Why strategy work matters for medium-sized companies
Many medium-sized companies have grown organically over years. Day-to-day business is running, but the question of which products, customers and markets are to carry earnings in future is rarely answered systematically. A typical occasion for strategy work is a noticeable change in the market, a new competitor or the owners' wish to position the company for the next generation or a buyer.
Strategy above all means deciding consciously what one will no longer do. Limited resources – capital, time and personnel – should flow to where they make the greatest contribution.
Review and analysis
The starting point is an honest review. We look at which products and customer groups actually earn your company money, where contribution margins arise and where effort is tied up without adequate return. In addition, we analyse the market, competition and customer needs.
A proven tool is the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats). It condenses the results onto one page and shows which strengths can be applied to which market opportunities.
- Profitability analysis by product, customer and region
- Market and competition review
- Assessment of own capabilities and bottlenecks
- Derivation of strategic options with their advantages and disadvantages
From target picture to action plan
From the options, we develop with you a target picture for the coming years. This target picture is translated into concrete projects, each with responsible persons, milestones and key figures against which progress is measured.
Business development also includes new business areas, cooperations or complementary services. We examine such projects for their economic viability before significant resources are committed.
Supporting implementation
On request, we support implementation in regular review meetings. In this way, the strategy does not remain a one-off paper but becomes a management tool for the company's management. Deviations become visible early and can be corrected deliberately.
A strategy should also be reviewed at regular intervals. Markets, customer wishes and framework conditions change; what was right a few years ago may need to be adjusted today.
Frequently asked questions
As a medium-sized company, do we need a written strategy at all?
A written strategy creates clarity for managers and employees and facilitates discussions with banks, investors or potential successors. Its scope and form depend on the size of your company.
Who is involved in the strategy work?
As a rule, the management and the second management level. Depending on the topic, we involve further employees, as they know processes and customers from practice.
Do you also prepare documents for the bank?
We prepare the strategic and business foundations in such a way that they can be used in discussions with your bank. You clarify the financing itself in consultation with your bank; we do not offer loan brokerage.