Creating Business Plans that Work

Business planning works and can help any business (or division/department/team) succeed in adapting successfully for the future. To create plans, you need to analyse carefully how things are currently and agree a clear idea of where the organisation is going.

But to make them work really well, you need to consider how well the organisation is set up for the changes involved and how you will monitor progress and adjust for unforeseen circumstances.

Burton OD will facilitate this process for you, bringing to bear high level skills and a toolbag of business planning techniques to match your understanding of the organisation, its history, culture and business environment.

A typical project may run like this:

Data Collection

Preparing for the planning phase by collecting together relevant data about current performance, markets and competition. At this stage, Burton OD will also be encouraging you to bring together the planning team and ensure that they have the resources that they need (largely time).

Analysis of Current State and Vision Building

Workshop based activities which use key analytical tools to build a clear picture of the organisation's current state. Facilitated by a consultant using a variety of methods and aids, the workshops build an agreed vision for the future.

Generation and Evaluation of Options

A creative stage, during which ideas are allowed to flourish as the team seeks the most effective means to achieve the future vision.

Setting of Balanced Objectives

A disciplined search for a set of measurable and relevant objectives that reflect strategy and will provide the basis for performance management.

Strategy Development

Development of detailed strategy - involving initiatives and action plans that can be devolved to the appropriate organisational layer. This phase will also involve the design of a planning review process.