Consulting Services

Strategic Business Planning and Management

There is an old saying that “organizations don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan”.  80% of successful organizations have a plan.  80% of failing organizations did not have a plan. Like all statistics, there are other factors involved, but organizations that plan are clearly more likely to get to where they want to go.

The Strategic Management Process is designed to assess the enterprises’ current condition and position in its environment, develop a clear and intentional vision for its future direction, and then implement a practical and effective strategy and plan of action for how to live out that vision for the future success and sustainability of the organization.

The Strategic Management Plan serves as a comprehensive master plan stating how the organization will achieve its mission and objectives. It is a “Game Plan” of how the enterprise will position and differentiate itself within the community, based on an assessment of its strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats it perceives in the environment in which it has chosen to operate. It is designed to guide the organization toward its vision while at the same time having the flexibility to navigate obstacles, responding rapidly to the ever-changing environment

It is critical that the final plan not be carved in stone.  It is a working plan designed to guide the organization toward its vision while at the same time having the flexibility to navigate obstacles.  In the entrepreneurial environment, the organization must learn to function more like a white water raft on the Colorado River than a freighter on the Great Lakes.  It is essential that the organization be able to respond rapidly to the ever-changing environment.

Gadd Business Consultants services include, but are not limited to, the following core Strategic Management services: 

• Visioning and Strategic Business Planning
• Business Growth Planning
• Business Plan Development
• Efficiency Studies
• Business Feasibility
• New Venture Creation
• Business Expansion
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Exit / Harvest Strategies
• Corporate Turnarounds
• General Business Audits
• Corporate Mission, Values & Policies
• Business Ethics and Conduct
• TQM, Accreditation & Continuous Improvement

Financial Analysis / Forecasting / Financial Management

Financial management involves the development of a sound financial plan that considers a balance between risk and reward, financial margins, and organizational mission.

Whether a for-profit or nonprofit entity, it is critical to recognize the importance of financial sustainability. It is essential to know your current financial position and be able to forecast your future capital needs and cash flow.  It is important to have both a clear understanding of your various revenue streams and what it specifically costs to provide each product or service your entity offers while supporting the culture and mission of the organization.

Our team works with the organization to develop and implement strategies that improve cash flow and increase the overall value of the organization.  When appropriate, we facilitate the acquisition of funds and the efficient allocation of those funds within your firm. We create financial tracking and reporting systems and controls that allow the generation of timely and accurate financial information and the ability to effectively and practically assess the financial condition of the entity and implement timely strategies and action plans to assure the future success and sustainability of the business and organization.

Gadd Business Consultants services include, but are not limited to, the following core Financial Analysis, Forecasting and Management services:

• Financial Analysis & Planning
• Financial Systems & Controls
• Budgeting & Projections
• Cash Flow and Profit Analysis & Management
• Job Costing Systems & Controls
• Expense Reduction & Overhead Analysis
• Business Valuations
• Deal Structuring & Negotiation
• Capital Funding and Capital Campaigns
• Inventory Systems and Controls
• Estimating & Pricing Systems

Marketing and Outreach

As simple as it seems, the ability to clearly and specifically answer these few simple questions can have a profound impact on not only the success but the survival of the organization.

• What business are you in?
• Can you describe your ideal customer/client?
• Why should I use/buy your services?
• Exactly what makes you different from everybody else?

Marketing is a key part of the organization and includes so much more than just promoting the organization.  In today’s dynamic environment, it is essential that businesses and organizations be in tune with the ever-changing external forces surrounding and challenging them.  These changing environments include: shifting demographics, significant economic shifts, increasing competitive pressures and rapidly advancing technology (just to name a few).  The strategic marketing process starts by defining your organizations purpose and the unmet need it fills.  This will help you focus on a clear direction from which the marketing process will evolve.

The organizations marketing efforts must address these four key objectives:

• Determine customer needs and wants through market research
• Pinpoint specific target markets
• Identify your unique competitive advantages
• Develop a Marketing Mix (product place, price, and promotion) to satisfy customer needs and wants

Whether for-profit, non-profit, or your customer is another business or the end consumer, it is essential that you are constantly monitoring and responsive to the dynamic forces of the market, evolving needs and preferences of your current and potential customers, as well as being sensitive to impending competitive threats.

Gadd Business Consultants services include, but are not limited to, the following core Marketing and Outreach services:

• Needs Assessments
• Marketing and Outreach Plans
• Marketing Systems & Controls
• Market Research
• Product and Service  Review & Analysis
• Customer and Target Market Evaluation
• Competitive Appraisal
• Sales & Market Analysis
• Advertizing and Promotion

Organizational and Management

When determining the organizational structure of the entity, it is important that the structure supports the culture, mission, objectives and targets of the company. The organizational structure and corresponding management strategies must perpetuate the organization by providing a format for the building of a skilled team with essential talent.

Ideally the entity should seek to create a learning organization where team members can grow and succeed while supporting the success of the organization.  It is also critical that the organization creates the necessary systems and controls to support such an environment.

A comprehensive and constructive examination of the organizational component of your company includes analyzing your: current and future organizational structure, human resource requirements, personnel, policies and procedures, and methods of operations.

Necessary management strategies include everything from identifying and establishing a corporate culture to developing the necessary processes to recruit, select, train, motivate, evaluate and compensate essential team members for the future growth and sustainability of the organization.

Gadd Business Consultants services include, but are not limited to, the following core Organizational and Management services:

• Organizational Analysis & Structure
• Change Leadership
• Team Building
• Conflict Resolution
• Effective Hiring and Compensation Strategies
• Performance Evaluation
• Employee Policies & Procedures
• Management Audits
• Board Development
• Management Development

Business Development

“Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships.”- the Grand Unified Theory of business development

Business development is concerned with the analytical preparation of potential growth opportunities for the organization as well as the subsequent support and monitoring of its implementation. Both in the development phase and the implementation phase, businesses develop collaborates and integrates for the organization’s functions. For example, marketing, production, and finance assure that the organization is capable of implementing the growth opportunity successfully.

The business development process is designed to support the particular businesses or organization’s business model to the business’ presence by increasing the flow of potential clients or additional business opportunities.

Business development often refers to setting up and managing strategic relationships and alliances with other, third-party entities to expand their capacities for identifying, researching, analyzing and bringing to market new businesses and new products. Business-development focuses on implementation of the strategic business plan through equity financing, acquisition/divestiture of technologies, products, and companies, plus the establishment of strategic partnerships where appropriate

Executive Coaching

It is difficult, if not impossible, to separate the entrepreneur from the enterprise. The reality is that, most likely, the entity will take on the values, culture and expectations of the entrepreneur.  The role of the executive coach is to assist the individual in being the very best person that they can be personally and professionally.

Executive coaches facilitate the process of helping individuals define and work toward accomplishing their goals and to reach their full potential. It is important to understand that it is not the role of the coach to establish the goals but to work with the entrepreneur, executive director for key persons in establishing those goals.  We work with the client by assisting them to develop and articulate not only the goals for the business and organization but, more importantly, their own personal goals and how the business venture serves as a tool to accomplish those personal goals, rather than the other way around.

The role of coach is technically different than that of consultant or therapist. However the role is often one that is a blend of consultant, mentor and therapist.  We take a holistic approach when working with our clients, taking into consideration their economic, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. We work with them to find balance in all areas of their life.

Our role as executive coach is to help the individual assess where they are currently in life’s journey and to assist them in discovering where they want to go from there. We support their learning; we help them assess what has worked or not worked in the past for them and what the possible alternatives are.

Gadd Business Consultants services include, but are not limited to, the following executive coaching services:

• We work with the individual to explore, experiment and learn new ways of working, thinking, and doing both personally and professionally.
• We serve as a catalyst to assist them in reaching their goals.
• We provide emotional support, empathy and encouragement.
• We help them reach deeper learning affirming what they know and helping them discover what they do not.
• We serve as a sounding board and as a mirror to bounce ideas off of and to help provide clarity on their ideas and values.
• Our role is to provide honest feedback sharing with the individual what they need to hear rather than just what they want to hear. Oftentimes, we provide feedback to them that others will not.

We work with individuals that have the desire to grow and improve and are willing to work with and trust someone to support them in that process.