The Process: How Does It Work?

RWG views each client's problems as unique.  We do not offer pat answers, but rather we ask provocative questions to uncover the potential that has been allowed to lie dormant in your organization.

We employ a proven process that is creative and compelling, but pragmatic and no non-sense.  We understand that time is valuable, and you have little patience for superfluous fluff. Our work has been described as, "fun but mentally challenging," and "rigorously creative."

Ours is a collaborative process that is immersive, decisive, simple and timely.  On average, an engagement that takes full advantage of our services lasts 3 to 4 months yielding concrete deliverables.  Here's how it works:

Four Critical Questions

The answers to these four questions create the framework upon which all of your decisions will be made.  The questions themselves are straightforward, but the answers require very careful consideration, in keeping with internal and external forces that affect your company.  The questions are:

The answers to these questions enable us to create an informed vision of your company's future that will inspire decisive action.  To help you answer these questions, we consider your corporate culture and history, the dynamics of your industry, and the business reality that you face going forward.

It is because we consider the emotional, as well as the intellectual, aspects of your business and your brand that your employees will become advocates for the cause. Real transformation requires emotional attachment as well as rational certainty. 

Are there "right" answers to these questions?  Many a corporate strategy team has ground to a halt, agonizing over whether their direction was "right" enough. Doing something is always better than doing nothing, but productive action is informed action.

It would be a waste of time to attempt to answer these questions in a vacuum.  Some timely and well-focused analysis is essential. Once the analysis is complete, we work with your team to design a strategy that is truly useful and relevant for your company. Then, actions and deadlines are developed to bring this strategy to life. And we help you deliver this plan throughout the organization so that your employees understand and embrace the new direction.  Throughout the process, and at every key decision-point in the future, the answers to those four critical questions serve as your touchstone.

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Getting to the Answers

While each engagement is unique, the general process follows below and is geared towards concrete deliverables:

Strategy Team Selection	We recommend that you form a team of 8 to 12 people within the company who will be committed to the strategy development over the course of the engagement.  These people must be the decision-makers in your company. It is also a good idea to include those who are most likely to derail the process.  Also consider including those who have more controversial ideas about which way the company should go.
Discovery	We endeavor to understand your problem from internal and external perspectives and to engage people at all levels in the process.  The success of any strategic initiative hinges on the ability to create ownership and buy-in from as many people as possible, as early as possible. With this in mind, we employ various techniques for learning, including as appropriate: one-on-one interviews, focus groups, on-line exercises, projective and metaphorical evaluations, quantitative analysis, media scans, and reviews of existing research.
Bridging Meeting	In this meeting, the implications from Discovery are shared and discussed with the Strategy Team.
Strategy Development Session	This 2-day session is held off-site, where the Strategy Team can put concentrated effort into making critical decisions.  The first day is typically dedicated to answering the four critical questions.  The second day is used to create a clear, straightforward articulation of the strategy, based on those four questions. Technology plays a significant role in these sessions to ensure maximum efficiency and open, honest input from all participants.
Action Development Session	During this 1 to 2-Day session, the Strategy Team will turn the strategy into a clear, decisive action plan with articulated deadlines and assigned responsibilities.
Alignment Sessions	The Strategy and Action Plan is then launched within the company.  The format varies and can accommodate groups of 15 to 1500, or more.  But the objective remains constant–to ensure that each person understands and embraces the future of the company, and has the opportunity to play a part in bringing it to life.
Momentum Meeting with Strategy Team	Development of, and alignment behind, your Strategy and Action Plan is essential, but it must be sustained.  In order for your company to realize a significant and permanent transformation, your employees must be dedicated to living this Strategy everyday, everywhere.   It requires constant, vigilant effort and focus to make sure that everything you do is in line with your desired future. We will meet with the Strategy Team to provide direction for how to sustain your momentum over the long-term.

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RWG Deliverables By the conclusion of the engagement, you will have: A Strategic Design for the company as you intend it to be in the future which includes: A clear view of where the company is today The role the company will play in the future, in the lives of its constituencies Its desired image, both internally and externally Its future sustainable competitive advantage The core values that will guide its behavior A summary statement of vision that clearly articulates what the company intends to be An action plan with clear goals, tactics, deadlines and assigned responsibilities Alignment of the organization behind the Strategy, with enthusiastic understanding and ownership of your vision, achieved using the following, as appropriate: Future of the Company launch events to inspire and enlighten your employees Interactive discussions with management-level employees to gain commitment and input, and to teach them how to take the message forward to their direct reports Multi-media tools for on-going communication of the message (e.g., DVD, video, website, etc) A comprehensive, illustrated digital summary of the key sessions and meetings which highlight important decisions and outcomes. A passionate, dedicated Strategy Team that will be a visible presence with the company's leadership to champion the cause.

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