Strategy is established through a facilitated planning process that builds commitment to a compelling vision, clarifies mission and values, sets priorities and targets and establishes a realistic way to measure progress and manage results.
Our Approach: StrategySimple©
Our StrategySimple© approach is the fast and easy way to deliver a compelling and realistic strategy for your organization and provides the options to allow you to customize the process and outcomes for your unique circumstances. We use a facilitated approach that builds support and helps improve the effectiveness of your implementation. Our StrategySimple© approach provides the best combination of price, quality and process.
PHASE ONE: PREPARATION & ANALYSIS
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Critical Path
To ensure effective management of the process we provide a Gant chart outlining the key milestones, responsibilities and timelines.
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Communication
For those organizations that want to communicate the process to staff and/or stakeholders we provide a draft communication for your use and distribution.
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Stakeholder Input
To build support and gather additional insight to be used in the Planning phase of the process, we conduct an online survey of key stakeholders.
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Survey Design
Based on our understanding of your needs we develop a draft survey for your approval that includes any unique questions you requested.
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Finalize Survey
Based on your approval we finalize the online survey and provide an email communication to introduce the survey.
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Launch Survey
We launch the anonymous online survey via email to each stakeholder. Alternatively we can provide you with a link to the online survey and you can distribute it.
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Administration
Throughout the survey process we address questions from respondents regarding the survey or process.
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Data Analysis
We compile the confidential and anonymous responses and analyze the results.
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Reporting
The compiled, anonymous and unattributed results are analyzed and sent to you electronically in PDF and included in the Strategy Workbook for all participants.
PHASE TWO: PLANNING
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Process Design
As facilitators we design the process and incorporate a variety of tools such as SWOT, PEST, Core competencies, Balanced Scorecard, Hoshin planning, etc.
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Agenda
We provide a detailed agenda for the planning session that includes the meeting purpose, objectives, areas for discussion and associated process and time frames.
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Strategy Workbook
One week prior to the session we provide each participant with a Strategy Workbook. The Strategy Workbook includes the survey results, ground rules, decision-making process and agenda as well as any pre-reading materials.
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Room Set-Up
Based on the process and venue, we establish the room set-up to maximize interaction and the quality of the process.
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Facilitation
We facilitate the process in a collaborative manner that builds support. We keep the group on-track and on time and manage participant interaction so everyone is able to contribute and feels heard.
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Note Taking
We take flip chart notes throughout the process to ensure that we accurately capture the words and meaning of the discussion.
PHASE THREE: REPORTING
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Draft Report
The meeting notes are formatted into a draft report and sent to you electronically in PDF for your review and feedback.
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Strategic Plan
The input from the draft report is incorporated into the Final Strategic Plan and sent to you electronically in PDF.
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Strategic Profile©
In addition to the Strategic Plan, we also provide you with a one-page summary of your Strategic Plan that we call a Strategic Profile©.
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Gantt Chart
The Strategic Plan includes a Gantt chart, outlining the tasks, responsibilities and timelines for moving forward, assuming this was part of the planning session.
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Communication
The Strategic Profile© provides a communication and reference tool for management, board and stakeholders.
Options
You can customize our StrategySimple© approach to your specific requirements by incorporating any, or all, of the following options.
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Internal Assessment
For a more detailed analysis of your organization and understanding of your resource capabilities we conduct an internal assessment using our Performer© tool.
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Macro-Environmental Trends & Analysis (META)
META is our proprietary survey tool that integrates several well-known analysis tools with our survey experience to allow you to quickly analyze and understand the macro-environment and the implications to your organization.
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Stakeholder Input
Additional stakeholder input is obtained beyond that provided in the initial survey through focus groups, interviews, town halls or online surveys.
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Sub-group Analysis
Our StrategySimple© program compiles the results for the survey into a single respondent group. Additional sub-groups are determined by you and included in our survey and reporting.
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Client Action Meeting
Our consultant facilitated session with your leadership/management team is undertaken to develop a realistic Management Action Plan (MAP) for implementing your strategy.
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Management Action Plan (MAP)
A customized electronic interactive MS Excel MAP, (tasks, timelines & responsibilities), is provided to you on a USB stick at the conclusion of the Client Action Meeting.
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Facilitation
Our StrategySimple© program provides one day of facilitation. Additional facilitation time is added to meet your requirements.
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Commentary Analysis
All comments from the survey are reported verbatim on an anonymous and confidential basis and are scrubbed for unique identifiers. Our qualitative data analysis software allows for greater depth of analysis and deeper insight.
Why ABARIS Consulting?
We are experts in strategy, using facilitation to build consensus, gathering and analyzing data and applying the results to develop strategic insight.
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Experience
We have designed and facilitated a significant number of strategic planning sessions since our inception in 1999.
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Knowledge
We have masters in strategic management, project management, are certified facilitators and have extensive knowledge in quantitative and qualitative analysis.
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Collaborative
We work collaboratively with you so that you are involved in all decisions and supportive of the facilitative process.
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Cost Effective
We invested upfront to build the tools and models that allow us to offer our StrategySimple© approach at highly competitive rates given our experience and the quality we deliver.
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Tailored
You have the ability to tailor our StrategySimple© approach to meet your specific needs through the available Options.
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Fast
We have your survey launched within 24 hours of your sign-off and the Draft Report within 5 business days from the conclusion of your strategy meeting.
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ABARIS Client Resources
As a Client you have 24/7 access to a growing online resource database of credible information through articles, tools, templates and worksheets to help you implement and manage your strategy.