Carduus ServicesI offer a wide range of strategic planning services on either a day rate basis or short term contracts. I can also undertake an audit of your current planning process and offer solutions where required.Carduus LtdCRDS_0bff331a-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faSo, you may be wondering what my company name means -- well, 'carduus' is the latin word for 'thistle'. I am a Scots lass and wanted my company name to reflect my heritage, which I am deeply proud of.Brenda EtchellsI am Brenda Etchells and I am passionate about facilitating really great strategic discussions.
An experienced MBA professional, my background spans three decades and many disciplines, including marketing, product development, business intelligence, corporate planning and all aspects of the strategic planning process. I have been privileged to be involved in large strategic programmes such as mergers and transformation projects.Royal Bank of ScotlandI have worked for both the Royal Bank of Scotland and Yorkshire Building Society.Yorkshire Building SocietyFinancial ServicesWhilst financial services has been my dominant industry I am also a long-standing governor of a large high school and a trustee of a mental health charity. I do believe that as a strong facilitator I can be an asset to any organisation in any industry.LeedsI have now lived in Leeds for 22 years and my life is firmly established here and would love to meet and work with local businesses - large and small. So, if you are planning a strategy event or require help with any other aspect of the strategy process please get in touch to see how I can be of value.Local Businesses in LeedsReally great strategic discussions_0bff3428-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faTo offer strategic planning services _0bff34b4-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faFacilitationProfessionally facilitate meetings and workshops._0bff352c-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1Get the most out of your meetings and workshops by having them professionally facilitated, leaving all your colleagues free to fully contribute. I will work with you to prepare the agenda, discuss key decisions required and will write up all the output.DiscussionsUse established planning tools to facilitate discussion._0bff35b8-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1Traditional Strategic Planning Workshops --
The following workshops all use established planning tools to facilitate discussion at a strategic level. They can be delivered as stand-alone sessions or combined as required. Costs include preparation and full write up of workshop outputs but exclude any travel and accommodation expenses.Strategy FoundationsUse PEST and SWOT to understand the business environment._0bff363a-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.1Using the basic planning tools of PEST and SWOT ensure you know your environment and how it could impact on your business. What are the capabilities in your business to address these impacts and where are the gaps?Strategy PaletteUse BCGs strategy palette ensure you have the right strategy._0bff36bc-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.2BCGThe Right Strategy? -- Using BCGs strategy palette ensure your business has the right strategy for its environment. We will look at how predictable your industry's environment is and how malleable it is - can you disrupt it? These factors will determine the optimum strategy for your business.Value CreationAnalyse pain points to understand customer needs._0bff373e-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.3Enhance understanding of your customers' needs, analysing their pain points. Then using the four actions framework evaluate where your business could generate more value and where it needs to eliminate non-value adding activities.Organisation AlignmentUse Galbraith's star model ensure your business is connected and aligned._0bff37c0-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.4Jay GalbraithUse Galbraith's star model ensure your business is connected and aligned to successfully shape the decisions and behaviours to drive the strategic direction: Strategy, Structure, Processes, Rewards, and People.Business Model CanvasDocument business models and desired target states._0bff384c-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.5Document your existing business model and the desired target state(s). What changes are required to move to the target state? What will be the impact on the drivers of revenue and costs?StorytellingEngage stakeholders through storytelling._0bff3900-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.6Engaging through Storytelling -- Engage your colleagues and stakeholders using storytelling techniques to deliver your key strategic messages.Front Line InsightTap into the insights of front-line colleagues._0bff398c-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.1.7Your front-line colleagues are in the privileged position of having valuable insight that is often untapped. Let them share their stories and ideas in a safe environment, using a variety of tools to shape their views.GamesUse 'games' to stimulate strategic thinking._0bff3a18-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.2Strategy Game Workshops --
The following workshops all use 'games' to stimulate strategic thinking.Disruptive ThreatsConsider the perspectives of disruptors._0bff3ab8-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.2.1Put yourself in the shoes of a disruptor -- how could your current business model be threatened? What do you need to do to react to these threats? If you were starting your business from scratch what would it look like and what unnecessary complexity would you strip out?Customer FocusConsider the desires, worries and frustrations of customers._0bff3b44-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.2.2Put yourself inside the heads of your customers – what are their desires, worries and frustrations. What are the needs in their lives that your business addresses? What would their ideal experience look like?Strategic DirectionRe-think strategic directions by inverting business models._0bff3bda-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa1.2.3Re-think your strategic direction by inverting your current business model -- this really stretches your thinking. The exercises will confirm the foundations of your current business model as well as generate ideas that may be worth further consideration.Strategic ToolsHelp develop and communicate strategies._0bff3c98-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa2I can bring the experience of using a range of tools to help you develop and communicate strategies. These can be used in conjunction with workshops or as stand-alone pieces of work with key members of your organisation._0bff3d2e-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faReportingDevelop KPIs and balanced scorecards._0bff3dce-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa3I can help you develop suites of KPIs and balanced scorecards for both strategic level reporting and also operational level reporting across your business._0bff3ec8-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faEngagementFully engage stakeholders in implementing strategies._0bff3f72-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa4Ensure all your colleagues and stakeholders are fully engaged with your company's strategy through effective communications and regular updates. I can work with you to develop a range of materials from a simple 'Plan on a Page' through to regulatory reporting._0bff4012-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faAlignmentEnsure functional planning and change agendas are aligned to organizational strategies._0bff40bc-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa5To ensure all colleagues are pulling in the same direction I can work with your senior leaders to ensure their functional planning and any change agenda is fully aligned to the strategy._0bff4166-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8faSupportProvide additional strategic planning support as needed._0bff4206-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa6If you need additional support with your strategic planning I can be available for short term contracts and/or commit to several days a month with your company._0bff42ba-9f95-11e9-8216-7297f292b8fa2019-07-05OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net