Strategy – Anandini Foundation

"Developing Corporate Strategy"

Abstract

Anandini’s Strategy programme is a year long learning exercise because we feel:

Strategy is the single most important aspect for any Corporate’s long term growth.
And yet, only 5 % of Corporates actually have a Strategy Team in place doing Strategic Planning and Implementation
Mere presentations of Annual Plans are inadequate for Strategy taking root
One or two inspirational talks on Strategy per annum is farcical
Strategy begins with Internal Strategy and moves to the External only when the inner movement has taken firm shape
External Strategy is complex, requires continuous analysis, breaking down of options and most importantly defining uniqueness and achieving it.

An example of the ideal Strategy function

In the 1980s when executives from TELCO (now Tata Motors) went to Japan for their collaboration with Hitachi on the Excavator Division, they learnt how the Hitachi top brass handle Strategy.

The President looked after a 5 year Strategic Plan
The Managing Director oversaw a 5 to 15 year Strategy
The Chairman worked actively on a 15 to 20 year Strategic path.

This was an eye-opener as very few organizations even look at a 5 year plan and actively monitor it as they would do for operations.

Methodology

Annual work plan
- Three Workshops of 2 days each
- Nine Reviews / Audits on Workshop related tasks on monthly basis between Workshops.
Pre-workshop Readings for group discussions, analysis and presentations during Workshops – articles and case studies
Learnings through lectures, films, group work

Curriculum

Workshop 1 Internal Strategy

Understanding Corporate Culture – what drives it, why is it important, how do we shape
it to meet Strategic needs ? Reading on the ideal culture – analysis.
Takeaway assignments on 6 vital items for implementation within the Organization with
clear cut identification of who will do what and when.

Workshop 2 External Strategy

Understanding 6 basic components of Strategy
- Case Studies on each for analysis and group presentation
Calculating Worth
Due Diligence Process – what does it entail ?
Funding Choices
- Case Studies, analysis and group presentations
Creating a fertile ground for good External Strategy
- Group presentations and analysis of 4 key Strategy articles
Defining the journey forward

Group presentations and discussions on :

This is where we want to go ?
This is who we want to be ?
How do we make ourselves Unique ?
What elements will set us apart in this new strategy to define ourselves for the Future ?

Defining the Strategy Team

At Corporate level
At Group level
A look at the Indian Economy – segments connected with the organization
Takeaway assignments from the Workshop for implementation

Workshop 3 Implementation

Review of work done on Workshops 1 & 2
Doing a Project Right
- Project Implementation & Project Management
Moving Forward through 4 Presentations
Understanding “The Changing World” – Presentations & discussions
The importance of writing Case studies
Group presentations of Internal Strategy Status and Gains.
My India – Group presentations on how we see our world in the coming years
Relevant Video Clips
Group presentations on expanding operations in the future yearly Plans
10 Group presentations on results forecasted for coming years. Gross Revenue, Expenses,
Profit before Tax,
Essential Capital Expenditure