"The underlying principles of strategy are enduring, regardless of technology or the pace of change."
Michael Porter in an interview with Keith H Hammonds of Fast Company Magazine, 2001.

Planning for Results

Miriam O'Brien has more than 20 years experience in strategic and corporate planning. She has prepared strategic and business plans and business cases for numerous organisations including government, private sector businesses and professional and industry association boards and organisations. She has designed and delivered training programs on strategic planning in Australia and internationally.

Miriam helped pioneer corporate planning in Australia. She spent several years developing and managing corporate planning for a state government agency in South Australia before joining Touche Ross Management Consultants.

Our firm can tailor a planning process to suit, and can assist in planning sessions be it a one hour mini-session, a two day workshop or a full planning process over several weeks.

We use a range of planning and workshop techniques including brainstorming, mind-mapping, risk assessment, SWOT analysis, nominal group technique and others.

A tiered approach to planning

Planning starts with the organisation's constitution, rules or by-laws, which set out the broad objects of the organisation.

The Board is responsible for setting the broad direction and high level results the organisation is to achieve, and for whom.

Well-defined high level results provide the framework within which the CEO and staff develop goals, strategies and action plans. By clearly defining results, the Board is well-placed to monitor the performance of the CEO and the organisation. How much progress has been made toward achieving the results?

We help Boards define the results they want to achieve as part of a strategic planning process or as a stand-alone session. We work with CEOs, senior management and staff to help them develop and document detailed strategies and action plans.

Taking control of your future . . .

As specialist planning facilitators, we can help you design and develop a strategic, corporate or business plan to:

• Review your main role and purpose
• Decide the results you want to achieve, and for whom
• Develop strategies for getting the results you want
• Set priorities and goals
• Define your core and ancillary services, business activities & result areas
• Look at the competitive environment & analyse the market
• Determine what your customers need and what they value most
• Review your range of products & services
• Enhance your relationship with funding bodies and/or suppliers
• Improve communication with staff & stakeholders
• Streamline systems & processes
• Refine your organisation's structure.