Business Problem-Solving and Strategy E-Book

Takayuki Kito

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Serie: Manga for Success
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 168

Beschreibung

A FUN AND APPROACHABLE WAY TO LEARN IMPORTANT BUSINESS PRINCIPLES Do you want to improve your business performance? Or are you looking for a basic understanding of business strategy? Whatever your reason for picking up this book, Business Problem-Solving and Strategy: Manga For Success makes business strategy concepts easy to understand using practical examples and situations. You'll read about: * Important business analysis tools like SWOT analysis and issue analysis * Strategic option assessment * Developing and executing a strategy for any business situation The story follows Kazumi who takes over operations at her father's confectionery company. With the help of her mentor, Business Planning Manager Takeda, she formulates a viable plan for turning the business around, building trust among key stakeholders, and successfully convincing the CEO to implement the plan companywide. With this approachable book, you'll quickly grasp business analysis topics and have fun learning how to apply them in the real world. Find out why the Manga For Success series--now available in English for the first time--is so popular in Japan, Korea, and beyond.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

PROLOGUE: What is a Business Strategy?

STORY 1: Help Me, Senpai!

1 WHAT IS A “STRATEGY”?

Strategies Are Everywhere

Strategy Is a Road Map to Success

Resource Allocation: Decide Where to Focus Your Organizational Resources

“Strategy” Is Nothing without Execution

The Correct Way to Create a Strategy

Business Strategy Is a Blueprint for Your Business Success

2 The Many Pitfalls of a Business Strategy

Building Strategy the Right Way Is Tough

Framework and Concepts: Make or Break the Strategy

Can Looking at the Task at Hand from the Opposite Angle Constitute a “Strategy”?

A Strategy Cannot Ignore the Front Line

A Fake Strategy in Purple Prose

Failing to Grasp the Current Situation May Lead to Mistakes

The Risk of Homogenized Strategies

Note

3 Preparations to Build the Correct Strategy

Take the Right Steps to Analyze

Use Frameworks and Concepts Wisely

Have a Unique Point of View, Think Outside of the Box

Support the Front Line

Emphasis on Essence and Mechanism

Bring in a Key Person

Note

4 Create a Dynamic Strategy!

Four Steps in Building a Strategy

Step 1 ‐ Analyze the Situation

Step 2 ‐ Formulate Strategic Options

Step 3 ‐ Review and Select Options

Step 4 ‐ Translate Strategic Options into Plans of Action

STEP 1: Analyze the Situation

STORY 2: Knowing Your Enemy Is Knowing Yourself

1 The Essentials of Situation Analysis

Analyzing the Situation Is The First Step in Building a Strategy

Only a Handful of Corporations Truly Understand the Current Situation

Methodology and Frameworks: A False Sense of Completing the Situation Analysis

Three Keys in Understanding the True Situation

The Basics of Situation Analysis: SWOT Analysis

2 OT Analysis

OT Analysis: Three Core Elements

The Five Forces Analysis

Analyzing the Five Points

Positioning Analysis and Competition Analysis

Client Analysis

Key Success Factor (KSF) Analysis

3 SW Analysis

Deciding Pros and Cons Based on Relativity

Achievements and Performance Analysis

Positioning Analysis

Business Model Analysis

Marketing, Value Chain, and Organizational Analysis

Tangible and Intangible Asset Analysis

Understanding the Structures of the Issue at Hand

4 Organizing SWOT

Keeping the Impact on Your Business in Mind

STEP 2: Forming Strategic Options

STORY 3: How to Save a Company in Trouble?

1 What Are Strategic Options?

Options Mean Choices

Considering a Variety of Options

2 Make Objectives and Issues Clear

What Is the Objective of Strategy Building?

What Are the Issues in Building a Strategy?

Decipher Objectives and Issues from the Result of the SWOT Analysis

Organizing the Structure of an Issue

3 Lay Out the Options 1: Growing Potentials for the Preestablished Company

Aim to Grow Preestablished Business Models and Positioning

Consider Strategic Options for the Long Run

Changing the Positioning

Coming Up with Growth Options by Changing the Positioning

Changing the Business Model

Pairing the Positioning and the Business Model

Coming Up with Growth Options by Changing the Business Options

4 Lay Out the Strategic Options 2: Options for the Newly Established Businesses

Analyze from the Market Point of View

Analyze from the Value Chain Point of View

Analyze from the Asset Point of View

Analyze from the Business Model Point of View

Change the Rules of Competition, Think Outside of the Box

5 Lay Out the Strategic Options 3: Improve Profit

Options to Lower Cost and Improve Gross Profit Margin

Options to Lower Managing Cost

Options to Improve Efficiency

Improve Ways to Manage and Improve Profit Structures

6 Summarizing Strategic Options

Organizing All Available Options

Coming Up with Growth Options and Scenarios by Organizing Strategic Options

STEP 3: Review and Select Options

STORY 4: All for One, One for All

1 Reviewing Options

How to Review Options

Three Perspectives in Reviewing Options

Reviewing with Both a Cool Head and a Burning Passion

2 Reviewing and Selecting Options 1: Rationality

The Main Points in Reviewing Rationally

How to Review Each Point

3 Reviewing and Selecting Options 2: Feasibility

The Main Points in Reviewing the Feasibility

How to Review Each Point

4 Reviewing and Selecting Options 3: The Intents and Expectations of the Parties Involved

Fostering Agreement and Understanding with “Face‐to‐face Discussions”

The Groundwork for Discussions: Situation Analysis and Strategic Options

Which Reviewed Points to Prioritize

How to Understand and Decide on the Results

How to Expand Options

Making Decisions Based on What You Want to Do

Always Have a Plan B Ready

STEP 4: How to Translate Options into Plans and Actions

STORY 5: What Becomes of a Strategy

1 How to Translate Strategic Options into a Plan

The Necessary Process in Executing the Strategy

2 How to Apply Strategy to Execution

How to Apply Strategy to Execution

Setting Priorities

3 How to Carry Out Strategic Options

Beyond the Possibility: Feeling and Determining

The First Step in Strategic Execution

4 Create a Plan of Action

The Master Plan: The Plan of Action for Strategic Execution

Coming Up with a Realistically Applicable Plan

5 How to Execute with Certainty

Establish a Driving Force

Implement a Thorough PDCA

Postscript

Author and Editor

Author

About Roland Berger

End User License Agreement

List of Illustrations

1 WHAT IS A “STRATEGY”?

Diagram 1-1 What Is a Strategy?

Diagram 1-2 Resource Allocation

Diagram 1-3 Resource Allocation

Diagram 1-4 What Is a Business Strategy?

2 The Many Pitfalls of a Business Strategy

Diagram 1-5 Strategic Pitfalls and Traps

3 Preparations to Build the Correct Strategy

Diagram 1-6 Points in Creating a Functional Strategy

4 Create a Dynamic Strategy!

Diagram 1-7 Four Steps in Building a Strategy

1 The Essentials of Situation Analysis

Diagram 2-1 Example of Incorrect Situation Analysis

Diagram 2-2 Example of Company Analysis

Diagram 2-3 Goal of Situation Analysis and SWOT Analysis

2 OT Analysis

Diagram 2-4 Three Core Elements of OT Analysis

Diagram 2-5 The Five Forces and Their Analytical Points

Diagram 2-6 Example of Strategy Patterns Used by Grocery Chains

Diagram 2-7 Viewpoint for Client Analysis

Diagram 2-8 Putting Consumers and the Market in a Whole Perspective

Diagram 2-9 Three Elements of SW Analysis

3 SW Analysis

Diagram 2-10 How to Identify KSF

Diagram 2-11 Examples of Benchmarks Often Used in Achievements and Performan...

Diagram 2-12 Example of Matsui‐ya's Performance Analysis

Diagram 2-13 Example of Matsui‐ya's Marketing 4P Analysis (weakness)

Diagram 2-14 Example of Matsui‐ya's Asset Analysis

4 Organizing SWOT

Diagram 2-15 Unit used in inventory management. M...

2 Make Objectives and Issues Clear

Diagram 3-1 Objective of a Strategy Building

Diagram 3-2 Setting Viewpoints

Diagram 3-3 Defining the Purpose

Diagram 3-4 Five Basic Points in Understanding the Issues Based on the SWOT ...

Diagram 3-5 Five Basic Points in Understanding the Issues Based on the SWOT ...

Diagram 3-6 Issue No. ➀ (Matsui‐ya's case)

Diagram 3-7 Issue No. ➁ (Matsui‐ya's case)

Diagram 3-8 Issue No. ➂ (Matsui‐yaʼs case)

3 Lay Out the Options 1: Growing Potentials for the Preestablished Company

Diagram 3-9 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➀

Diagram 3-10 Example of Growth Option Evaluation by Dissecting the Sales

Diagram 3-11 Example of Positioning Change

Diagram 3-12 Example of Positioning Change

Diagram 3-13 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➁

4 Lay Out the Strategic Options 2: Options for the Newly Established Businesses

Diagram 3-14 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➂ ‐ 1

Diagram 3-15 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➂ ‐ 2

Diagram 3-16 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➃

Diagram 3-17 From the Company Assets' Point of View

Diagram 3-18 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➄

Diagram 3-19 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➅

Diagram 3-20 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➆

5 Lay Out the Strategic Options 3: Improve Profit

Diagram 3-21 Matsui‐ya's Strategic Options ➇

6 Summarizing Strategic Options

Diagram 3-22 Matsui‐ya's Growth Scenario Option

1 Reviewing Options

Diagram 4-1 Perspectives to Review Options

2 Reviewing and Selecting Options 1: Rationality

Diagram 4-2 Points in Evaluating Rationality

3 Reviewing and Selecting Options 2: Feasibility

Diagram 4-3 Organizational Capability

Diagram 4-4 Difficulty of Strategy Execution

4 Reviewing and Selecting Options 3: The Intents and Expectations of the Parties Involved

Diagram 4-5 Fostering Conviction and Agreement through Face‐to‐Face Discussi...

1 How to Translate Strategic Options into a Plan

Diagram 5-1 Steps to Put a Plan of Action Together

2 How to Apply Strategy to Execution

Diagram 5-2 Relationship between Strategy and Measure

3 How to Carry Out Strategic Options

Diagram 5-3 Relationship between Measures and Actions

4 Create a Plan of Action

Diagram 5-4 Master Plan vs Action Plan

Diagram 5-5 Master Plan Image

5 How to Execute with Certainty

Diagram 5-6 Thorough PDCA Implementation

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

PROLOGUE: What is a Business Strategy?

STORY 1: Help Me, Senpai!

1 WHAT IS A “STRATEGY”?

2 The Many Pitfalls of a Business Strategy

3 Preparations to Build the Correct Strategy

4 Create a Dynamic Strategy!

Begin Reading

Postscript

End User License Agreement

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Copyright © 2023 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

Copyright © 2014 Takayuki Kito, Keisuke Yamabe, Enmo Takenawa. All Rights Reserved.

Original Japanese edition published by JMA Management Center Inc.

English translation rights arranged with JMA Management Center Inc. through The English Agency (Japan) Ltd.

This translation © 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., published under license from JMA Management Center Inc.

English translation Copyright © 2022 JMA Management Center Inc.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per‐copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750‐8400, fax (978) 750‐4470, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748‐6011, fax (201) 748‐6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permission.

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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data is Available:

ISBN 9781394176168 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781394176175 (ePub)

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Cover Design: JMA Management Center Inc.

Cover Images: JMA Management Center Inc. © ShEd Artworks/Shutterstock

Preface

What would you do if you were assigned to come up with a business strategy out of the blue? Maybe some of you readers are already racking your brains day and night trying to come up with one.

What is a business strategy, and how do you make an effective one? Regardless of your background, if you have picked up this book, you are probably facing such tasks and challenges.

A business strategy is important as it can greatly influence a company's future. However, it is very difficult to truly understand its core elements and apply them to think up a strategy that has a competitive edge. It's only natural to get baffled by how complex it is. There is no such thing as a single correct answer, and no deus ex machina that can solve all your problems.

For 15 years, we have been assisting various companies as professional business consultants. Even for those of us who specialize in this field and constantly think of our clients’ business strategies, we keep getting stumped and hit numerous walls. Creating a business strategy and executing it to achieve the desired result is certainly not an easy task.

There are many books and articles out there on business strategies providing beneficial hints and suggestions. However, as consultants who have helped many companies with their strategies, we know that being able to deal flexibly with situations on the front line is not an easy feat.

This book is about offering tips on creating a business strategy that is applicable on the front line. If you are looking for brand‐new concepts, frilly terms, or groundbreaking ideas, then we believe this book is not for you. However, if you are a business operator or a team manager, or you are involved in business planning and development and need to come up with a good applicable business strategy, you will find this book very useful. Even if you're not directly involved in strategy building, this book will help you gain a better understanding of how a company executes their strategy and how it might influence your everyday tasks.

Additionally, this book might also provide some insights for those interested in business consulting, as it is a culmination of our on‐site experiences and what we have learned from day‐to‐day operations as business consultants. By reading this book, you will learn the point of view of a business consultant and gain a better understanding of how to support your clients in building business strategies.

The ultimate goal for this book is to provide our readers with tools to create a business strategy that can be executed and yield the desired result. We have written the tips and tricks of the trade as plainly and straightforwardly as possible. Of course, it is not an easy task. Building a business strategy is a complicated task that requires more than just reading a book. However, it is exactly because of that, we decided that we wanted this book to be more practical so that it can help readers in creating a realistically applicable business strategy.

As we mentioned before, there are a lot of books on business strategy out there. We simply feel that most of them do not offer anything that is directly applicable. With that in mind, we have written a book that can offer you practical ideas applicable on the front line right away. Regardless of whether you decide that this book meets its goal or not, we hope to be able to contribute even just a little bit to the development of your business.

Roland Berger LLC

Partner Takayuki Kito

Partner Keisuke Yamabe

PROLOGUEWhat is a Business Strategy?

STORY 1Help Me, Senpai!