Academy of Business Excellence Limited
RAN ONE|Business Advisor
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BUILDING BUSINESS VALUE

Business planning

There are two types of businesses in this world.
  • One where the owners fly by the seat of their pants.

  • The other where the owners plan the future.
Life's exciting for the first group - flying from one crisis to another. It certainly keeps the adrenalin flowing.

But it doesn't flow much less for the second group. I mean look at all the businesses out there who's owners thought they had it all sussed - and then the current economic crisis hit.

Plan - target - action: But business plans enable you to set targets - to adjust for bumpy rides - and to take action to ensure you still face the most beneficial circumstances possible.

Of course this doesn't automatically follow planning. Some large organisations still produce large glossy business plans that make the office bookshelf look good and rarely do little else. We're not talking planning like that.

Living plan: Instead we're talking a living plan - one that can be adapted to changes as needed - but which still acts as a framework for the business. In particular it always keeps the core vision at its centre - and everything in it should be tuned to this. If major events necessitate rethinking this core vision, that too is possible.

Our re-focus: For example our own business has had a major rethink in 2009. We came across some software which lets us connect to our clients - and vice versa. So no longer are we accountants and business advisors in a fixed location. We are now virtual accountants and business advisors.

This also fits in well with developments by RAN ONE - our international affiliation of business advisors. They've spent well over a year working on new ways of performing SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analyses - particularly via the Net. This fits in so well with our enhanced direction. But we didn't see this in normal operations - and all the implications. It was only when we stopped for a break and re-looked at where we were going that it (and some of the less obvious associated issues) became apparent.

Where are you going? So if you are not sure where things are going; if you've got tired and run down by daily fighting of problems associated with your business, or if you just want more direction - even another pair of eyes without the baggage of your involvement in the daily life of the business, why not give us a call. Talking costs nothing - and we might be able to help you get back on top of things.