Strategy
Development
We assist our clients in developing business strategies, with an emphasis on achieving
growth through new product / solution offerings. We provide our
clients with an experienced external viewpoint, and a deeper
understanding of key drivers, enabling them to broaden their perspective
and set the appropriate context for successful strategy development.
This approach helps clients to develop propositions based on a broader
understanding of the opportunity space, as opposed to a more narrow
understanding defined by a more internally influenced perspective.
Market Intelligence
Describing market composition, segmentation, key players and
high-level economics in an intuitive and visual manner provides a
quick overview of a market space and helps to determine whether growth opportunities may
exist. Our approach to market mapping rapidly identifies the areas of opportunity
worth pursuing, as well relevant competitive and market issues,
providing guidance for opportunity selection and proposition
development.
Proposition Development
The development of clear, concise and compelling value propositions
is a critical component of achieving new growth. However,
employees and customers very rarely articulate unmet needs
and product / solution requirements in a manner that's actionable.
We bring proven approaches and experience in translating customer needs into initial value propositions
that provide sufficient specificity to quickly begin to model form, economics, and market
reception.
Quickly getting to a tangible
description increases the ability to receive actionable feedback, as
employees, partners and customers react to a well articulated proposition
rather than a vague concept envisioned differently by each participant.
With our approach, feedback is more specific and serves to iteratively enhance
and sharpen the proposition and its presentation.
Rapid Prototyping / Storyboarding
Having a tangible description, picture or prototype of a new
offering early in the process can be extremely effective. The level and
quality of discussion of an offering's merits, feasibility, and costs
is raised substantially when there is a concrete embodiment of the
concept. With our rapid prototyping approach called Storyboarding, we develop a tangible
"straw man" prototype early in the process and elicit comments and
suggestions to iteratively improve the concept.
For years, Storyboarding has been used in
filmmaking to outline the plot, actions, actor positions and scenery of
a film on paper in a series of cartoon-like drawings. This approach
allows filmmakers to tangibly describe what will happen in the film,
plan for actions, scenery and effects and verify visually that the
concept and execution approach is viable. Best of all, the approach
saves vast amounts of time and money by allowing revisions to take place
on paper before expensive sets, actors and crews have been employed. We
have adapted this approach for early concept testing and planning,
creating a rapid pre-prototype as well as outputs that aid in the
productization, projectization and monetization of potential customer
solutions.
Financial Modeling
Understanding the underlying economic impact of a proposed new
offering gives key insight into its feasibility. Our approach is to
model both client and customer economics as well as to understand
financial effects for other relevant parties. Since complete information
is not always available, our method notes assumptions and details
activities to improve certainty during the process.
A realistic model of the financial
impacts of a new offering is an important component of business plans
and funding requests as it projects whether the effort will be
worthwhile. Our iterative approach to financial modeling allows for the
enhancement of initial models as the development process provides new
information by testing and revising assumptions.
Implementation Planning
Implementation of new offerings is complex and multi-dimensional.
Developing a detailed plan that includes timelines and milestones for
each of these dimensions is critical to success. Further, plans that
link actions and spending provide a higher degree of control as well as
early warning of deviations from plan.
Business Plan Development
The business plan is both an organizational and communications tool
for moving concept development forward. The structure of the plan
ensures that all aspects from concept through launch and stewardship are
considered. Further, its detail allows clear and concise communication
of the concept, its financial potential, related risks and plans for
implementation.
Technology Procurement
Often all the components of a new solution are not available
"in-house", and additional technology must be licensed or acquired.
Identifying and procuring suitable technology on reasonable terms is a
critical element of delivery. Further, acquired or licensed technology
must fit within the solution's longer-term technology roadmap.
As companies extend into adjacent spaces
they sometimes lack all the competencies needed to successfully deliver
their solution. In these cases, partnering can be utilized to fill in
technical, marketing, distribution or other gaps. Selecting the right
partner and the right terms can have a significant effect on the success
of new initiatives.
Project Management
There are thousands of moving parts in a solution or venture
development process. We assist our clients in managing and
monitoring progress against well defined milestones.
Technical Requirements Definition
To prepare for implementation,
requirements must contain enough detail to enable development resources
to construct, and for production resources to deliver the offering.
These requirements are built upon the initial value propositions
developed earlier, adding the appropriate level of focus for development
and production audiences.
Branding & Licensing
Effective use of branding can enhance an offering's appeal, raise
its price point, and speed its adoption. Developing a logical brand
architecture and strategy can be a key element in properly positioning
an offering in the marketplace.
Content Development
Effective communication of a solution's benefits can be key to its
adoption and success. We assist our clients in developing and
deploying content for web and print distribution. We have also
project managed web and multimedia development projects for a number of large corporate
accounts.
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