OUR SERVICES
The Board as Strategic Architects of Change
"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
- Peter Drucker
Strategic Scenario Planning for Future-Ready Boards
Service
Avancer's Strategic Scenario Planning for Future-Ready Boards framework is designed to enable board members to navigate through the complexities of an uncertain business environment. This service involves conducting facilitated workshops aimed at identifying the most critical sources of uncertainty that could impact the company. These uncertainties could stem from various factors, including regulatory changes, technological advancements, competitive dynamics, or unforeseen black swan events. Through the application of sophisticated scenario planning tools, the service maps out a spectrum of possible futures the company might face, ranging from highly optimistic to particularly challenging scenarios. For each identified scenario, comprehensive contingency plans are developed, which cover strategic responses, potential resource reallocation needs, and leadership adjustments that might be required.
Value
This service offers significant value by enabling proactive preparation and strategic foresight. It significantly reduces the likelihood that major industry disruptions will catch the organization off guard. By engaging in this process, the board is better positioned to make informed strategic decisions today while also laying the groundwork for navigating multiple potential future states. This level of preparedness ensures that the company remains resilient and adaptable, regardless of the changes that may come its way.
Use-Case
Understanding when to engage in scenario planning is crucial for timely and effective strategic foresight. Certain conditions or market signals serve as indicators, highlighting the need for a comprehensive assessment and planning process:
Highly Dynamic Market: The emergence of disruptive technologies or competitors signaling a highly dynamic market environment.
Major Decision Points: Approaching decision points that involve substantial risk or uncertainty necessitates thorough evaluation and planning.
Reactive History: A pattern of reactive responses to industry changes, underscoring the necessity for a shift towards proactive strategic planning.
Deliverable
The culmination of the scenario planning process is a set of strategic deliverables that equip the leadership with actionable insights, contingency frameworks, and early-warning mechanisms. These deliverables are designed to facilitate informed decision-making and strategic agility:
Scenario Mapping: A comprehensive set of potential future scenarios, each clearly defined and assessed for its likely impact on the organization. This mapping aids in visualizing the range of possible outcomes and understanding the strategic implications of each.
Contingency Planning Framework: Detailed high-level contingency plans for navigating each potential scenario. These plans are initially outlined at a strategic level, with the intention of further refinement in close collaboration with the company’s management team. The aim is to ensure that strategic, operational, and leadership responses are well-aligned and ready to be activated if certain conditions manifest.
Early Warning Signal Identification: A set of indicators or "early warning signals" tailored to each scenario. Monitoring these signals enables the organization to detect shifts towards a specific future state early on, allowing for timely strategic adjustments and responses.
