ABC Corporation: Four-Location Launch STL 435 Strategic Planning Building Dr. Susan Sasiadek December 11, 2011 Alison Vesper

Introduction Opening a new store can be a challenging process wrought with pitfalls at every turn. Opening four stores in four new locations in a month is possible through strategic planning and teamwork.

Organizational Leadership Organizational leadersOrganizational leaders Develop the action plansDevelop the action plans Establish teams to get the job doneEstablish teams to get the job done Enlist enough people to get the job done wellEnlist enough people to get the job done well Travel to the locations and oversee projectsTravel to the locations and oversee projects Ensure each task is completedEnsure each task is completed Keep the project going according to timelineKeep the project going according to timeline Communicate clearlyCommunicate clearly Assist the teams when necessaryAssist the teams when necessary

Action Plans Action plans are road maps; reference documentsAction plans are road maps; reference documents Lay out individual steps for each team memberLay out individual steps for each team member Detail exactly what must be done each step of the wayDetail exactly what must be done each step of the way Establish deadlinesEstablish deadlines Details may be different at each location; plans must reflect those differencesDetails may be different at each location; plans must reflect those differences Allow leaders to assign work equally and determine task suitability for each workerAllow leaders to assign work equally and determine task suitability for each worker Help leaders stay focused and on target for expectationsHelp leaders stay focused and on target for expectations Allows leaders to see what step is next and review completed stepsAllows leaders to see what step is next and review completed steps Contingency planning is essential; best to include in action plansContingency planning is essential; best to include in action plans

Building Teams Organizational Leaders - write action plans, communicate clearly, and assist team members as necessaryOrganizational Leaders - write action plans, communicate clearly, and assist team members as necessary Direct Leaders - interview/ hire new employees, receive equipment, supplies, merchandise, oversee set up of store and implement action plansDirect Leaders - interview/ hire new employees, receive equipment, supplies, merchandise, oversee set up of store and implement action plans Training Teams - train new employees on policies, practices, equipment, and job dutiesTraining Teams - train new employees on policies, practices, equipment, and job duties Marketing and Promotions Managers - establishes marketing and sales campaigns, secures talent, promo items, gifts, prizes, etc. Marketing and Promotions Managers - establishes marketing and sales campaigns, secures talent, promo items, gifts, prizes, etc. Travel Coordinator - makes transportation and accommodation arrangementsTravel Coordinator - makes transportation and accommodation arrangements Financial Manager - keeps projects on budgetFinancial Manager - keeps projects on budget

Establish Time lines Timelines are essential to the success of any project. Gives team members a goal Gives team members a goal Helps them understand how quickly they must work Helps them understand how quickly they must work Missed deadlines often result in complications Missed deadlines often result in complications Timelines only work if everyone meets the deadlines Timelines only work if everyone meets the deadlines Set deadlines early and plan for delays/contingencies Set deadlines early and plan for delays/contingencies

Brief the teams Brief everyone about action plans and provide any necessary materialsBrief everyone about action plans and provide any necessary materials Assign individuals to their locations/teamsAssign individuals to their locations/teams Discuss needs, duties, and expectationsDiscuss needs, duties, and expectations Explain what is expected of each member and what the team can expect in return from leadershipExplain what is expected of each member and what the team can expect in return from leadership Travel coordinator learns needs of each team member and makes transportation and accommodations arrangementsTravel coordinator learns needs of each team member and makes transportation and accommodations arrangements

Schedule Deliveries Organizational leader and direct leader for each team work together to establish the needs of the storesOrganizational leader and direct leader for each team work together to establish the needs of the stores Order and schedule delivery of necessary equipment, supplies, and merchandiseOrder and schedule delivery of necessary equipment, supplies, and merchandise Advertise and make connections with hiring agencies in store areas to recruit new employeesAdvertise and make connections with hiring agencies in store areas to recruit new employees

Time to Go! Distribute travel itinerariesDistribute travel itineraries Ensure each team member arrives at the store location fully prepared for the jobEnsure each team member arrives at the store location fully prepared for the job Motivation and morale are big factors when people are away from home; try to help employees deal with the distance from their families and regular lives.Motivation and morale are big factors when people are away from home; try to help employees deal with the distance from their families and regular lives.

Communication & Assistance Regular communication with team members during each phase is key to the success of the project. Be available to lend a helping hand when necessary Be available to lend a helping hand when necessary Communicate clearly about expectations; expectations of employees and from leadership Communicate clearly about expectations; expectations of employees and from leadership Brief team meetings twice per week; review action plan, discuss upcoming steps, and make adjustments as necessary Brief team meetings twice per week; review action plan, discuss upcoming steps, and make adjustments as necessary

Celebrate! Reward team members and employees who worked hard to bring the project to successReward team members and employees who worked hard to bring the project to success Away from the job location, so team members can relax and enjoy themselvesAway from the job location, so team members can relax and enjoy themselves Remember, still a company function, be careful not to over do itRemember, still a company function, be careful not to over do it Recognize top performers and show gratitude for a job well doneRecognize top performers and show gratitude for a job well done Opportunity to say farewells before parting waysOpportunity to say farewells before parting ways

Review Collect feedback from employees and customersCollect feedback from employees and customers Review steps of action plans; evaluate what worked well, what did not, and the reasons for those successes and failures.Review steps of action plans; evaluate what worked well, what did not, and the reasons for those successes and failures. Reviewing each process will expose new perspectives that can be applied in future situations.Reviewing each process will expose new perspectives that can be applied in future situations.

Time line Week OneWeek Two Day One Appoint Organizational Leaders & begin writing Action Plans, Establishing timelines & contingency plans. Establish Timelines with deadlines & contingency plans, Ensure travel arrangements etc are complete, distribute itineraries & begin travelling. Advertise for new employees. Day Two Write Action Plans; include contingency plans. Schedule delivery of equipment, supplies, materials, & merchandise. Begin interviewing and hiring new employees. Day Three Appoint/Hire all other team members; have those able to begin work from a distance start immediately ie. Marketing managers, Travel coordinator. Marketing campaign should begin asap. GO! Teams should be in place & ready to begin work no later than this day. Continue interviewing & hiring all new employees. Day Four Appoint/Hire all other team members.Begin receiving deliveries & training new employees. Day Five Brief teams, assign locations, provide all materials, discuss needs & expectations. Continue receiving deliveries & training new employees.

Time line Week ThreeWeek Four Day One Maintain communication with team members though out the project. Assist at all levels as necessary. Team meeting to evaluate & review, make adjustments to action plans as necessary. Team meeting. Practice run. All employees should be in place, store should be set up & operations should begin as if business were open. Complete all last minute training & trouble shooting. Day Two Continue hiring & training of new employees. Over see set up of store, placement of merchandise, testing equipment etc. Practice run. All employees should be in place, store should be set up & operations should begin as if business were open. Complete all training & trouble shooting. Day Three Team meeting to evaluate & review. Correct any errors, return or re-order equipment, supplies, materials, etc. Grand Opening Ceremonies, Store is open for business. Collect feedback from employees, team members, & customers. Day Four Continue setting up store, placing merchandise, testing equipment etc. Continue collecting feedback & helping with any issues. Celebrate successful grand openings. Reward employees. Day Five Store should be completely ready for business by this day. All employees should be hired and most training should be complete. Evaluate Feedback, review processes, help with business matters if they arise.

Conclusion Strategic planning and strong teamwork can ease the challenges involved with opening multiple stores in new locations.Strategic planning and strong teamwork can ease the challenges involved with opening multiple stores in new locations. Opening four stores in four new locations in a month is possible through strategic planning and teamwork.Opening four stores in four new locations in a month is possible through strategic planning and teamwork. Any Questions?Any Questions?

References All photos, clip art, and clipart courtesy of Google Images. Retrieved December 10,