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Some of the most critical and challenging issues a company faces relate to its basic marketing strategy – or lack of one! The drivers for improved business planning can be very diverse, ranging from the problems of success:
“We have to do something differently to get to a higher level”
through to the realization that change is critical if the company is to survive:
“We must work out how to adapt to a rapidly changing marketplace”
In all cases MSA International provides a pragmatic and hands-on approach to the needs of our clients. We bring our collective practical business experience to bear on our client’s opportunities or problems, as well as using a variety of techniques to help on a variety issues such as stimulating creative thinking, or enhancing team performance.
Each project is different – because each client is different – but generally speaking we focus our efforts around straightforward objectives and themes, especially:
- Defining the goals(s) you wish to achieve
- Generating innovative options on how to achieve these goals
- Working through the implications and action steps necessary
- Setting up systems to monitor progress and generally improve performance
We also, if desired, work directly with our clients in hands-on implementation – becoming a true member of the client’s team.
In order to help achieve our client’s objectives we utilize a mixture of tools, techniques and approaches. These include:
- Success Criteria, to help define the target
- SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats)
- Marketing Audits
- The Balanced Scorecard
- Analysis of core competencies
- Competitor analysis
- Benchmarking
These and other approaches are deployed as part of an intensive and multifaceted programme that involves:
- One-on-one confidential interviews with senior managers and other key individuals,
- Hands-on workshop sessions organized and facilitated by MSA International,
- Targeted external research as needed (focusing on markets, competitors, customers, or prospects as required)
Our major role is that of a catalyst for debate, analysis and change within a company.
In other words playing a role that only an ‘outsider’ can play – that of ‘devil’s advocate,’ or ‘slayer of sacred cows'.
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