1. 1 of 2
Creating Business Infrastructure to
Manage Unpredictable Growth
You can minimize the impact of unpredictable growth for your small business by
following these steps:
Document Your Strategic Vision.
1
• Look at your business plan and extract the vision statement from
the plan. If you do not have a business plan, then think about the
overall direction in which you want to grow your company.
• Write or type it at the top of a separate sheet of paper.
• Your vision gives you a glimpse into the type of business
infrastructure that will be required to grow your company.
Record Goals that Align
2 with Your Strategic Vision.
• Underneath your Vision statement, record short-term (12-
months) and long-term (3 to 5 year) operational goals that
align or support that vision.
• Consider the staff, technology, processes, workspace and
knowledge/information management tools that you will need in
place to support your vision.
• Categorize those operational goals as Business Design, Records
Management, and Business Processes.
3 Determine Business Design Tactics.
• Determine those tasks need to be performed on a daily,
weekly, monthly, and annual basis.
• Figure out the type of staff needed to execute those tasks.
• Next, decide the reporting structure or chain of command for
managing that staff. Does your company vision require a flat
organization or one with multiple layers?
Determine Records Management Tactics.
4
• Think about the type of information that staff will need in order
to perform their jobs without your daily presence.
• Determine which information will be stored physically vs.
electronically.
• Decide the best and most secure storage methods for both paper
and electronic files.
© Copyright 2009. Alicia Butler Pierre on behalf of Equilibria, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
web: www.EQBsystems.com ph: 1.888.636.5999

2. 2 of 2
Creating Business Infrastructure to
Manage Unpredictable Growth
Determine Business Process Tactics.
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• Figure out which business processes need to be documented in
order to minimize training and ensure consistent work output.
• Determine the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will be used
to monitor or measure the performance of each business process.
Prioritize all Tactics.
6 • Now take a look at all of the tactics you’ve written for each
operational goal that supports your overall company vision.
• Write down the estimated completion time next to each tactic.
If applicable, also write down the estimated investment
associated with each tactic.
• Next, prioritize all of these tactics with number one being the
most critical. You may find that time and money will play a
key role in prioritization.
Commit Tactics to Calendar.
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• Consider your prioritization from step #6 and begin placing
those tactics onto your calendar system. An electronic
calendar such as MS Outlook may be helpful.
• Schedule a tactic at least one day a week on a day that you
normally reserve to work on administrative-type tasks.
• Continue recording all tactics onto your calendar until all
tactics have been accounted for. You may find that your
tactics stretch out over a 12 – 24 month period.
Track Your Progress.
8
• Begin conducting weekly, bi-weekly or monthly meetings to
review your progress in completing the tactics you identified as
necessary to achieve the goals that support your company
vision.
• Make adjustments as necessary.
• Determine which additional resources or opportunities you can
use to complete certain tactics.
Once you document your vision, goals, and tactics you will have a much clearer
idea of your company’s growth direction. That clarity enables you to attract
and retain the best tools and resources to ensure you stay on course. Best of
all, you will have the business infrastructure necessary to sustain an
unpredictable growth spurt.
© Copyright 2009. Alicia Butler Pierre on behalf of Equilibria, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
web: www.EQBsystems.com ph: 1.888.636.5999