A Strategic Planning Review is intended for clients who have previously retained us to conduct a full blown Strategic Planning Consulting project. The idea is that these clients already have a planning process in place and a two day review of the "strategic plan" would be worthwhile from this perspective:

• To consider new information
• To weigh what has, and what has not, been accomplished
• To consider new issues

Goals

• Assure that the company has the proper strategic fit for the market is serves.

• Assure that the objectives are challenging, but attainable, and that there is buy in from the management team.

• Assure that the company is organized in the right way with the appropriate skill sets to execute the strategy.

Review Information in These Areas

• Recent financial performance.

• Situation Analysis (Planning Process Manual)
  Note: Some exercises may be conducted in the session itself.

• Make a list of the perceived strategic issues.

Review, or Identify, the Strategic Market Position

    These questions are answered:

• Whom do you wish to do business with?

• Where are these customers?

• What products and services are offered?

• How will you access these customers?

• What mix of values do you bring to a customer?

• What is the singular marketing message of you competitors?  Your company?

Review, or Identify, the Activity System that Drives the Market Position

• What are the activities?

• How effective are the activities?

• How are these activities woven into the system?

Engage in Discussion, and Decide Actions in These Areas

·         Future Sources of Business:
- Services
- Customer Type
- Territories

·         Rate of Growth and Earnings:
- Volume
- Margin 

·         Adequacy of Sales and Marketing:
- Size sales force
- Competence of sales force
- Marketing support     

·         Price Strategy:
- Price level
- Price increases
- Up charges
- Contract terms
- Aggressiveness     

• Organization Effectiveness:
  - Structure
  - Competence
  - Skill requirements

·         Incentives:
- What is rewarded?
- What is not rewarded?
- What should be changed?     

·         Leverage of Technology:
- Bar coding
- Hand held computers
- Real time information
- Web site
- Route software
- Etc.     

·         Program Effectiveness:
- TQM
- Training
- Manager development
- Work measurement
- Etc.     

·         Capital Budgeting:
- For differentiation
- For cost reduction
- For managing the business     

·         Corporate Culture:
- Supports what style
- Hampers what style
- How to change it