1. Strategic Planning in
Uncertain Times
East Cobb Associates Referral
Network
August 21, 2012
Mary-Kay Boler
Catapult Strategic Consulting, LLC

2. Strategic
Planning
in
Uncertai
n Times
Tips to Survive the Roller Coaster Ride

3. Agenda
OLD PLANNING FRAMEWORK
THE NEW NORMAL
FA S T E N Y O U R S E AT B E LT
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN
WRAP UP

4. Inconsistency Reigns
Headlines from the WSJ August 22, 2012
Stocks Fall After Hitting Multiyear Highs
May-June Correction was a Failure
Apple’s Market Value: To Infinity and Beyond!
Say It Ain’t So: Apple Downgraded!
Recovery Moves Forward a Little
Risk of US Double-Dip Recession Rises
Fed Sees Action if Growth Doesn’t Pick Up Soon
Home Resales Jump in July
Think Gas Prices are Bad Now?

5. Old Planning Strategic Business Plan
Framework  Executive Summary
3-5 Year Planning  Mission and Vision
Horizon
 Competitive Analysis
12 Month Cash Flow  Target Markets
Projections
 Marketing Plan
Reviewed Annually
 Operating Plan
Comprehensive, Printed
Document
 Management and Organization
 Historic Financial Performance
Functional Silos
 Financial Projections
Static
 Financing Plan
 Exit Strategy

6. The Today’s Strategic Planning Goals
New Normal
 Agility
Long-term Vision with
Short Term Objectives  Risk Reduction
Monitor Weekly or
Monthly
Update Frequently
Matrix Management
Phased Implementation
Stress Testing
Scenario Planning
Transfer Risk

7. Know Your Numbers
 Production/Service Costs
 Cost to Acquire New Client
 Breakeven
 Liquid Assets
 How Much You Can Afford to Lose
 Industry Benchmarks

8. Prepare for the Ride
 Clarify Your Vision
 Refine the Business Model
 Know Market Intimately
 Define Business Drivers
 Determine What Drives the Drivers
 Identify Relevant Economic Indicators

9. Manage
the things
you can
change,
monitor
those you
cannot.
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I
cannot change, courage to change the things
I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

10. Planning Techniques
TA K E I T I N S TA G E S
SCENARIO PLANNING AND STRESS
TESTING
RISK TRANSFER
ROLLING FORECASTS

11.  Research Customers and
Competitors
Take It  Develop Short-Term Strategy
in  Define Success
 Conduct a Trial
Stages  Evaluate the Results
 Make Go/No Go Decision
 Replicate Successes

12.  What If?
Scenario  Identify Vulnerabilities
Planning  Limited Number of Identifiable
Options
and  Individual Events and
Stress Combinations
 Test Sufficiency of:
Testing • Emergency Funds
• Insurance
• Contingency Plans

13. Transfer
Risk

14.  Weekly
and
Monthly
Forecasts
 Track
Drivers
Rolling  Monitor
Forecasts Activity
Measures
• Monitor Financial Results
• Compare Results With Projections
• Update Forecasts Regularly
• Change Course When Necessary

15. Keys to Success
CONFRONT ASSUMPTIONS
ENGAGE OBJECTIVE ADVISORS
S TAY I N F O R M E D

16. Review: Strategic Planning Then and Now
Old Planning What Works Today:
Framework:  Maximize Agility
 3-5 Year Planning Horizon  Minimize Risk
 12 Month Cash Flow  Manage what you can
Projections change; monitor what you
 Cumbersome cannot
 Reviewed Annually  Long-term Vision with Short
 Standard Format Term Objectives
 Comprehensive, Printed  Update Frequently
Document  Matrix Management
 Functional Silos  Phased Implementation
 Static  Scenario Planning
 Risk Transfer
 Maintain Objectivity

17. What’s
on your
mind?
www.CatapultStrategies.com
mkboler@CatapultStrategies.com
443-745-1469
443-745-1469