strategy 202 questions that really matter (strat planners workout 2011- 4as/ 95% academy)
DESCRIPTION
Are you asking questions that matter or are you asking the questions that really matter? Having the wrong answer to the right question is often better than having the right answer to the wrong question. Beyond providing a few examples of these transformative questions, this presentation shares a framework perspective on asking the questions that really matter. While not having all the answers, it should help lead you to asking better questions. This is an enhanced version of a talk given during the Strategic Planners Workout- a training conducted by the 95% Academy on behalf of the 4As.TRANSCRIPT
Asking & answering the questions that really matterquestions that really matter
The questions that really matter often lead to more questionsthan answers.
Let’s ask them anyway…
What matters vs. what really vs. what really matters
Are we seeing the big picture?
What does strategy mean to strategy mean to you
“The essence of strategy is choosing to perform activities
differently than rivals do”differently than rivals do”
- Michael Porter
There is no shortage of There is no shortage of great strategy tools….great strategy tools….great strategy tools….great strategy tools….
… but the tools are not the … but the tools are not the strategy.strategy.
DestinationDestinationWhere do we want to go?Where do we want to go?
DirectionDirectionHow do we get there?How do we get there?
The The Basic Basic
Elements of Elements of StrategyStrategy
PurposePurpose
PathPath
DifferentiationDifferentiationWhat is unique about this?What is unique about this?
DecisionDecisionWhat next?What next?
Elements of Elements of StrategyStrategy PositionPosition
PrioritiesPrioritiesProgramsProgramsPlansPlans
Strategic PerspectiveStrategic Perspective
The Strategic The Strategic MindFieldMindFieldStrategic Strategic PerspectivePerspective
NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
ContextContext
Ultimately, you choose the
tools which will be best
for the challenge at hand.
This is a simplified map
MEME
ControlControl
This is a simplified map
of the big picture to work
with those other tools.
The Strategic Mindfield is
a gentle reminder &
trigger for asking the
questions that really
matter.
We see the world not as it is We see the world not as it is but as we are…but as we are…
NOWNOW
We are often trapped by the We are often trapped by the tyranny of nowtyranny of now
NOWNOW
but urgent but urgent ≠≠ important… important…
NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
The big picture includes the The big picture includes the dimension of timedimension of time
NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
Appreciate and Appreciate and understand what understand what got us here… got us here…
… to build a better … to build a better bridge to where bridge to where you want to goyou want to go
MEMEWe are often too caught We are often too caught
up with ourselvesup with ourselvesMEME up with ourselvesup with ourselves
but we but we ≠≠ world…world…
MEME
ContextContext Context really mattersContext really mattersIt is easy to miss out on the larger forces It is easy to miss out on the larger forces
and circumstances that impact us… and circumstances that impact us…
The Universe
Politics, Economics, Society, Technology
Environment &Culture
Consumers & MarketsMEME Consumers & Markets
Direct & Indirect Competition/ Influencers
Your Client (as an organization & eco-system)
Your Client (as individuals)
Your Company (as an organization & eco-system)
Your Company (as individuals)
Your Team (as a group & individuals)
And it goes on…ControlControl
Amplify the impact of what you Amplify the impact of what you ControlControl
Realizing how what you control impacts Realizing how what you control impacts outwards, you expand your influence…outwards, you expand your influence…
Your Team (as a group & individuals)
Your Company (as individuals)MEME
ContextContext
Your Company (as an organization & eco-system)
Your Client (as individuals)
Your Client (as an organization & eco-system)
Direct & Indirect Competition/ Influencers
Consumers & Markets
Environment &Culture
Politics, Economics, Society, Technology
And it goes on…
MEME
ControlControl
What are some questions that really questions that really matter
What What business business are we are we really inreally in? ?
NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
ContextContext
MEME
ControlControl
Looking at Looking at
issues in the issues in the
here & now…here & now…
Starbucks is not actually Starbucks is not actually in the coffee businessin the coffee businessin the coffee businessin the coffee business
Starbucks is in the Starbucks is in the Third Space BusinessThird Space Business
Pathways is a foundation that Pathways is a foundation that helps underprivileged helps underprivileged students transition into students transition into university. university.
They thought they were in They thought they were in the business of the business of helping helping people graduatepeople graduate……
Pathways realized that Pathways realized that they are actually in the they are actually in the business of business of creating the creating the next generation of next generation of leaders.leaders.leaders.leaders.
If you want to help make a difference…If you want to help make a difference…
www.pathwaysphilippines.orgwww.pathwaysphilippines.org
Who can Who can we learn we learn from? from? NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
ContextContext
Finding a fresh Finding a fresh
MEME
ControlControl
Finding a fresh Finding a fresh
outsider’s outsider’s
perspective in perspective in
solving our own solving our own
problemsproblems
“F1 pit crews are masters of operational efficiency, performing dozens of
maintenance tasks in less than thirty seconds. A London hospital studied
their processes, to streamline its own ER procedures “
Source: FastCompany (2009)
What is What is really really going ongoing on? ?
NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
ContextContext
MEME
ControlControl
Discovering the Discovering the
variables that variables that
really matter…really matter…
The Broken Window Theory was
popularized as the basis for the end of
New York City’s crime wave…
Deeper analysis revealed that the real
driver was Roe vs. Wade. Less unwanted
babies= less future criminals.
What does What does success success look likelook like??
NOWNOWPastPast The FutureThe Future
ContextContext
Understanding Understanding
MEME
ControlControl
Understanding Understanding
where you are, where you are,
being clear about being clear about
where you want to where you want to
be and how to get be and how to get
there…there…
Start with Why…Start with Why…
WhyWhy
The Golden CircleThe Golden Circle
1.1. Why? Why? What belief do you have and that consumers
believe about themselves that will make them
choose you?
“ We believe that you are … and that …. ”
2.2. How?How?WhyWhy
HowHow
WhatWhat
The Golden Circle is a communications
model that is aligned with how we
arrive at our choices at a subliminal
and neurological level.
2.2. How?How?How can you make these possibilities real?
“So we…”.
3.3. What?What?What do you have to offer to fulfill this promise?
1. Our Products
2. Our Services
3. Our Experiences
What business are we really in?
The Situation
Where is our real value add?
These are some These are some
other questions that other questions that
have proven to be have proven to be
What is the real issue to solve ?
Who do we serve ?
have proven to be have proven to be
questions that really questions that really
matter…matter…
How do we How do we do do what we dowhat we do? ? How do we How do we do do what we dowhat we do? ?
Strategy Concept Matrix
Source: Mainardi & Kleiner, “The Right To Win”, strategy+business (Winter 2010)
Where are your clients on the map?Each quadrant represents a basic school of thought in business
strategy: Position, Concentration, Execution and Adaptation.
Position:
Winners select favorable markets as defined by external forces
Concentration:
Business Strategy & Decision Map
Concentration:
Winners make the most of current core strengths and businesses
Execution:
Winners gain advantage through operational excellence
Adaptation:
Winners develop and overall direction through experimentation &
rapid change