Making Strategy Work
Lance Jones
Working Strategy Associates Ltd
workingstrategy.co.uk
Agenda
• The Right Strategy
• Grasp vs. Reach
• Failing Strategies
• Success
• Case Studies
• Successful Strategies
• Recommendations
The Right Strategy
• Strategy is just a plan
• The right plan is one that works
• Not one we hope will work
• Know where we are
• Know where we are going
Grasp vs. Reach
• 60% of projects fail
• Strategic output
• Business outcomes
• Matching capability & competency with
opportunity
What happens when Strategies fail?
Customers
Staff
Investors
Management
Successful Strategy
• Understanding the opportunity
• Understanding the competency
• Reflecting capability
Case Study I – ABC
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4 Disparate but similar businesses acquired
17 Different computer systems
Create one business
Square pegs & round holes
Withdrawal of funding
Businesses sold at a loss
Learning point – Know your limitations
Case Study II – A & B Society
• Customer centric
• Aware of customer needs
• Surveyed staff competency
• Identified Strategic Capability
• Made an Investment Decision
• Followed the plan through
• Now running profitably
Successful Strategy
Staff
Competency
Customers
Business
Capability
Successful Strategy
Customers
Staff
Competency
Business
Capability
The opportunity
Recommendations
• Assess the customer needs
• Understand the business capability
• Assess staff competency
• Evaluate objectively
• Create the plan in possession of the facts
• Use external expertise