Consulting · Strategy & Change
Strategy consulting: strategy processes and strategy development
We specialise in strategy development and strategy processes. We help you set objectives, assess options and plan implementation. Depending on your starting point, we guide you through a comprehensive strategy process or work in shorter, agile steps. Here you will find our consultancy services, methods and an overview of how we work together.
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Strategy development and strategy consulting - definition
The term "strategy development" describes a process in which the management of a company defines which goals it wants to achieve - and how and when it wants to achieve them. We distinguish between long-term, medium-term and short-term goals.
Achieving strategic goals usually requires a bundle of objectives and actions that must be coordinated with each other.
Especially in larger organisations, it is therefore essential to systematise these goals and actions. A common systematisation is the division into
- strategic objectives
- primary objectives
- secondary objectives
- and actions.
This systematisation of strategic goals and actions can also be represented as a "goal pyramid":
Figure: Typical Goal Pyramid
This representation is not entirely coincidentally reminiscent of a classic organisational chart: The higher strategic goals are in the "goal hierarchy", the more likely higher hierarchical levels are responsible for their implementation.
Strategy development: A permanent management task
Due to today's increasing complexity of business and disruptive markets, strategies have to be adapted more and more quickly to ongoing developments in the corporate environment.
Traditional strategy processes are often too slow and cumbersome for this purpose. Many executives have therefore asked themselves why detailed strategy processes are needed at all if the relevance of the implementation steps agreed is merely short-lived.
Agile strategy development
If markets and developments in the external environment change faster than strategies can be implemented, then strategy processes are not fast enough. In this case, strategy development in "agile mode" can be a suitable answer.
Here is an overview of the main differences between the two procedures - "traditional mode" and "agile mode".
| Traditional strategy process | Strategy development in agile mode |
|---|---|
| Top management develops strategic objectives (Problem: limited time) | A representative group of key employees takes responsibility for strategy (Benefit: strategy skills gradually spread more widely across the company) |
| Managers from divisions and departments work on strategic sub-goals (Problem: full diaries; this often takes a long time) | "Strategy circles" work on behalf of the department to adapt its strategy (Benefit: those responsible keep strategy in mind throughout their work) |
| The strategy process is "completed" after a year. | Strategy work becomes an ongoing process in short cycles, making it more firmly established and more closely connected to day-to-day business. |
The essential characteristics of agile strategy processes are:
- A network of people responsible for strategy develops across all levels of the company, keeping strategy in mind throughout their work.
- Strategy skills in the organisation increase and expand beyond traditional leaders to competent team members.
- Strategy processes are conducted in significantly shorter cycles
It is not uncommon for strategy groups from different divisions and teams to collaborate across hierarchies and divisions. Delegation and decision-making principles from "circle organisations" (holacracy) are increasingly used.
Free Initial Consultation
You can find out more about our agile approaches in a free initial consultation. Or you can first get an overview of some of our strategy methods
Consulting for Strategy Development
We are specialists in strategy development and strategy processes - both in agile and "traditional" mode.
In strategy-processes we act in different roles:
- as sparring partners
- as strategy coaches
- by steering the overall process
- by establishing agile ways of working in strategy teams
- Agile strategy consulting
Our Approach in Strategy Consulting
- Listen and understand
- Agreement on goals and success indicators
- Detailed offer with
- A description of the "as-is" situation and a summary of the objectives developed
- Implications and conclusions
- Outline of a process architecture or workshop design according to the criteria formulated above.
- commercial offer
- Competencies, References
- Final agreement on the process architecture or workshop design
- Planning and implementation of the process
- Continuous adaptation of the process to interim results, new findings and developments during the course of the process
- Conclusion of the process, review, joint "learning loop" ("lessons learned").
Strategy Consulting Online, Virtual or "Classic"
We offer our strategy processes or individual strategy workshops online or in "classic" mode, face to face. Get a free initial consultation!
Your benefits
Solutions that fit
Existing experience is put to use
A high likelihood of implementation
Resistance to implementing the action plan will be low if the main stakeholder groups have been actively involved in developing the solution.
Strengthening your organisation for the long term
The knowledge and insights come from within your company and will continue to develop there even after the consultants have left.
Strong acceptance of the solutions
Objections, concerns and further information have already been taken into account while developing the solution.
Developing skills
More responsibility for strategy in line management leads to a significant increase in skills and greater responsibility within the team
Improving corporate culture
The freedom to act on strategic issues encourages independent thinking and action in areas of strategic importance
Easier communication about strategy
Greater involvement in strategy makes employees better able to talk about it and reduces the work needed to communicate strategy
Fewer surprises during implementation
Potential complexity and challenges have already been considered from all sides and are reflected in the approach developed together.
Strengthening your company for the long term
Our interactive methods make a strategy process supported by initio an experience that builds the team and greatly increases motivation.
Reducing conflicts
We always ensure that the strategy process takes account of all relevant information and perspectives. Participants learn about perspectives from different divisions and departments. This knowledge has a lasting effect on future discussions and coordination on other issues.
Lower costs:
Solutions developed from within fit your needs and minimise resistance during implementation
A leaner process
A shorter overall project duration, as managers share responsibility from the outset
Strengthening management for the long term
Knowledge is generated within the company and remains there after the process ends
Leadership development during the strategy process
Strategy development processes offer an excellent opportunity for new talent to develop
Free initial consultation
Together we look at your challenge
We set out possible solutions
If you are interested in going further, we produce an outline proposal
Costing of the costs involved
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does a strategy development consultation process work?
How long does a strategy development process take?
Who should be involved in a strategy development process?
Which references and experience in strategy processes do we have?
What our clients say
Clients on working with us
A very helpful, well-run workshop. The results served us well through the restructuring phase too.
The strategy workshop was exceptionally productive. You kept the group focused on what mattered throughout. We recommend your facilitation without reservation.
It was striking how much came out of our workshop. That was outstanding.
We received very positive feedback on your training. Thank you for that.
You prepared our workshop thoroughly and precisely. Both the method and the facilitation fitted our objectives very well. We were able to carry on working very successfully with the results. Many thanks.
Thanks again for the excellent workshop — we have already started putting the first ideas into practice, and enjoying it.
Many thanks for a genuinely helpful seminar.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with you, personally and professionally, and it was a great pleasure to run this workshop with you.
You facilitated our two-day strategy workshop very professionally. It was a demanding brief and the result is very good. Thank you for that.
A big thank you for facilitating the workshop. We came out of the day as a team, with a good sense of togetherness and a clearer picture of the way ahead. The workshop was well worth it.
Thanks again for the excellent workshop — we are very happy with the outcome.
That was a really great workshop, thank you.
Free initial consultation
Let's talk.
You outline your situation and goals in a few sentences. We suggest where to start. You decide whether to go on.