change management process change management plan
We've all witnessed new businesses gain traction over their competitors. As success breeds more success they came to dominate their markets. What did these businesses do to take customers from somewhere else? Why couldn't their competition stop their customers from leaving? Amazon, iTunes and Netflix (for example) without a doubt succeeded because they found and offered more of a needed service or product. These businesses successfully forecasted the next opportunity and then moved to take advantage of it. They found the technologies, tools, the access to the market, and capital or resources needed to take advantage of a strategic business opportunity or improvement. They began with an assessment of the "whole" business, product or service that included due diligence of the opportunity. They then defined, developed, integrated, achieved client acceptance, and even anticipated the associated sustainment opportunities and customer expectations of the new product or service. They used value innovation, significant insight, experience and analysis of the opportunity to exceed expectations for both the customer and themselves.
This rapid need for change is our new business normal. Our businesses today must take frequent value innovative diagnostic action so that their new opportunities (yes, we all have them) can go from an idea to delivering your products and services in a new strategic direction. The target is taking a new and unique idea or improvement to providing value at an unmatched level to your clients. You need to know where you want to go to be the "best" so that you can then define the direction of the opportunity and then move to achieve it. This is a different mindset where you move from satisfying your customers' and own needs to creating new valuable needs; from meeting expectations to exceeding expectations and from observing and listening to your competition and clients to introducing new and needed products and services. Value innovative products and services provide unique and best value to reach success.
Today's businesses must understand value to their customer. We have so many options today and being the best is an option. The businesses that use Value Innovation will be the businesses of the future who make opportunities happen. Your due diligence today should include the questions: Are we the best at what we do? If you are not, "How do we get there?" and if you are, "How do we stay there." Your customers are searching for the best and they will be loyal to them when they find them.
Jim Fogarty is a loving husband, son, brother and proud father to 5 children: Eric, Scott, Kasey, Diana and Robert. He is also a Program Manager, Systems Engineer, Author and owner of Absolute Consulting Solutions, LLC.