Strategy staying on track Bruce Duggan Director BullerCentre.com

Staying on Track time 1.lunch alone 2.the no-cost benchmark 3.the $10 retreat 4.trading worries 5.strategy on a Post-It tools a.the strategy question b.competitive advantage c.competitor triangle d.goals e.making SWOT useful only need 1 from each column

Time 1.lunch alone at least once a month take a notebook ‐ no other paper ‐ no electronics sit for at least 40 min write down everything about work that comes into your head

Tools a.the strategy question How can we thrive?

Time 2.the no-cost benchmark Google “SME Benchmarking Tool”SME Benchmarking Tool ‐ Industry Canada ‐ StatsCan

Tools b.competitive advantage i.value proposition options ii.competitive advantage questions “What’s our value proposition?” “Why will people prefer to buy what we’re selling?” “Niche” “Our distinctives”

Tools b.competitive advantage i.value proposition options ‐ price ‐ features ‐ execution pick only 1

Value Proposition Options PRICEFEATURESEXECUTION DirectTangibleAvailability PriceQualityTiming Discount structurePerformanceConvenience RebatesProprietary propertiesDelivery Credit ratesPre- & post- sales serviceReliability IndirectOptions / choiceIntensity Financial assistanceGuaranteesSales hustle Capital vs. operatingIntangible/ImageService hustle Life cycle costDesign“Friendliness” Cost absorptionFashions Prestige “Personality”

Can we actually beat our competition at this? Can we live off this value proposition? What percentage of potential customers actually want this value? Can we reach them economically? Will they pay us enough? b.competitive advantage i.value proposition options ‐ price ‐ features ‐ execution ii.competitive advantage questions Tools

Time 3.the $10 retreat a ½-day retreat once a quarter  maximum  no frills use a tool or ask ‐ What are you worried about? ‐ What could bite us? ‐ What opportunity are we missing?

Tools c.competitor triangle “You can have it fast, you can have it cheap, you can have it good. Pick any two.” fast cheapgood What 3 product qualities do my sectors’ customers value most?

Tools c.competitor triangle speed pricequality What 3 product qualities do my sectors’ customers value most?

Tools c.competitor triangle accessibility pricequality True North Hideaway Trails End Ross’ Resort Pipestone Happy Landing What 3 product qualities do my sectors’ customers value most?

Time 4.trading worries non-competing peer  once a month ‐ bring up your worries ‐ bring up your hopes for the company

Tools d.goals hard ‐ profit ‐ growth ‐ position ‐ risk soft ‐ management ‐ employee ‐ community ‐ society 1 only

Strengths ~~~ Weaknesses ~~~ Opportunities ~~~ Threats ~~~ e.making SWOT useful 1.____________ 2.____________ 1. ____________ 2. ____________ 1. ____________ 2. ____________ 1.____________ 2.____________ actions Weaknesses ~~~ Strengths ~~~ us Threats ~~~ Opportunities ~~~ our world Tools

Time 5.Strategy on a Post-It