CASE STUDIES
Strategy Development
Performance Support
Performance Support - Assessment
Situation
Among fierce competition, a young energy nonprofit seeks funding from the public utilities commission as part of their identified strategy. This nonprofit wants to offer new, innovative, and objective energy efficiency programs. Staff members can assist in writing proposals to request funding but cannot devote 100% of their time.
Approach
Since the commission's drivers are identified, VPI Strategies must weigh the criteria and envision potential program elements which fulfill the need. VPI must also identify gaps in current program offerings and efficiently shepherd the proposal writing process.
Solution
VPI Strategies
- Interprets the grant criteria
- Evaluates current progressive programs locally, regionally and nationally
- Develops a gap analysis
- Conducts facilitated discussions and web surveys to identify customer needs
- Performs an external scan of competitors seeking same funding
- Conducts a stakeholder analysis
- Determines innovative program elements
- Coaches executive management team
- Earns organizational buy-in
- Manages the grant-writing of $7 million in programs in year one and $15 million in year two.
Outcome
The nonprofit receives $5.1 million in funding in year one and $10 million in year two. This grant is fundamental in the implementation of the strategy and allows the organization to quadruple their size.
Strategy Development - Smart Growth
Situation
Successful start-up e-commerce company wants to increase profits by opening a retail location to expand beyond the virtual environment.
Approach
VPI Strategies works with owners to identify their drivers, resources, and goals while investigating potential locations and the external environment for opportunities and threats.
Solution
VPI Strategies provides and interprets a(n)
- Industry assessment
- Regional competitive scan
- External scan including environmental, political, legislative, economic, socio-demographic and technology factors
- Scenario planning tools and exercise
- Financial planning worksheets
Outcome
VPI Strategies recommends the organization not purse a retail location strategy due to their limited resources but explore other opportunities for growth. The business instead funnels resources into the development and distribution of an exclusive clothing line. Revenues increase 300%. Return on investment (ROI) is 5 x greater than the estimated ROI for the retail location.
Strategy Development - Strategic Process Facilitation
Situation
A young organization experiences a rapid growth start-up phase but requires a strategic shift as it matures into a sustainable enterprise. The organization wants to sustain its entrepreneurial spirit and solution-oriented approach while integrating additional structure and controls.
Approach
VPI Strategies works with the Executive Management Team to develop a game plan for forging a new strategy. This strategic development process requires an intense inclusive review of the existing organization and the external environment.
Solution
VPI Strategies
- Provides a strategic planning expectations guide to shepherd the strategic development process
- Conducts primary research with employees, customers and stakeholders to identify organizations' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
- Facilitates strategy development session with vested individuals within the organization.
- Develops the strategic plan
Outcome
The strategic plan guides the management team through a reorganization of existing resources, addition of new employees, enhanced communication with the board and development of more customer-oriented services. Revenues increase 230%.
Strategy Development - Performance Metrics
Situation
An established non-profit organization, having recently completed its strategic planning, desires a realistic and actionable marketing plan with performance metrics. Limited resources for marketing several products and services to different target audiences make implementation difficult.
Approach
VPI Strategies works with Board members to understand the development and success of previous marketing plans, process and results of the recent strategic planning and goals of the new marketing effort. The goals include brand awareness, increasing the number of applicants and creating value for alumni.
Solution
VPI Strategies develops a strategic marketing plan ensuring marketing is linked and synch'd to the organization's strategy. The plan integrates multiple creative communication tactics phased in to better leverage limited resources.
VPI recommends -
- Emphasis on select performance metrics
- alumni fees
- number of qualified applicants
- community awareness
- Integrating inexpensive market research techniques such a customer advisory council and web surveys
- Increasing commitment to the client list could be used in future barter transactions
Outcome
This strategic marketing plan is seen as realistic and executable. Graduate fees increase 100%. In the next year, the organization receives the highest number of applications during recruitment resulting in stellar candidate selection.
Performance Support - Post-Merger Integration
Situation
Two non-profit organizations merge, seek a new brand identity and require a facilitator to guide the process.
Approach
VPI Strategies works with the marketing and communications committee comprised of Board and staff members to better understand the organization's drivers, resources and goals.
Solution
VPI Strategies
- Interviews critical stakeholders
- Interprets views for integration into one perspective
- Facilitates a creative brief exercise
- Develops a comprehensive creative brief for use with graphic designers
- Recommends specific logo choice
Outcome
The creative brief exercise and interpretation yields a new logo launched post-merger which has significantly increased organization awareness.
This initial success leads to three additional years of implementation guidance for marketing, providing strategic guidance for the executive management team and facilitating the retreats of the merged board.
Performance Support - Training
Situation
Miscommunication and rogue messages lead a large utility to request assistance with enhancing the writing skills of account executives, engineers, and marketing professionals.
Approach
VPI Strategies requests samples of the mixed messages and explores more than the presenting problem.
Solution
VPI Strategies customizes an Effective Business Writing course using a skeleton structure enhanced with specific solutions to the client need. VPI offers post-class support – on-line references, telephonic technical support and reference books to keep skills growing.
Outcome
Initial satisfaction with class is 4.5 on scale from 1-5. Organizational problem areas are rectified. The hiring department sees a decrease in internal and external client complaints due to mixed messages.
Performance Support - Coaching
Situation
Credit union asks for assistance in enhancing communication skills of Executive Management member.
Approach
VPI Strategies explores the perspectives of multiple stakeholders to better understand the real issue, earns trust from all parties and offers coaching services.
Solution
VPI Strategies
- Interviews member to be coached, CEO, Senior Vice President and Human Resource Director
- Builds a trusting relationship with coaching candidate
- Helps coaching candidate understand her contribution towards others' perspectives on mixed messages and identify corrective action
- Creates a strategic action plan and accountability process
- Offers follow-up counsel
Outcome
This coaching client is able to enhance her skills, communicate her value and keep her job during a recent reorganization. VPI's coaching techniques are seen as practical, simple, and thought-provoking. The client appreciates the sincerity, openness, and frankness and is a VPI coaching services referral source for those seeking a higher level of success or significance.
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