What is Successful by Design?
Successful by Design is all about building successful and valuable businesses through a thoughtful blend of analysis, planning, implementation, and monitoring. It’s not just about numbers and charts—it’s about engaging key stakeholders every step of the way. The mission? To create businesses that are not only profitable but also sustainable and disruptive in physical, service, and digital environments. The goal is clear: maximise shareholder returns over the long haul.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
Here’s what makes Successful by Design stand out:
- Years of management experience across diverse industries like software, manufacturing, and services.
- Expertise in both startups and established companies, especially those rich in intellectual property.
- A structured approach that includes setup, analysis, definition, implementation, and monitoring.
- Focus on avoiding ‘group think’ by bringing in external, real-world business experience.
- Emphasis on SMART objectives—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.
- Insight into the top twelve reasons companies fail, helping businesses steer clear of common pitfalls.
How the Process Works
The journey begins with setting up a strategic planning team and establishing guiding principles. From there, the plan’s structure and key inputs are defined, followed by a project plan to keep everything on track. Next comes the analysis phase—market trends, competitor moves, customer feedback, company data, and even employee and executive insights are all gathered. This comprehensive review leads to a SWAT summary that highlights the key insights.
Defining and Implementing Strategy
Once the groundwork is laid, the focus shifts to defining mission, vision, and values. Key objectives are set, and a strategic map is created to visualize the path forward. Performance indicators and potential initiatives are identified, with business cases and financial models backing them up. Prioritisation ensures the most impactful initiatives get the green light, followed by detailed plans and a roadmap. Implementation is tracked with dashboards, lessons learned are captured, and plans are updated based on outcomes. It’s a dynamic, ongoing process.
Why Early Engagement Matters
Successful by Design prefers to jump in early—working with businesses at the start of their journey to set the right course. But it’s not just for startups; established companies can benefit too. Bringing in an external expert helps shake things up, avoiding the trap of ‘group think’ where harmony can sometimes lead to poor decisions. This fresh perspective encourages smarter, more rational choices that drive growth and sustainability.
Project Impact: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – fostering profitable and sustainable businesses.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – promoting disruptive and innovative business models.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – encouraging sustainable practices in business operations.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – engaging stakeholders and fostering collaboration.
Meet the Driving Force Behind Successful by Design
At the heart of Successful by Design is a seasoned professional with deep experience on Boards of Directors across various sectors. With a background as a Chartered Accountant and roles ranging from CFO to Business Development Director, this leadership brings a wealth of real-world knowledge. The approach is hands-on, advising on mergers, acquisitions, organisational development, and profitable growth. This blend of expertise and practical insight is what fuels the mission to design businesses that truly succeed.
