, the Best Name, their Name! This simple act of actively acknowledging someone’s name appeals to the person’s sense of importance, their identity; leaving them with a feel-good feeling. Someone whom people in the immediate vicinity now know by name. Genius, isn’t it? Most people cannot walk away from this experience without feeling a few inches taller.

Now compare the Starbucks ordering experience with that of other Coffee Shops, where the person behind the counter asks what they want, sometimes repeating their order to confirm that they got the order correctly, followed immediately with the price of the order. Regardless of the level of service, the courtesy of the person behind the counter, or the quality of coffee, the Starbucks experience is by far superior to that of the other Coffee Shops; simply because it is personal to the patron.

What is even more impressive with the Starbucks Strategy is that it COST Nothing and is SIMPLE and EASY to Execute. There is no additional training required, no additional material required, and no significant delays to sales turnaround. It can even be argued that it could potentially slow down the line; however, it can also be argued if it slowed down the line, based on the experience and the Starbucks ambiance, the slowed-down line is not noticeable to impact the patrons’ experience.

The Gift.

The Gift is another Common Strategy Organizations use to create a sense of immediate gratification in their customers for their patronage. Recently I had to change my eyeglasses because one night after working on my bed, I rested my glasses on the case with the handles hanging out and managed to accidentally slam shut the case on the handle, damaging the frame. This is my fourth purchase of eyeglasses but my first Appreciative Experience. In all my other experiences, I felt rushed, as if I was at the mercy of the salesperson, and the business rules and regulation designed to make their customers uncomfortable. I left my previous Optometrist feeling slightly deflated, a few hundred dollars short, and a piece of paper to come back within the next few weeks to collect my eyeglasses.

In my last purchase from Optical Connection, the minute I walked in I was greeted by a well-dressed individual eager to serve me, while the entire visit was engaging and attentive to my needs when I walked out, even though a few hundred short with a piece of paper to collect my eyeglasses within the next two weeks, I also walked out with a brown paper gift bag containing items to help me take care of my new eyeglasses. No glasses but a pleasant appreciative experience. Did I feel Gratitude? Most definitely. I was so pleased with Optical Connection service, I decided to move my family over to their practice and tell anyone willing to listen of their exceptional service and Free Gifts.

Fuelling the Business with Insights to Develop and Maintain Relevance in the Market.

An Organization Competitive Advantage Relevance is the business’s ability to continuously improve its Products & Services while evolving the business to continue to survive in the Ever-Changing Competitive Environment.

Traditional management thinking led us to believe that in order for SMBs to transition to a high-performing competitive company, SMBs needed to invest in some expensive transformative project. A project studying the market, identifying what wins and then investing in the People, Resources, Tools, Systems, and/or Partnerships before they can effectively compete. This is not necessarily the case. SMBs can shift their management practice to one which builds insights while executing Small Impactful Strategic yet Competitive Actions that are designed to win customers over while strengthening the organization to win in the short-, and medium; and positioning the business to win in the long term; By Shifting to a Competitive Advantage Management Practice.

A Competitive Advantage Management Practice achieves two things:

  1. The business adopts a Listening, Learning and Serving Management Practice.
    • The leadership Listens to the feedback from their Staff, Competitors and Customers,
    • The Leadership Learns from Past Experience, and
    • The Leadership adopts a Service Mentality. Serving the needs of their Customers and Staff.
  2. Management makes continuous Micro-Competitive Improvements to its business.
    • The Listening, Learning and Servicing Operating Practice unveils Valuable Competitive Insights that signal exactly what the business must do to be more competitive while staying on its Strategic Path.

Effectively, SMBs cannot compete the way larger organization competes; they lack the capabilities, resources and access available to larger organizations. SMBs must think Economically Strategic, Stay True to their Vision and be willing to Serve at a Higher Level than their competitors are willing to serve.

Taking Decisive Action.

The Harsh Reality is that Businesses that Struggles, more likely than not, Struggles NOT with Strategies but, WITH Execution.

There is an avalanche of reasons why, and often it is not a lack of resources or capabilities but, the perseverance and determination to take Decisive Action. Taking action in the face of uncertainty and taking the next right step.

In my expert opinion, this is often because SMBs are competing in an aggressive and ever-changing environment where information is limited, and SMBs are forced to make decisions littered with uncertainty. A deterrent that causes less risk-averse leaders to hesitate, to procrastinate until they are more assured of their actions. Some assurance that their efforts will lead to some level of desired results, missing out on the opportunity in the process. What is the saying?

“The Early Bird catches the Worm”, the SMB that acts first is more likely to win than the SMB that is waiting for guarantees.

SMBs are interested in becoming more competitive; to Develop & Maintain a Sustainable Competitive Advantage; Listen, Learn, Serve and Take Decisive Actions, making micro-competitive transformational changes to the business. So, the business Products & Services Wows, Wins and continues to Win in an Ever-Changing Competitive Market.

SMBs Capacity to Execute.

It is important at this time to differentiate SMBs’ Capacity to Execute a Sustainable Competitive Advantage from that of larger organizations with the resources, to invest in the relevant Management and Strategy Consulting services to develop a Comprehensive Competitive Advantage Strategy it can execute.

Our recommendation for SMBs and any organization interested in effecting change is to Start with the Organization’s Capacity to Execute. All businesses, regardless of their size are limited in one way or another, and because of this fact, have restrictions that affect the Organization’s Capacity to Execute. An Adaptable, Flexible, Economical Strategy any business can utilize is to Start with Intentionality. The intentions to:

  1. To Understand the SMB Limitations & Constraints,
  2. To Understand the SMB’s Capacity to Execute,
  3. To Develop a Competitive Advantage Management Practice, and
  4. To Take Decisive Action.

Intentionality comes when the Leadership considers all elements of their Unique Business while focusing on Purposely Developing and Leading a Competitive Business.

Practical Competitive Advantage.

The saying Go Big or Go Home is a convenience only few can afford.

Competitive Advantage Strategies that are based on an intensive study of the business, industry, its trends, competitors, new entrants etc. are all great, but not practical for most SMBs. What is top of mind for most SMBs is survival. How to manage the business to make a profit, retain customers and if they are lucky increase sales. A business, whether an SMB or larger. If the business is consumed with its survival, the SMB isn’t focusing on achieving market dominance, or on weeding out the competition. Survival and that next Sale is Top of Mind.

If the SMB is not on the Decline to the Death Stage of the BLC (Business Life Cycle) and has some room to maneuver for a few more years, then it is NOT too late for the SMB to turn things around. In addition to adopting a Competitive Management Practice, a Practical Competitive Advantage, Capacity to Execute must include “Respect”

  1. Respect for Customers: After all Customers; pay the bills.
  2. Respect for Staff: After all Staff is the Face and Personality of the business and The Staff’s collective behaviour and practice determines the business Culture and Brand; NOT the Business “Values” defined in its Corporate Strategy.
  3. Respect the competitors. Odd I know! Competitors are your Competitors because they have Earned That Right. Their performance attracts the customers you would like.
    • When SMBs respect their competitors, they are able to see clearly what their winning Competitive Strategy is, and how they differentiate.
    • I strongly recommend that SMBs avoid Playing Second Fiddle Strategy. Do not copy the Competitor’s Strategy, simply because the SMB is not privy to the insights into the Competitor’s Capacity to Execute. As such, the SMB may not necessarily have the Capacity to Execute if it decides to copy the Competitor’s winning strategy.

With Respect for Customers, Staff & Competitors, SMBs have equipped their companies with the utmost Capacity to Execute Competitive Advantage Strategies; which will:

  • Strengthen the SMBs Brand,
  • Win New Customers, 
  • Improve Proactiveness,
  • Increase Sales,
  • Increase Insights & Resources, allowing the SMBs to get to the next level of Competitive Advantage, Micheal Porter’s level. 

Summary.

Instead of going after the Big Fishes, our Recommendation is that SMBs find out what is Unique & Specific about their business, the Reasons Why Customers are attracted to the business, and leverage those Insights to Develop and Execute a Competitive Advantage Strategy; the SMB has the Capacity to Execute.

At NMCS we have the Tools and Strategies – Services SMBs can afford – to help SMBs get to their Capacity to Execute Competitive Advantage. SMBs have options when it comes to becoming more Competitive, however, the SMBs cannot compete the way the medium-to-large organizations do. SMBs have to take a more Modern Competitive Advantage Approach and Execute their Competitive Advantage within a “Respect” Framework to compete effectively.

Plant the Seed: Focus on the Vision, Start Small, and Start with What you have! 

Nurture the Plant: Honour your trade, Honour your Customer, Honour your Staff, and Honourable Practice! 

Reap the Fruits of your Labour: See how these Simple Strategies Slowly, Steadily and Stealthily Improve the SMB Competitiveness.

 

Be Strategic!

Compete Strategically!

Boost Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution

What Causes Strategy Failure?

The data tells us that the majority of strategy projects failed. Either Failing outright or failing to deliver the desired results, the results management used to justify the investment in the first place. Why?  When executives step back and reflect, the root cause is because of one or more of the following:

  1. Strategic Misalignment
  2. Silo Trap
  3. Implementation Misalignment

Strategic Misalignment

Henrik Kniber Misalignment

What is Strategic Misalignment? 

Strategic Misalignment results from the compounded effect of decisions that are not aligned with the Business’s Corporate Strategy; each decision widens the gap between the business’s current state and its Strategic Path.

Practically, unless leaders intentionally and mindfully manage the business’s daily activities to ensure alignment with its Corporate Strategy, it is not easy to identify Strategic Misalignment until after the business performance is impacted. Evident when the actions to get the business to get back on track to achieve its goal is disruptive and expensive; and when the phrase “Course Correct” is used to describe the urgency of the situation.

What causes Strategic Misalignment? 

It would be cruel yet correct to say that the root cause of Strategic Misalignment is bad decisions – inferring that these decisions were uninformed or intentional. Though correct, this is an absolutely useless statement because it provides no context or information on how to get back on track. No solution. No guidance. It is more relevant and helpful to state that the Root Cause of Strategic Misalignment is the decision-making process and the quality of the information considered when deciding.

“The Root Cause of Strategic Misalignment is the Decision-Making process and the Quality of the Information used when making Decisions.”

One more note on a business becoming Strategic Misaligned. A business does not become Strategically Misaligned because of one or a few uninformed decisions but after a prolonged period and practice of making Strategically Incoherent Decisions.

Silo Trap

The Context of Think artwork interpreted for Silo Trap

What is Silo Trap?

Silo Trap or “Siloization” is a practice of making decisions in a Silo, meaning making decisions that are best for your function without consideration of the impact on other functions. Another phase you hear often is “working in a silo”.  Siloization does not necessarily mean that the Functional Leaders are vengeful or deliberate; it simply means that, for whatever reason, it appears as if no consideration was given to the possible effect of that decision on the other functions of the business.

Siloization is detrimental to an organization because everything in the business is interconnected. Every decision made will ultimately produce output that feeds as input/information into the task of another function, affecting the effectiveness with which the other function can complete its task. An easy yet relatable example is the decisions made in Sales to win the Sales without considering how it will impact operations. This leaves operations exposed to delivering lower-quality goods and services, affecting the Operations’ Performance metrics.

So how is Siloization different from Strategic Misalignment?

Both Siloization and Strategic Misalignment are rooted in the decision-making process and the information used in decision-making; the difference is; with Siloization decisions fail to consider the impact of those decisions on other Functions, while; with Strategic Misalignment, the decision fails to consider the impact of those decisions on the Business’s Corporate Strategy. Similar yet drastically different.

Signs of Siloization?

Siloization is Horizontal conflict within the organization, while Strategic Misalignment is Vertical conflict among all levels of the organization. Siloization creates somewhat toxic or dysfunctional behaviours, while Strategic Misalignment doesn’t necessarily mean the functions are not aligned. Two Signs of Siloization include:

  • An increasing number of disagreements between the functions of the organization. The reasons including:
    • different priorities,
    • different strategies,
    • different goals,
    • the different interpretations of what the goals or the strategy mean.
  • We often listen to CEOs reciting some version of “we are all cogs in the wheel”, or when we work together, we can achieve great things. The pep-talk used to pacify disagreements between the functions when the effects have cascaded down the organization affecting staff, operations and likely, customers.

When you step back, really step back and look at what happened when Siloization was allowed to continue, the result is often tragic – the compounded effect led to the decline of the business.

“The compounded effect of Siloization is the Slow Decline of the Business.”

Implementation Misalignment

Capterra – interpreted Project Failing

What is Implementation Misalignment? 

Implementation Misalignment occurs when the business undertakes special projects it is not equipped to or cannot successfully execute. More appropriately described as the misfit between the Project requirements and the business resourcefulness. Implementation Misalignment occurs when the business pursues projects that look good on paper without doing proper due diligence into its capabilities, resources, skillset, and limitation.  Ultimately, having to accept that the business cannot successfully deliver the project and deciding to either stop or accept compromised results.

Despite each project being unique and one of a kind, inherent with uncertainty, risk and challenges, there are signs of Implementation Misalignment requiring solutions that are outside of the control of the Project Management team.

4 Signs of Implementation Misalignment:

  1. Lack of Management Buy-in: Management buy-in is present when the collective leadership team agrees with and supports the project. Management buy-in becomes a problem when one or more of the leadership team members do not agree with the decision to pursue this project. Thus, likely that there are unresolved issues even after the decision was made, resulting in a project lacking the full management buy-in.
  2. Unexpected Challenges: During implementation, the project experiences an unnecessarily high number of challenges resulting in scope creep, delays, rising cost etc. Challenges that weren’t previously anticipated, or challenges or issues the sponsor during strategic planning assumed were not going to be an issue; or did not give any thought to because they did not anticipate that this would be a challenge for the business.
  3. Underwhelming Results: Upon completion, the Project result was under-whelming, or the business did not gain the benefits it anticipated from the project.
  4. Failure: Project failed, or the business was forced to terminate the project early.

Solution: NMCS Strategic Initiative Process

Boost Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution while Developing the Essential Details to Optimally Manage the Business

NMCS Strategic Initiative Process is a structured, organized, gated processes designed to help businesses Identify, Develop, Execute and Operationalize the right initiatives to Transform the business for Growth, while simultaneously further the achievement of the Business Corporate Strategy, its Vision, Mission or Purpose. This Strategic Initiative Process:

  1. Using NMCS Strategic Alignment Process, analyses the Business Corporate Strategy to:
    • Define Core Goals,
    • Define Core Goals Success Principles that reduce Interpretation Errors,
    • Priorities alignment with and define the business Strategic Path,
    • Define Corporate Goals.
  2. Define Strategic Initiative
    • Performs a Business State Corporate Goal Gap Assessment to identify Strategic Gaps,
    • Analyzes the business resources, risk, capabilities and risk appetite to define Business Limitations,
    • Performing our Business Limitation Analysis; weigh, rate and prioritize the impact of the business limitation on each Strategic Gap, to identify Potential Strategic Initiatives the business is Equipped and Able to Successfully Execute.
  3. Pursue Transformation Initiatives to Grow the Business or Transformation Initiatives to Stabilize the Business, that are specific and right for the business, right now. The Strategic Initiative Process provided an Executive Strategic Initiative Report Framework to facilitate the optimal review to decide on which Strategic Initiative to pursue.
  4. Throughout the Structured, Organized, Gated-Process, develop the Essential Information and Details to Optimize the Management and Operations of the Business.
    • Information used when making Strategic Decisions
    • Information used in onboarding new leaders
    • Information used when managing the operations of the business
    • Information used when resolving conflict
    • etc.

NMCS Strategic Initiative Process delivers on its promise by Logically, honing in on the key point of weakness of a Strategic Planning Process, and getting to the root cause of where Expensive Strategic Mistakes are made. Addressing:

  • The reasons wrong projects is selected,
  • The reasons why certain investment fails,
  • The reasons behind an organization being pulled into different, conflicting directions,
  • The reasons strategic gaps develop within an organization,
  • The reasons for misalignment between the Operations of the Business and its Corporate Strategy,
  • The reasons why a business loses its competitive edge, and customers leave.

NMCS Strategic Initiative Process addresses the root cause behind Expensive, Strategic Mistakes. The reasons that are only obvious after the fact, after the damage has been done.

This solution not only provides a Strategic Tool to Optimize Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution, but it does so in a subtle, elegant manner without any negative stigmas; correcting the ineffective management practices discussed above.

It provides the Framework, Insights, Strategies, Tips and Information to create the environment that stifles the Strategic Misalignment, Siloization and Implementation Misalignment. 

Strategic Initiative Miniseries Summary.

Over the period of January to June of 2022, NMCS published a 6-Part Strategic Initiative miniseries on our Blog Page and our NMCS YouTube channel, with over 2 hours of information packed content; discussed in much more detail than can be presented in one post or blog. After completing this complex 6-part miniseries, we had one more gift for our readers.  A summarized overview of the full ended to end process in one publication. Now you can get an appreciation for the full process, with some insights into each step in the process and the benefits of its design,

Part 1: What is Strategic Initiative?

A Strategic initiative is a Corporate Level Special Project, carefully planned and designed by leadership, to resolve a Strategic Gap, clearing a path forward for the business to now be able to achieve one or more of its Corporate Goals. A Strategic Initiative differs from other projects undertaken within the business because it effect a transformational change to the business; making a fundamental change to the business. See Types of Strategic Initiatives for more detail.

It is important to clarify that the completion of a Strategic Initiative Project by itself does not achieve any of the Business Corporate Goals, it simply removes an obstacle, in the business so the business can now begin the work on the activities necessary to achieve its Corporate Goal.

The different types of Strategic Initiatives discussed in this series are

  1. The Create Strategic Initiative
    • To create something that currently do not exist within the business
    • Something that is necessary to have, and operational, before the business can execute the activities to achieve one or more of its Corporate Goals
    • Example: a Vertical or Horizontal integration, or a Strategic Partnership, which is needed before the business is able to execute the activities necessary to grow the business.
  2. The Fix or Repair Strategic Initiative
    • To Fix or Repair something currently existing with the business
    • Something which in its current state is an obstacle, prevents the business from executing the activities necessary to achieve one or more of its Corporate Goals
    • Example: to Upgrade the Business Production Facility to increase capacity to the facility true potential. In its current state, the facility is no able to produce the quantity required to achieve it corporate goal.
  3. The Discontinue Strategic Initiative
    • To Discontinue some aspect of the business that is no longer aligned with the Business Corporate Strategy.
    • Something which is consuming resources while widening Strategic Gaps within the business, pulling the business further and further away from its Corporate Strategy.
    • Something currently blocking the business from executing the activities necessary to achieve one or more of its Corporate Goals.
    • Example: to Discontinue a non-strategic product line that monopolizes production time. Preventing the business from optimizing the production of its more profitable products. Something if not discontinued prevents the business from expanding its more productive product lines.

NMCS Strategic Initiative Process

NMCS Strategic Initiative Process is a 7-Step Process, starting with the analysis of the business Corporate Strategy to determine the strategic path forward, and ending the Operationalization of the output from the Strategic Initiative Project, so the business can move forward, executing the operations of the business to achieve its Corporate Goals.

The Seven Steps of the NMCS Strategic Initiative Process:

  1. Clarify Corporate Strategy
    • Corporate Strategy -> Corporate Goals
  2. Identify Strategic Gaps
    • Corporate Goals <-> Business State => Strategic Gaps
  3. Design Strategic Initiative
    • Strategic Gaps X Business Limitations X Business Capabilities => Possible Strategic Initiatives
  4. Evaluate and Select Strategic Initiative
    • Executive Strategic Initiative Report X Decision => Select Strategic Initiative
  5. Plan and Mobilize Strategic Initiative
    • Planning Detail for funding, resources
    • Secure Funding and Resources
  6. Execute Strategic Initiative
    • Insights to Mindfully manage Execution of the project with the Project manager
  7. Operationalize Strategic Initiative
    • Go Live, Open Flood Gates of the transition onto the business.

Part 1 Full Video Link: What is Strategic Initiative? 

Starting in Part 2 to Part 7, we discussed each Step of the NMCS Strategic Initiative Process in detail.

Part 2: Clarify Corporate Strategy and Identify Strategic Gaps

A Summary of the key take away from Part 2: Clarify Corporate Strategy and Identify Strategic Gaps includes:

  • An Acknowledgement of the fact that not all businesses have a well defined Corporate Strategy, so we discussed insights on how the business can make progress with what they have. After all, you have to start at some point and the right point is where you are currently.
  • Discussed NMCS strategic Alignment process in detail, unpacking the business Corporate Strategy through a succinct process to define corporate goals as well as all other information management depend on to effectively manage the business.

  • Discussed our 5-step process to analyse the business current state compared to the ideal state necessary to achieve its Corporate Goals, and to identify Strategic Gaps.

Part 2 Full Video Link: Clarify Corporate Strategy and Identify Strategic Gaps 

Part 3: Design, Evaluate and Select Strategic Initiative

A summary of the key takeaway from Part 3: Design, Evaluate and Select Strategic Initiative includes:

  1. Part 3 discussion started off by raising awareness to the fact that as we transition from the “dreamlike”, excitement of the earlier Strategic Planning steps in the process, it can be difficult for some leaders when they are forced to face the reality of the business weakness.
    • It’s like the cliche “looking in the mirror” at your weakness, limitation; Looking Objectively!
    • Analyzing the impact of the identified weakness and limitation on the business and having to decide what, if anything, to do about it.
    • Some Resistance Triggers leadership encounters at this juncture in the process include:
      • The Reality of the sheer effort required to execute a Strategic Initiative Project, and whether they are willing to undertake that stress.
      • The Cost – Transformation Projects are Expensive – leaders must decide whether the business can incur such a cost, and they can accept the impact on the business and their compensation.
      • Management Buy-In. At this step, leaders once excited about a prospect begin pulling back their support, Questioning whether it’s beneficial or not after consideration of the business limitation and constraints.
      • Investment funding, the business question whether they will be able to secure the funding given the ROI for the business and potential investors of each Strategic Gap.
      • Risk Severity and how well this is married with the Leaders’ Risk appetite
      • Culture. Transformation is complex, requiring teamwork, sacrifice and discipline; something the leaders must consider when making expensive decisions to pursue disruptive projects.
  2. Discussed our Design Strategic Initiative Process, designed to diligently evaluate all Option presented to select the most financially and strategically feasible Initiative for the business to pursue
    • Step 1: Understand the Business Limitations.
    • Step 2: Evaluate and Categorize Limitations.
    • Step 3: Perform Business Limitation Strategic Gap Rating.
      •  
      • Apply other Core Goals to rule out Strategic gaps conflicting with other Business Core Goals, extracted directly from the business Corporate Strategy.
    • Step 4: Prepare Executive Strategic Initiative Report
  3. Entered into a discussion on the decision-making process and supporting the Decision Makers as they decide on which Initiative to pursue.

Part 3 Full Video Link: Design, Evaluate and Select Strategic Initiative 

Part 4: Plan & Mobilize Strategic Initiative

Part 3 was somewhat of a rude awakening, transition from the excitement of planning the perfect future to an objective assessment of the business to determine; of which of the many strategic gaps identified, the business is equipped and able to execute with some level of competence. Part 4 took a step further, as we transitioned the conversation from a Strategic focus to the Tactical level of the organization.

The Purpose of Part 4: Plan & Mobilize Strategic Initiative was two folded; first to develops the critical & essential Specific Strategic Initiative Project, Project Management details required; before the business takes any action to secure funding and secure resources for the project. Then we utilized the Project Management Information to engage investors, suppliers and potential Human Resources needed throughout the life of the project and after the project goes live.

The Key Insights discussed includes:

  1. We started the conversation with a brief statement on Expensive Strategic Mistake and surveying the leadership for their true opinion.
  2. A discussion of Planning Funding Insights one must be mindful of before seeking funding for the project.
    • One: Understand the type of investment you’re seeking funding for, because not all investor fund all types of investment.
    • Two: Be very specific on the Strategic Initiative Project Return on Investment and how it will create value for the business and investor.
    • Three: Understand you Investment funding Cost ceiling, beyond which it becomes too expensive for the business
    • Four: Determine how you will repay the investment cost during the life of the project, it is an additional cash burden on the business; the business may or may not be able to cover.
    • Five: If the option is presented, are the shareholders willing to give up equity to fund the project?
    • Note: Not so Fine Print – we’re not financial experts; as such we highly recommend that you seek the consult of certified financial advisors, however, be prepared to discuss each point in applicable detail with potential investors.
  3. A Discussion of Planning Project Management detail the business must prepare before performing any action on the project. Information we recommend you develop with the Project Manager who will be responsible for the successful delivery of the project.
    • One: Project Detail Description, including Deliverables, Success Principles and Success Factors
    • Two: Project Constraints
    • Three: Project Risk and Deal Breakers
    • Four: Project Milestones
    • Five: Project Schedule and Timeline
    • Six: Project Resource Schedule
    • Seven: Project Finance and Cash Flow Schedule
    • Eight: Project Communication Plan
    • Nine: Project Deployment Plan
  4. Mobilize Funding Insights – a discussion of different types of assurances; different types of investors will be seeking during the negotiation process to decide on whether or not to fund your project.
  5. Mobilize Non-People Resources – A Discussion of insights to be considered when sourcing and securing equipment, material, third party resources, etc. so the Resources are accessible and available when needed throughout the life of the project.
  6. Mobilize People Resources – Finally we discussed HR Insights, having the right people with the right skills onboard at the right time to execute the activities of the projects as per the project schedule. Also, to secure any additional permanent resources needed after the project goes live.

Part 4 Full Video Link: Plan and Mobilize Strategic Initiative 

Part 5: Execute Strategic Initiative

We are mindful of the fact that we cannot execute any project, nonetheless a complex Strategic Initiative Project on a thirty minutes video. Also, the fact that the business would have hired a Professional Project Manger to deliver this high stake project. The Purpose of this episode was to home in on the the critical project management areas the sponsor must manage mindfully with the project team to reduce failure and overruns; increase visibility, provide support on a timely manner, and to be able to advise along the way as challenges arises; and believe me, you will need to support the project team on a timely manner because challenges will arise, to increase the chances of success.

Based on experience, it is strongly recommended to:

  1. Get Commitment from the Project Execution Team on the Project Description detail prepared in Part 4 before execution starts. Simply because commitment creates accountability, accountability improves execution and improved execution improves the chances of success.
  2. Get Clarity on Project Deliverables because assumptions, because assumption made during execution introduces interpretation errors, and a lack of clarity is one of the sources that causes project breakdown.
  3. Manage Risk & Deal Breakers. This goes without saying, there are different levels and severity of risk plaguing the project; with deal breakers being the most critical; requiring intentional and purposeful management. After all the last thing any sponsor wants is to terminate a project early, writing off a material investment cost to the business. 
  4. Manage Project Cash Flow. Project Cash flow is an underrated monster which if not contained and managed, can easily bleed cash, affecting the business. After all Profit (a net of cost and expenditure) don’t pay the bill, cash (the available money in the bank) does.
  5. Manage Progress. You may be thinking Progress is all the Project Manager team does. Yes, but! There are different levels of progress and different criticality of progress. Here the purpose is to encourage the sponsor to mindfully manage the critical path and critical path adjacent activities, as well as to encourage the project manager to proactively manage all other Project activities. After all it’s wise to not assume that progress is made just because it’s on the project plan.
  6. Manage Communication; Communication Channels are Open & functional. Part 5 emphasize that communication channels are open and functional when things are going as planned, however, communication clogs begin forming when failure or blame or accountability enters the equation. We shared insights on how to encourage open communication channels in all circumstances within a project.  

Part 5 Full Video Link: Execute Strategic Initiative 

Part 6: Operationalize Strategic Initiative

Operationalization Strategic Initiative is the process, where the products created with the Strategic Initiative Projects are handed over or transitioned from the Project Management team to the Operations of the Business.

We emphasized that how the business transition of the products created from a Strategic Initiative project to the Operations of the business, is critical because:

  • Go Live is a critical point of weakness in the Project, especially a Strategic Initiative because it effect a fundamental change to the business. A change that affects the way the business operates, the way staff do their jobs, the way customer responds to the change etc.
  • If done properly there is a higher adoption rate and an eagerness to utilize the products created to achieve the business goals.
  • If not done properly, the business is plagued with frustration and challenges. Depending on how badly the transition was, it can result in key staff members leaving the organization, an increase in customers attrition and worst a decline in the business as opposed to the growth you expected.

To help counteract the negatives of a poorly executed transition, we provided Transition Insights for the three types of Strategic Initiative discussed above (Create, Fix or Repair & Discontinue). Because each type of Strategic Initiative affect the business differently. In some transition insight the transition category would be the same, however the transition detail differs significantly and materially. For example with a Create Strategic Initiative, the Operating Model is an expansive change, requiring new resources, consolidation, in some functions a splitting of duties etc. While a Discontinue Strategic Initiative effective a contractive change to the business, shrinking workforce, remaining workforce performing double duties, taking on the responsibilities of their once terminated peer, etc.

It is important to note that the Operationalization of a Strategic Initiative’s impact on the business is often underrated, leaving room for Preventable Errors. Here we discussed what it truly means when a project goes live – the flood gates are opened and everyone and everything affected – Operating Procedure, How People do their Jobs, People’s Jobs, Customers, Suppliers, Business Partners, everyone and everything – hence the reason for the meticulous execution of the Operationalization of the Strategic Initiative.

Part 6 Full Video Link: Operationalize Strategic Initiative 

Notes: Execution of Strategic Initiative Process

Now before we end, some final thoughts on this Strategic Initiative Process, which is also discussed in the Part 6 video.

This miniseries was intended to provide insights, and is not intended for training. It is too summarized, even the individual videos, are too summarized to be considered as training material. The intention was for this series to help you highlight gaps in your process, understand why it is important to fill that gap, then to provide insights on how you can fill that gap with your knowledge and experience. It’s a management guide only.

Also, it is worth re-emphasizing that this series because of the way it was designed, not only provides a Strategic Tool to boost your Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution but also through the process eradicate personal biases while developing in a collaborative manner the information and details relied upon when managing the business, promoting strategically alignment in all actions.

Assumption made in the development of this Strategic Initiative series

  • The businesses are interested in growth and transformation.
  • The businesses are interested in Strategic Planning and effective Strategy Execution, and is willing to do the work.
  • The businesses interested are organizations with a hierarchy of resources, resources to undertake a Strategic Caliber Project.
  • The businesses interested was or is Operationally profitable for several years, meaning a well established business.
  • The businesses interested have a version of Corporate Strategy that they can use as a starting point for Strategic Planning.
  • The businesses interested are not experiencing industry disruption, as we did not cater for market disruption in this series. Simply because Market disruption required a complete rethink of the business existence, and if it continues, a refresh of the business Corporate Strategy. A refresh of the business Corporate Strategy is a completely different task.
  • Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution is the next natural step for the business. Whether that’s founded in transformation for growth or transformation to get back on track.

Assumption we assumed businesses interested in this series would make

  • The business is in growth and or improvement mode.
  • The business has the potential to get the investment funding required to fund selected Strategic Initiative Projects.
  • The business has the executive support to see a project through, work through obstacles collaboratively and do everything in their power to succeed.
  • The business has the resources and potential to acquire skills needed to undertake a Strategic Initiative project.
  • The business is clear about its Corporate Strategy and has executive buy-in on the business Strategic Path 

10 Benefit of the Strategic Initiative Process 

This series was a well thought-out series, with consideration for where the business struggles, the root cause and to value the business most valuable resources – it people. Designing Processes & Strategies while sharing our Insights to add context and Tips so you can gain the most from this series; with intentional effort to respect your business, its staff and your passion to make real change, correcting the right problem; preparing the business for sustainable growth. We made lots of understood assumptions throughout this series, simply because we attempt to provide insights without inflating an already complex and lengthy topic. This is just one of the consequences of creating compact video content; fit for today’s audiance.

10 benefit of executing this Strategic Initiative Process as intended are:

  1. Clarify the Business Corporate Strategy, bring everyone onboard with not just your business Vision, Mission or Purpose Statements, but your interpretation and expectation of what you are working toward and how. 
  2. The process was designed to develop the details and information required to eradicate Communication & Interpretation Errors, errors resulting from assuming that everyone else is thinking like you are, using the same rationale.
  3. It develops the details required to improve decisions alignment with the business Corporate Strategy, reducing confusion and obscurity.
  4. It develops a Strategy Map with consensus, clearly laying out the path forward for the business in the short and medium terms at minimum.
  5. It improves and / or formalizes the Project Management function within the business.
  6. It unveils limitation and constraints within the business the business may not have been aware of, with consensus on what the business is willing and able to address.
  7. It improves communication within the business, facilitating appropriate transparency and feedback.
  8. It develops the information, and discipline to better equips the business to collaboratively tackle challenges.
  9. It improves culture and teamwork.
  10. It provides the insights to execute changes more effectively within the business while promoting the Proactive and Collaborative Management of the Business, the activities to achieve the business goals.
2 Final notes from me to you:
  1. “Knowledge is power” is the old say. The assumption was that we use the knowledge we acquired consistently to improve our lives and businesses. I cannot tell you how many businesses I have worked in, in which the leaders knew exactly what they were supposed to do and why, yet for whatever reason struggled to apply it to the business. The strategy to break this cycle was as simple as transforming that knowledge into executable actions, small manageable actions they can execute within their busy schedule.  
  2. Assuming we know exactly what the other person meant, or is intended to do. There are numerous text, articles and seminars on open-mindedness. Yet I have experienced in too numerous to count, instances in businesses; in which people listen only to respond, listen for an opportunity to talk, tell others what to do without listening or seeking others input, disregard other people ideas, etc.; the list goes on. A strategy to interrupt this practice eventually is the Strategic Alignment Process discussed above. One example of how this process opens the floor for input is in the step to define Success Principles. This steps only works well when you welcome different interpretation from different thinking process, meaning different members of the team. It stifles ego and improves respect; fostering collaboration and teamwork, if executed as intended.

Use the tool as intended and without a doubt, you will see improvement in the business.

Be Strategic!

 

Copyright © 2020 NM Corporate Strategy Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Copyright © 2020 NM Corporate Strategy Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Follow us on:

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