Strategic Planning For Dummies

Author: Erica Olsen
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118050568
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 389

Book Description
If you’re starting a new business or planning your business’s future, there are plenty of things you should take into account. Strategic Planning For Dummies covers everything you need to know to develop a plan for building and maintaining a competitive advantage — no matter what business you’re in. Written by Erica Olsen, founder and President of a business development firm that helps entrepreneurial-minded businesses plan for a successful future, this handy guide covers all the basics, including: How a strategic plan is different than a business plan Establishing a step-based planning process Planning for and encouraging growth Taking a long-view of your organization Evaluating past performance Defining and refining your mission, values, and vision Sizing up your current situation Examining your industry landscape Setting your strategic priorities Planning for unknown contingencies If you’re in business, you have to plan for everything — especially if you intend your business to grow. Whether you’re planning for a small business, large conglomerate, nonprofit, or even a government agency, this book has the planning specifics you need for your organization. Step-by-step, you’ll learn how to lay the foundations for a plan, understand how your plan will affect your business, form planning teams, discover what your strengths are, see where you are, and, finally, plan where you’re going. And there’s much more: Learn to analyze business trends that will determine your business’s future Set measurable, realistic goals that you can plan for and achieve Make strategic planning a habitual part of the organization Prioritize multiple strategies that you can implement simultaneously Set a defining vision for the organization that guides all your planning and strategy This friendly, simple guide puts the power of strategic planning in the palm of your hand. For small businesses that can’t afford to hire strategic planning consultants, it’s even more imperative. Careful, constant planning is the only way to handle an uncertain business future. With this book, you’ll have all the step-by-step guidance you need to ensure you’re ready for anything that comes.

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies

Author: Erica Olsen
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118077776
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 387

Book Description
Think and act strategically every time In today's business environment, strategic planning stresses the importance of making decisions that will ensure an organization's ability to successfully respond to changes in the environment and plan for sustainable viability. Providing practical, field-tested techniques and a complete 6-phase plan, Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies shows you how to make strategy a habit for all organizations, no matter the size, type, or resource constraints. Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies is for companies of all types and sizes looking to build and sustain a competitive edge, set up an ongoing process for market assessment and trend analysis, and develop a vision for future growth. This revised edition includes: new and updated content on planning for both the short and the long-term; crucial information on succession planning; help preparing for the unexpected using scenario planning and agile strategy; strategies for implementing change and integrating strategic plans successfully by involving all staff members; and more. The supplementary CD lays out a comprehensive, 6-phase, step-by-step program, complete with downloadable spreadsheets, charts, checklists, video links, and more Provides value for any business or entrepreneur looking to improve efficiency, focus, and competitive edge Includes practical, field-tested techniques Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies gives today's business owners and upper-level management the tools and information they need to think and act strategically in order to more effectively weather current economic storms while planning for future growth.

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies

Author: Erica Olsen
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1394157975
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 391

Book Description
Create a roadmap for your company’s future success—the For Dummies way Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies not only teaches you how to build a solid business strategy, but it gives you the tools to do it. Checklists, worksheets, and real-life examples guide you through answering your most pressing questions. Plus, all-new online resources make creating a lasting strategy easier than ever. Build a company vision statement, assess your strategic position, engage your team, and execute your plan—with easy-to-understand instructions and explanations that anyone can follow. This revised edition shows you how to adapt your strategy, plan for the unknown, and stay resilient through all the changes facing today’s businesses. Advice from For Dummies experts will make any business leader’s strategic dreams a reality. Learn the basics of how to create a long-term business strategy Create your mission and vision statements and a strategic framework Get organized, engage your team, and deploy your strategy through objectives and key results Access resources, worksheets, checklists and more—in the book and online This is the For Dummies guide for business owners and C-suite executives who are building or rethinking their company’s strategy and planning a path for growth. It’s a big job, but you don’t have to do it alone. Dummies has your back.

Nonprofit Kit For Dummies®

Author: Stan Hutton
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470595736
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 346

Book Description
Tips and techniques to help your nonprofit thrive in any economy Due to the recent downturn in the economy, a significant number of nonprofit organizations have experienced a major decrease in funding and contributions. Nonprofit Kit for Dummies, 3rd Edition caters to these organizations and shows you how your nonprofit can thrive and survive even in the current economic climate. With 25% new and revised material, Nonprofit Kit For Dummies, 3rd Edition offers new tips and information on everything you need to navigate the process of setting up and effectively running a nonprofit organization. Covers raising money, applying for grants, and developing the perfect mission statement Details on how state laws vary; conducting program evaluations; and conforming to accounting standards CD includes forms, worksheets, templates, and more Whether you're thinking about starting your own nonprofit or are already working in the sector, Nonprofit Kit For Dummies, 3rd Edition is a valuable source for getting the latest information and practical advice on running a prosperous nonprofit organization.

Complete MBA For Dummies

Author: Kathleen Allen
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470194294
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 441

Book Description
Your guide to understanding the basics of an MBA Want to get an MBA? The Complete MBA For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is the practical, plain-English guide that covers all the basics of a top-notch MBA program, helping you to navigate today’s most innovative business strategies. From management to entrepreneurship to strategic planning, you’ll understand the hottest trends and get the latest techniques for motivating employees, building global partnerships, managing risk, and manufacturing. This fun, easy-to-access guide is full of useful information, tips, and checklists that will help you lead, manage, or participate in any business at a high level of competence. You’ll find out how to use databases to your advantage, recognize and reward your employees, analyze financial statements, and understand the challenges of strategic planning in a global business environment. You’ll also learn the basic principals of accounting, get a grip on the concepts behind stocks and bonds, and find out how technology has revolutionized everything from manufacturing to marketing. Discover how to: Know and respond to your customers’ needs Handle budgets and forecasts Recruit and retain top people Establish and run employee teams Use Sarbanes-Oxley to your company’s advantage Negotiate with the best of them Build long-term relationships with clients Avoid common managerial mistakes Improve cash flow Market your products and services Make the most of your advertising dollar Once you know what an MBA knows, the sky’s the limit. Read The Complete MBA For Dummies, 2nd Edition, and watch your career take off!

Creating a Business Plan For Dummies

Author: Veechi Curtis
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118641221
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 391

Book Description
Everything you need to know to design a profitable business plan Whether you're starting a new business or you’ve been trading for a while, Creating a Business Plan For Dummies covers everything you need to know. Figure out whether your business idea is likely to work, how to identify your strategic advantage, and what you can do to gain an edge on the competition. Discover why a business plan doesn't have to be a thrity-page document that takes days to write, but can be a simple process that you do in stages as you work through your business concept. Learn how to prepare an elevator pitch, create a start-up budget, and create realistic sales projections. Discover how to predict and manage expenses, and assemble a financial forecast that enables you to calculate your break-even. Look at the risk involved in this business and experiment with different scenarios to see if you’re on the right track. Explains how to create a one-page business plan in just a few hours Takes a simple step-by-step approach, focusing on budgets, financials, and everyday practicalities Offers focused guidance on managing cashflow, designing marketing plans, and establishing a long-term vision for your business Includes access to downloadable templates and worksheets, as well as helpful online audio and video components Written by Veechi Curtis, bestselling author and business consultant A good business plan is the first step to success for any new business, and getting it right can mean the difference between big profits and big trouble. Creating a Business Plan For Dummies gives you the detailed advice you need to design a great business plan that will guide your business from concept to reality.

Launching & Building a Brand For Dummies

Author: Amy Will
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119748038
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 391

Book Description
Create a strong brand DNA—and watch it grow These days, customers want to have a deeply felt connection to the brands behind the products they're purchasing, which means that if you're starting a business, a strong brand DNA has got to be part of your creative process from day one. And it needs to be more than just an abstract idea: to give your brand life—and a bigger chance of surviving against the competition—you need to have a standout launch strategy and a set plan for growing your brand in a noisy marketplace. In Launching & Building a Brand For Dummies, Amy Will—who launched her first business at just 24-years-old and has been the brains behind four strong and buzzworthy brands—covers everything from crafting a powerful brand identity and planning that all-important launch to being prepared to scale up as you begin to take off. She reveals crucial lessons from her personal experience in launching five companies, as well as detailing case studies from some of the strongest brands out there, accompanied by insights and advice from successful founders and branding experts. Stand out on social media Create viral campaigns Build on Customer Loyalty and LongevityDeal with the competition Whether you're thinking of starting a business or are already building up your market share, memorable brand identity will be the key to—and Launching & Building a Brand For Dummies one of the secrets of—your future standout success.

Business Plans for Dummies

Author: Paul Tiffany
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780764570261
Category : Business
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Business Plans For Dummies can guide your business in the right direction no matter who you are or how your job description reads, whether you're part of a large corporation or a one-person show. If you've struggled through the planning process before -- or if you're brand new to plotting out goals and objectives -- this down-to-earth guide steps you through every milestone in business planning.

Business Plans Kit For Dummies

Author: Steven D. Peterson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119997496
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 386

Book Description
Whether you’re a business beginner with big ideas or an established company looking to review you plans in a changing business environment this practical, user friendly guide gives you everything you need to get started. Complete with an interactive CD packed with planning templates including; planning documents, forms, financial worksheets, checklists, operation surveys and customer profiles in both Word and PDF formats you’ll be armed with all you need to kick start the planning process and create a winning business plan that suits you and your long-term business vision. Business Plans Kit For Dummies includes UK specific information on: UK business practice Currency UK business and financial institutions and advisory services UK taxation and VAT Partnerships and Limited company information UK legal practice, contractual considerations and insurance matters UK specific forms UK specific case studies New content covering online business opportunities and resources, alternative ways in to business including franchising, network marketing and buy outs, research methods and choosing suppliers and outsourcing will all be added to the UK edition. Table of Contents: Part I: Laying the Foundation for Your Plan Chapter 1: Starting Your Planning Engine Chapter 2: Generating a Great Business Idea Chapter 3: Defining Your Business Purpose Part II: Developing Your Plan’s Components Chapter 4: Understanding Your Business Environment Chapter 5: Charting Your Strategic Direction Chapter 6: Describing Your Business and Its Capabilities Chapter 7: Crafting Your Marketing Plan Chapter 8: Deciphering and Presenting Part III: Tailoring a Business Plan to Fit Your Needs Chapter 9: Planning for a One-Person Business Chapter 10: Planning for a Small Business Chapter 11: Planning for an Established Business Chapter 12: Planning for a Not for profit Nonprofit Organization Chapter 13: Planning for an E-Business Part IV: Making the Most of Your Plan Chapter 14: Putting Your Plan Together Chapter 15: Putting Your Plan to Work Part V: The Part of Tens Chapter 16: Ten Signs That Your Plan Might Need an Overhaul Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Evaluate a New Business Idea Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Fund Your Business Plan Chapter 19: Ten Sources of Vital Information to underpin your Business Plan Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Use Your Business Plan Note: CD files are available to download when buying the eBook version

Business Plans Kit For Dummies

Author: Steven D. Peterson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118054636
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Book Description
When you’re establishing, expanding, or re-energizing a business, the best place to start is writing your business plan. Not only does writing out your idea force you to think more clearly about what you want to do, it will also give the people you work with a defined road map as well. Business Plan Kit For Dummies, Second Edition is the perfect guide to lead you through the ins and outs of constructing a great business plan. This one-stop resource offers a painless, fun-and-easy way to create a winning plan that will help you lead your business to success. This updated guide has all the tools you’ll need to: Generate a great business idea Understand what your business will be up against Map out your strategic direction Craft a stellar marketing plan Tailor your plan to fit your business’s needs Put your plan and hard work into action Start an one-person business, small business, or nonprofit Create a plan for an already established business Cash in on the Internet with planning an e-business Featured in this hands-on guide is valuable advice for evaluating a new business idea, funding your business plan, and ways to determine if your plan may need to be reworked. You also get a bonus CD that includes income and overhead worksheets, operation surveys, customer profiles, business plan components, and more. Don’t delay your business’s prosperity. Business Plan Kit For Dummies, Second Edition will allow you to create a blueprint for success! Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.