Managing Growth
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Transcript of Managing Growth
MANAGING GROWTH“Twas the best of times and the worst of times”
STAGES OF GROWTH R & D – pre-start up Start-up – 0 to 3 years Growth – 4 to 10 years Maturity – 10 to 15 years Stability/decline/harvest – 15+ yearsA Theoretical View
THE CHALLENGE OF GROWTH Scope, volume of operating activity
increasing; new customers, markets, products, competitors, technologies
Range, complexity of tasks increasing Number, variety of people increasing Everything changing at once Time is SCARCER and SCARCER By doing everything right, the
entrepreneur creates opportunities for new companies to take away markets
MANAGING CONTRADICTIONS:
Bureaucratization vs Decentralization – increased hiring needs formalized procedures BUT increased diversity of product needs greater decentralization
Environment vs Strategy – environment of turbulence vs need for clear strategies to compete
Quality vs Cost vs Innovation
IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT: Rapid growth = indicator of
management success; reinforces current behaviour
At each transition stage, potential for crises
Managing rapid growth usually means management moves from entrepreneur to administrator
BUT need to remain flexible
BUILDING THE ADAPTIVE FIRM Share the vision Increase perception of opportunity –
keep the focus on the customer Institutionalize change as the
venture’s goal Instill the desire to be innovative:
Reward system Allow for failure Flexible operations
BUILDING GROWTH COMPANIES: Grow from the core – build core
competencies BUT Move beyond the core – keep an eye on
peripheries Growth choices:
1. Take existing markets with sustaining innovations OR
2. Take on a competitor with disruptive innovations Disruptive innovations establish a new
performance trajectory
BUILDING GROWTH COMPANIES: Disruptive businesses create new markets
or take low end of established markets Disruptive opportunities require separate,
parallel business planning Don’t try to change customers – help
them! Let tasks people are trying to get done inform design of products/services
Be patient for growth but not for profitability – disruptive businesses can’t get very big very fast!
MARKETING PRACTICES OF FAST GROWTH FIRMS Deliver product and services of highest
quality Cultivate new products and services that
stand out in market Deliver products and services that
demand higher pricing Revenue from existing customers = 80%
total revenues High yield sales force
LEADING FINANCIAL PRACTICES OF FAST GROWTH FIRMS Anticipate multiple rounds of
financing – every 2 ½ years Secure funding with room to increase Use financing vehicles that retain
entrepreneur’s control Grant stock ownership to employees,
but maintain control
LEADING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF FAST GROWTH FIRMS Use collaborative decision-making Develop top management team Establish management competence
in finance, marketing, operations Assemble Board of Directors with
internal and external members Involve Board heavily in strategic
policy decisions
RAPID GROWTH CRISES: Too many opportunities Too much money/capital Lack of cash control and collections Short term decision making Expanding facilities and space Industry turbulence - high growth
firms usually in high growth industries
The Importance of Culture and Organisational ClimateCritical dimensions to how the firm will
handle growth Clarity- organised, concise, efficient Standards – expectations, excellence Commitment – goals and objectives Responsibility – accomplishing goals Recognition – reward vs punishment Espirit de corps- cohesion, team spirit
Approaches to ManagementCritical to achieving the entrepreneurial
culture and climate Leadership – expertise, no competition Consensus Building- balancing multiple
views Communication- share information, listen Encouragement – support peers and others Trust – straightforward, honest Development – grow human capital
When the Bloom is off the Rose‘Ultimately it is not how many
touchdowns you score but how fast and often you get up after being tackled’ Jim Hindman (Jiffy Lube)
This captures the essence of the ups and downs that can occur during the growth and development of a new venture
CRISIS MANAGEMENTGetting into trouble- The Causes
External – recession, interest rates, technology, competition, government policy, inflation, competition, product /service obsolescence
External shocks impact all companies in an industry and only some of them fail
Others survive and prosper
CRISIS MANAGEMENT cont’d
Internal -Most causes can be found in company Management
Inattention to strategic issues • Misunderstood market niche• Mismanaged relationships with
suppliers and customers• Diversification into unrelated areas• Mousetrap myopia• Lack of contingency planning
CRISIS MANAGEMENT cont’d
General management problems• Lack of management skills and
expertise• Weak finance function• Turnover in key management
personnel• Focus on accruals rather than cash
CRISIS MANAGEMENT cont’d
Poor Planning, Financial/Accounting Systems, Practices and Controls
• Poor pricing, overextension of credit, excessive debt
• Lack of cash budgets/projections• Poor management reporting• Lack of standard costing• Poorly understood cost behaviour
Predicting trouble Net-Liquid Balance to Total Assets
Ratio =NLB/Total AssetsWhere NLB = (cash+ marketable securities) – (Notes Payable+ Contractual obligations)‘Uncommited cash’
Nonquantitative Signals late financial statements, behavioural
change, change in key advisors and professionals, reduction of credit line, optimism paradox
Other Telltale signs Employees notice trouble developing Employees lose confidence in
management Grapevine takes on credibility Turnover increases Morale is eroding Entrepreneur behaves optimistically
Getting out of troubleThe good news is that many companies , even those that are insolvent or have negative net worth or both – can be rescued and restored to profitability
RESPONDING TO CRISIS: Initial reactions:
Ignore problem and advice Admit but avoid Misrepresent the truth
Quick turnaround plan:1. Put accounts payable on hold2. Generate quick cash (discount AR, factor, fire sale)3. Negotiate with lenders4. Negotiate with trade creditors5. Workforce Reductions
RESPONDING TO CRISIS Diagnosis:
Strategic analysis Management analysis Financial analysis
Succession Planning Succession planning is a process rather
than an event. The greatest advantage a family business leader can bring to this process is lead time. Unhurried planning will minimize opportunities for sibling rivalry, and protect the family and the company in case something unexpected happens to the leader. It also creates confidence with customers, lenders, employees and key suppliers.
Succession PlanningStrategy for transferring the trust, respect and goodwill built by the entrepreneur to the next leader
Succession Planning: The last test for successful entrepreneurs New Interests Retirement Business can collapse due to failure to plan
After death or disability of key entrepreneur the value of the business can fall rapidly
Lack of planning can lead to liquidation at ‘fire sale’ prices
Control of the process will shift to lawyers and government
Succession PlanningDelicate and difficult process that takes time and is more than an estate plan and life insurance policies Key elements in the process
Communication – open, honest, inclusive Intentional process – everyone
understands Outside advisors – objective opinions
Succession Planning cont’d Selection process is critical Have a written plan of action with
specific timelines Ownership vs. Management of the
company Revisit the plan