Strategy Pong MC 10.19.17 Final

You're the Corporate VP of Strategy and your market is changing fast. Your CEO just suggested it's time to update your strategies. That's on top of 26 other initiatives you're leading... Never mind that trip to China next week. Who's gonna help you do it? [[Next.]]

Do you have the budget for a Big Three consulting firm? [[I think so.]] [[No way.]]

Is your CEO already working with one of those firms on a different project? [[Yes.]] [[Not right now.]]

Is there anyone else who could help? [[Hmm. GMs need to run their own Business Unit strategies, right?]] [[Let me see if someone in my LinkedIn network is between opportunities.]] [[Put me out of my misery. I need a solution NOW.|What's our other option?]]

That won't look good, will it? [[Probably not.|No way.]] [[What's our other option?]]

Great. Now all you have to do is fight with purchasing to get them qualified as a new vendor. [[Dealing with purchasing may actually be worse that doing it myself. What's our other option?|What's our other option?]]

Good point. [[Let's go tell the GM that it's time to update our strategies.]]

And? [[I think I found someone.]] [[Put me out of my misery. I need a solution NOW.|What's our other option?]]

Your GM is an overworked person with 17 direct reports. Are you sure he or she will be able to take on the project? [[Let me think.]] [[Probably not.|No way.]]

Is there anyone on the GM's team who can help? [[There's got to be someone with extra time on their hands.]]

Hey, remember that <a href="http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/employment-and-growth/independent-work-choice-necessity-and-the-gig-economy" target="_blank">McKinsey report</a> about independent consultants? [[Ok, but are any of them actually qualified to tackle my strategy work?]]

Sure. There are thousands of independent consultants with classical training from the big firms AND on-the-ground operating experience. [[Sounds promising. But how do I find the one that's right for my project?]]

Do you really want to spend 7 figures on a new strategy? [[Sure, why not?]] [[Well, if you put it that way...]]

Well, you'll certainly get an exhaustive analysis. [[Play again.|Let's play.]]

Let's see if you really need the big firm. Does the brand name matter? [[Yes. Isn't the best advice expensive?]] [[No. The quality of the work is the only thing that matters.]] [[Put me out of my misery. I need a solution NOW.|What's our other option?]]

Not always. But if expensive advice is the only kind your company listens to, it's probably best to go with a big firm. [[Play again.|Let's play.]]

Will the project require lockstep coordination across five or more geographies? [[Yes. Sounds fun, right?]] [[No, we did that last year. This one's smaller.]]

A big consulting firm should be able to put that team together. Good luck! [[Play again.|Let's play.]]

If that's the case, a big consulting firm might be overkill. [[Put me out of my misery. I need a solution NOW.|What's our other option?]]

[[Hah, hah. Good one.]] [[What about that promising young manager with no direct experience?]]

No-one in a large corporation has extra time. [[Put me out of my misery. I need a solution NOW.|What's our other option?]]

Good luck with that. Bookmark this game and come back in six months, ok? [[Nothing worse than failing the first time. Let's reconsider the "no experience" piece.|No way.]]

Start by checking to see if you already have an MSA in place with a firm like <a href="http://info.businesstalentgroup.com/strategy_consultants.html?utm_medium=content%20syndication&utm_source=strategy%20pong&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=2017-8-25%20Strategy%20Pong&ls=content%20syndication&lsd=strategy%20pong" target="_blank">Business Talent Group</a>. [[Looks like it's my lucky day.]] [[I have no idea what you're talking about.]]

Sure does. Now <a href="http://info.businesstalentgroup.com/strategy_consultants.html?utm_medium=content%20syndication&utm_source=strategy%20pong&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=2017-8-25%20Strategy%20Pong&ls=content%20syndication&lsd=strategy%20pong" target="_blank">get in touch</a> and sit back; they should be able to deliver a list of top candidates within a few days. <a href="http://info.businesstalentgroup.com/strategy_consultants.html?utm_medium=content%20syndication&utm_source=strategy%20pong&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=2017-8-25%20Strategy%20Pong&ls=content%20syndication&lsd=strategy%20pong" target="_blank" class="enchantment-link">Done and done.</a> [[I have no idea what you're talking about.]]

Better get in touch with <a href="http://info.businesstalentgroup.com/strategy_consultants.html?utm_medium=content%20syndication&utm_source=strategy%20pong&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=2017-8-25%20Strategy%20Pong&ls=content%20syndication&lsd=strategy%20pong" target="_blank">a firm like BTG</a> that can help you scope, source, and vet the best options... and have you up and running within a few days. <a href="http://info.businesstalentgroup.com/strategy_consultants.html?utm_medium=content%20syndication&utm_source=strategy%20pong&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=2017-8-25%20Strategy%20Pong&ls=content%20syndication&lsd=strategy%20pong" target="_blank" class="enchantment-link">Done and done.</a>

<h1 style="font-family: 'VT323', monospace;">Strategy Pong</h1> Does updating your strategies feel like an endless round of back-and-forth? [[Let's play.]]

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