January 20, 2009
Featured Article

Valued Customer or Just a Piggy Bank?

Ed Rigsbee
By Ed Rigsbee, CSP

Customer loyalty is hard to earn and easy to lose. Read on for an example of how one person in your organization can turn away a loyal customer.

 

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Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

Questions & AnswersThis column is intended to answer common questions related to strategic planning and strategy in general. In each issue we will answer questions posed by seminar attendees, our clients and our readers. Please send your questions to Elizabeth Tidd, E-mail: simplifiedstrategicplanning@cssp.com ~ Mail: CSSP, Inc. P.O. Box 851 Ann Arbor, Michigan 06890-0851 ~ Fax: 203-255-9191.

We hear so much about forming alliances with our suppliers. Where do we consider this in the Strategic Planning process?

What is the best way to "keep score" and tell if the Strategic Planning process is working?

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Simplified Strategic Planning Booklet

How to Create Value for Competitive Advantage


By Robert W. Bradford (editor), with Thomas E. Ambler, M. Dana Baldwinand Denise A. Harrison
Unbeatable Value Strategy
Click here for more information

In much of today's writing about business, we see examples of success through cheapness. However, cheapness is neither the only nor always the best path to success. In fact, for many companies, getting on the cheap bandwagon - often disguised as "competitiveness" - can lead to disaster.

Unbeatable Value Strategy offers a roadmap to success in a world dominated by commodity pricing. For many companies operating in today's world of global competition, this simplified walk through the concepts of competitive specialty strategy is critical. Practical concepts to improve competitive position.
Article Archives

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Fixing Your Balanced Scorecard
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Strategy Resources

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Simplified Strategic Planning for Small to Mid-Sized Companies

A Two-Day Interactive Seminar Specifically for Executives of Independent Companies and Subsidiaries of Larger Companies Who Want to Achieve Better Results Faster

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April 23 - 24, 2009

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Company Presidents and CEOs attend free of charge when accompanied by one or more additional paid attendees.

Poor strategic planning is worse than no strategic planning. It can be a big waste of time and money. Even worse, it can lead to disaster. Avoid all this with Simplified Strategic Planning - a proven process to focus for superior performance without straining your resources.

Michigan State University

Whether you've been doing strategic planning for years or starting from scratch, you can acquire a streamlined process for developing and implementing your strategy. In just two days, you will have learned this time-tested methodology, which has produced outstanding results for thousands of companies from a wide variety of business types.

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Strategies for Turbulent Times
One Day Seminar 3/27/09 and 5/20/09
March 27, 2009 in Alexandria, VA
May 20, 2009 in Troy, MI

Denise Harrison
Will You Survive and Thrive in Your New Business Climate? There are staggering challenges and tremendous opportunities in the months ahead. Companies that adapt will survive and thrive. Those that don't won't--leaving the market to those that do. "Business as usual" simply won't work. Every aspect of your external business environment will change.

Denise Harrison will put these trends into historical perspective and then explore creative solutions to these challenges.

Click here for more Strategies for Turbulent Times information.

Full Day Acquisition Strategy Workshop

April 22, 2009
Orlando, FL
with Robert Bradford
and Denise Harrison

Thinking about making an acquisition or acquisitions? Do it right, or don't do it at all. A properly conceived and well-managed acquisition can propel you into a position of leadership in your industry, while an ill-conceived or poorly-executed acquisition can leave you in serious difficultly. The fact is, most acquisitions end badly.

If you are considering a strategy of growth by acquisition, you owe it to yourself and your company to learn the strategic facts of life the "experts" won't teach you about how to avoid being an acquisition statistic.

Your complete satisfaction is guaranteed. No catch -- if you are not totally satisfied we will refund your entire fee.

Click here for more Acquisition Planning Workshop information.


Speaking Engagements
National Speakers Association Winter Conference
Presenter: Robert Bradford, CSP
Topic: Setting Yourself Apart from the Competition
Location: Orlando, FL
February 13, 2009
Contact: NSA Winter Conference

National Tooling and Manufacturing Association
Annual Convention 2009 Leadership in Uncertain Times
Presenter: Robert Bradford, CSP
Topic: Finding the Path--Leadership in Uncertain Times
Location: Indian Wells, CA
February 25, 2009

National Speakers Association Houston Chapter Meeting Presenter: Robert Bradford, CSP
Topic: How to Find Your Island of Profitability
Location: Houston, TX
May 9, 2009
Contact: NSA Houston Chapter Meeting

About Center for
Simplified Strategic Planning, Inc.

Strategic Thinking

Success in today's business environment requires that a company's leaders have the ability to create a vision of the organization's future direction as well as the course it needs to get there.

While various business improvement techniques such as Total Quality Management and Re-engineering are often extremely beneficial to the ongoing progress of a business, correct Strategic Focus remains the single most important element in a company's success.

Since 1981, the Center for Simplified Strategic Planning (through its Strategic Focus on strategy and strategic management services) has provided client companies strategic planning tools and leadership required to obtain superior strategic results.

We understand the challenges typically faced by our clients in installing systems and practices necessary to support growth, while maintaining day to day operations.

Call today for more information! 734-995-3465