STRAT

EGIC

EXEC

UTION –

PRACTICAL

GUIDE

B Y V A S S I L I S M O U L A K A K I S

B U S I N E S S A N A L Y S T

The Objective:

Given that an organization has developed or updated its strategy, how does it ensure that the necessary financial, human and other resources are committed to the strategy? How is accountability clearly established?

THE STRATEGY GAP

PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLANNING

Architecture–Decompose the strategy into strategic maps and strategic themes. e.g. improve customer satisfaction and social crm strategy brand presence, optimize group’s convergence and digitalization business architecture.

Targets–Develop stretch targets through cause and effect scenarios, e.g. optimize group’s targets through corporate and international portfolio management. E.g. find the strategic portfolio of programs-projects

Initiatives–Define a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives for each strategic theme

Accountability–Assign accountability by strategic theme, every theme that is strategic focus should have an owner and someone accountable

Functions –Align functional plans with enterprise strategy, functional plans on how sales management conducted or marketing campaigns should be linked to strategy.

Funding–Link the strategy to the budget, very important issue budget will change solely from ground up, which means that strategy will drive Company not Budget.

Purchasing- Theoretical cost model identified and consolidated to planning processes. E.g. production cost management through activities and contract alignment to cost model.

The Strategic Execution toolset

TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DESIGNING A STRATEGICALLY ALIGNED MEDIA ORGANIZATION PLANNING AND BUDGETING PROCESS

a) Strategy Planning–generally deals with the two to five year window, focused on long term direction and programs

b) Operational Planning & Budgeting–focused on the one to two year horizon

Develop convergence & Digitalization

services

Financial

Customer

Internal

Learning

Proposed Strategic Theme Make organizational changes towards Customer

PROFIT MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE

Cost consolidation& containment ABC

Grow Customer base

Improve social CRM

Power our relationships and Optimize risk mgmt on credit

Partner strategy optimization

DevelopSix sigma for

Technical Quality

Optimize Back office Processes

e.g. purchasing

IT alignment and convergence

HR alignment and strategic focus trainingOrganizational change towards full digitalization

The perspective strategic planning and budgeting mechanism in more detail for a Media group

A perspective Company mechanisms to align strategy and budget

PROPOSED MEDIA OPERATIONAL PLANNING & BUDGETING

Information–Enable the Operational Planning & Budgeting process through robust information architecture and enabling technology.

Driver Models–Use driver-based models representing the business value chain as the foundation for operational and financial planning.

Investments–Rationalize investments through a multi-criteria approach and dynamically manage resource allocation.

Service Agreements–Align operational activities and strategic initiatives through service agreements.

Initiatives –Estimate the financial impact of strategic initiatives (“STRATEX”) and track it separately to facilitate trade off decisions on expenditures.

Forecasts–Use rolling forecasts to estimate expected near and mid-term future performance.

Performance Analysis & Review–Take corrective action to address performance gaps based on causal analysis and review.

STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS APPRAISAL

ROLLING FORECAST AS A PRIME BUDGETING PRACTICE FOR ORGANIZATIONS

DRIVER BASED MODELS FOR BUDGETING DERIVED FROM STRATEGY

Our performance GAP and how Performance management handles our Performance ???? The airline service paradigm

MY STRATEGIC VIEW

Strategic themes should be the basis for planning and execution of strategy. They provide a convenient framework for cross-business integration.

Targets should reflect the cause-effect nature of strategy, rather than focusing on single factors

Initiatives should be bundled by theme, prioritized, funded and managed as a portfolio prior to the beginning of the budgeting process

Accountability should be assigned by strategic theme at the executive level of the organization

Each function should identify a portfolio of strategic initiatives, derived from the themes of the integrated strategic plan, as the input to their functional plans.

Strategic investments should be grouped as a common budget category / account, (similar to G&A, R&D, etc.) so they can be managed appropriately.

Driver based models, built on a deep understanding of the activities and core processes supporting the economic business model, are essential for successful rolling forecasts as they provide the bridge between operational activities and financial outcomes

Operational investments should be prioritized and funded using a multi-criteria approach. Investment management should then be integrated in to the rolling forecast to dynamically re-evaluate and re-allocate resources.

Rolling forecast, based on driver models, support dynamic, continuous planning in everything from strategy refreshes and target setting to the development of the annual plan.