"Built for Results" Programme
Over many years we developed ABPLAN's Plan and Accelerate Your Business Programme, also called Built for Results, which we have offered successfully to a variety of clients in these sectors:
- Professional Services sector including independent professionals such as marketers, information technology companies, retailers, engineering companies, designers, consultants, coaches, event organising companies, legal firms, and many others. For a list of 47 examples, click on...companies.
- Parastatals such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Click on...parastatals
- Universities, colleges, academies and companies involved in training. Click on...universities
- Trusts and Public-Benefit Organisations. Click on...trusts
This is a sophisticated programme meant for established, successful businesses or organisations of all sizes.
The size of the organisation is not a norm, but its success record is. We work with large and small clients who have a track record of successful accomplishments over many years. (By definition this excludes start-ups.)
Aimed-for results
ABPLAN's top high-end Built fo Results Programme is aimed at increasing the client base of our clients by 15% to 30% and increasing their bottom line by 40% or more. Depending on the type of business and the commitment of the owners, a doubling of revenue within a year is within reach - especially for independent service professionals.
ABPLAN and its clients together determine the major targets and outcomes at the start of a project and we go through a thorough review and planning process each month. What do our clients wish to achieve in the next month?
Duration of the Built for Results Programme
The Built for Results Programme runs for 12 months - as this is how long it usually takes to effectively integrate new thinking and establish new patterns of doing.
Small specialised, short programmes
- An intensive, invigorating two-day workshop covers a Scenario Conversation and a Balanced Scorecard. The Scenario Conversation of the first day ends in a Strategic Plan, containing Mission and Vision statements (plus a number of Wildly Important Goals (WIGs)) and Core Values. The second day covers the installation of a Corporate Balanced Scorecard (BSC).
- ABPLAN also runs a short, very targeted Strategic Marketing Programme resulting in a Marketing Plan and up to 8 Action Plans covering a website, a newsletter, a blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, a Speaker's Kit and Presentations and a Referral Introduction Action Plan.
- We also offer a series of short programmes based on a combination of modules from the 33 modules of our Built for Results Programme.
- Each of the small programmes includes a series of one-on-one follow-up meetings, as once-off workshops do not make much of a difference in changing behaviour, in getting new results. Additional executive coaching and practice ensure transformation and results.
- The needs of our clients, their problems and aimed-for results determine which consultancy tools and modules to use. We adapt our programme to each client's needs.
Great companies do a number of things right. We ensure that you get the consultancy support you need. We move forward incrementally and in a prioritised manner. Together we review, rethink and adapt and achieve success.
What does the Built for Results Programme cover?
This programme covers six major components:
- Strategic Planning - defining direction
- Operational Planning - defining what to do next
- Marketing Plan - getting your message out
- A Strategy of Execution - ensuring that getting things done is placed on an action track
- People - your team first, then your clients
- Blockages - addressing areas in which people display constrictive mindsets and are consequently experiencing blockages. They feel "stuck".
We aim to establish with the full collaboration of our clients conditions which reflect what leaders do right.
How is it offered?
All programmes are offered by means of workshops followed by one-on-one coaching sessions, by our clients actually using their newly developed strategic and operational plans, by developing objectives followed by thorough execution.
Assignments are integrated into your actual work to assist you in working more effectively as a team and in delivering outputs which your clients or customers need and expect.
One-on-one coaching is supplemented with brief backgrounders and diagrammes, by calls (phone and Skype), with emails, while ensuring that all participants have access, via Dropbox, to strategic and operational plans.
How is progress and results assured and tracked?
Progress with the Built for Results Programme is assured and tracked in a very practical manner with a high-level operational plan, called a Balanced Scorecard (BSC). We deal with only three major category objectives per month. Every team member lists their supporting objectives, each takes incremental action and the team moves forward week by week.
A Monthly BSC enables overviews spanning 1 to 12 months. ABPLAN also lists its objectives and inputs concerning our combined project on your Balanced Scorecard. I become part of your team. Together we move forward. The objectives are assignments. The BSC is a progress and productivity measurement tool.
The Built for Results Programme is an integrated transformational approach which involves every person. It enriches and stimulates personal learning and growth, team growth and company growth.
Stages of the Built for Results Programme
My Dear MD letter provides an composite overview of situations and pressures which many of my clients have experienced and the solutions and benefits which the Built for Results Programme offers. (I wrote the letter thinking specifically of two clients.)
This letter in broad sweeps also covers the three stages of the programme:
Stage #1: Clear Direction
Stage #2: A Practical Operational Blueprint and Commitment
Stage #3: Implementation and Tracking
Click on letter.
Supplementary background information
The pages that follow contain additional background information to the modules of the Built for Results Programme. Click on each title for information.
planning
Planning is an extremely important but often neglected aspect of an organisation's activities.
"Planning" is covered under:
- scenario planning
- strategic planning
- a strategy maps and a strategy canvas assist in creating strategic focus
- Balanced Scorecard - used by thousands of organisations
- scorecard intangibles - your human capital (people), your information and intellectual capital and your organisation capital meaning your company culture, leadership and such factors
- project planning - while the Balanced Scorecard contains principles of project planning, you might have a specific need for project planning on its own
execution
Execution in a much-ignored topic - in theory and in practice. Better than average results are totally dependent on executing well.
This important topic is covered under these headings:
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execution of plans
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execution as strategy
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effective execution
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performance measures
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collaborative websites for execution
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agreement and "building agreement"
workshops and meetings
How your company conducts strategy workshops and meetings has a huge influence on achieving results.
- workshops - off-site direction-determining
- large workshops - where necessary
- effective meetings
- dysfunctions within meetings
marketing
Marketing requires a fresh approach. The world and your clients have changed.
- marketing game
- brand
- websites
- social media marketing
- client-centric marketing
- PowerPoint presentations
company culture
A great culture provides a competitive advantage. How do "best companies to work for" do it?
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company culture - Company cultures mostly come about by default. You and your team could purposefully build a company culture of your choice. ...company culture
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emotional intelligence - Do you have one management style and expect your staff to read you and fit in? You could knowingly change gears - and increase profits ...emotional intelligence
Last modified: 26-12-2011
Client Quote
"We called in ABPLAN in 2006 and simply asked: "How can we raise the bar and become the best team in our industry in the Boland based on measurable performance?" We had the basics in place but how to get to a higher level?
Albert's main impact was on drawing all the management team members into the process of planning and execution and involving staff members in identifying opportunities for efficient performance.
We use the Balanced Scorecard (BSC); run participative meetings, measure results and have a more client-focused culture. Our team has grown from 33 to 47.
We are now calling on ABPLAN to assist us in cascading our company's BSC to our departments and in linking planning and execution to a more efficient Performance Appraisal System.
Albert made a measurable difference."
Pieter Aucamp
Director
BGR Aucamp Scholtz Inc