These questions have been compiled by Strategy International to help you ask the pertinent questions before you hire a company, rather than afterwards when it may be too late.

At Strategy International, we continually improve our knowledge, experience and skills in order to fulfill our clients' need which is:

To seek out compelling futures and develop the best organizational competencies
to get there.

Strategy International is dedicated to applying the models and frameworks of thw world's business leaders and leading experts to your organisation's advantage. In the early nineties, Strategy International pioneered its own framework and processes, some of which are now showcased in the book, The Power of Strategy A Practical Handbook, by J. Loewen.

Clem Sunter, Anglo American's Head of Corporate Affairs and Strategy says, "Loewen's book is extraordinarily refreshing to read, and will greatly add to the improvement of strategy formulation not only by companies here, but by the majors overseas as well. I learned a great deal from it."

"Unless today's established corporations learn to reinvent themselves and their industries, much of the new wealth will be created by newcomers ... 38% of leaders said that industry newcomers - not traditional competitors - had taken the best advantage of change over the last ten years."
Fortune, June 23, 1997, page 24

Strategy International understands the harsh reality, that organisations need to transform or die. Change is hard, but necessary for survival. Most teams or organisations do strive to preserve their status quo for many reasons. Probably the greatest reason of all is fear of the unknown. Strategy International pushes organisations to face their sacred cows, but in an acceptable manner.

We also understand that your leadership demonstrates commitment to strong strategy by your very own actions. You are the template for the rest of the organization. If there are no guiding principles at the top of the organization, people will be confused and lacking in focus further down. If you do not set aside time for thinking about the company's future and opportunity gaps, you can be sure your people will not be thinking either. We have learnt that getting extra effort requires that you, the leader, needs to create a culture of wanting change.

We can coach you to build in activities that change the way you and your people do things. Strategy International can help you redesign the architecture of your business. We can assist you to embed strategic thinking processes into the culture. You, the leader, give meaning and common purpose to your people; heighten the perceptiveness and sharpness at deeper levels within your management. Only you, the leader, can develop your people to challenge the company's current market position, and show them how to TAKE ACTION to let it become a market leader.

"If there is more change happening outside your organization than inside, you had better do something about it," believes the dynamic turnaround leader of General Electric, Jack Welch.

At Strategy International we believe that great strategy happens when you stumble off the beaten and worn path. However, these walks do not happen in a vacuum, and we are here to assist you and your team find new and exciting places, but not to do the strategy or thinking for you. It is not always a comfortable or easy process either!

At Strategy International we believe that when we walk out the door of a company with whom we have been working, the vision and goals MUST NOT BE BURIED IN 'FILE THIRTEEN' until the next year. We aim to ensure that the strategy is not just a "process" or "our plan," but MUST BE A CORE CAPABILITY built into your leadership, your people, your organization and its everyday work.

Strategy International specializes in creating and molding strategy built on your company values and experience. This then, is embedded into your organization so that key thrusts CANNOT HELP BUT BE IMPLEMENTED.

In the experience of Strategy International, there are universal business issues but not universal solutions. In fact, dealing with your issues in your own unique way is what will build your competitive advantage. We believe business is deeply human. Each organization is as quirky and unique as each human being, which is why we customize our interventions to fit you. Knowledge underpins any competitive advantage and at Strategy International we know that this rests in your people. We specialize in bringing that imbedded knowledge into the open where it can be used to promote change.

There are many exciting methodologies and processes that you can select, with Strategy International's advice, to suit your team's dynamics, your unique situation and your special needs.

Think about the last really terrific social evening you enjoyed. The conversation buzzed, your heart beat quickened and your ideas flowed. Perhaps, as you drove home, you resolved to do more and achieve a goal you had only been thinking about. Why did you like this particular get-together more than other similar occasions?

Chances are it all came down to the people you were with.

You all shared similar beliefs and ideology. You probably had common interests, and you felt a safe sense of belonging. There were no embarrassing lulls in the conversation, the shared energy swept you all along. Einstein talked about human beings consisting of a mass of moving molecules. We are similar to piles of sand - made of loose particles, not solid, set mass. Free molecules float off one person and get attached to another body in the same room. So the company you keep perhaps acts on each of us at a deeper molecular level than we are even aware. Energy gets moving.

That is the POWER OF THE GROUP, getting people together to achieve a higher purpose. It's not just about having the same high schools, vacation spots or alma maters. People from various backgrounds and nationalities can forget their differences and join together to work for a common higher purpose or goal. THIS IS THE POWER OF STRATEGY.

Strategy International understands this power very well, and works with this group energy dynamic. We can act as a COACH to boost you - the leader, and energize your Team to achieve visions and goals beyond what you may have thought was possible.

At Strategy International, your business knowledge and information is kept highly confidential - we guarantee it. Apart from the issue of our own integrity, we recognize that our reputation depends on our keeping YOUR TRUST.