Strategic Supplier Work-Out Sessions are here

Customer Retention Work-Out Sessions are here

Four case studies are here

• About 30 days are required to plan Strategic Account Work-Out Sessions. This involves:

• Defining the Work-Out Session Goals.
• Selecting the Strategic Accounts.
• Deciding whether or not to invite the Strategic Accounts to participate in the Work-Out Sessions. Having Strategic Accounts participate is a highly recommended approach to speeding up the rollout of strategic account plans.
• Establishing cross- functional account teams to develop the strategic account plans.
• Researching Strategic Accounts in detail to get a deeper understanding of their business strategy.
• Reading relevant background material that is directly related to the business challenges.
• Identifying and understanding the Key People in both organizations that need to be involved in the strategic account management process.

• For most situations, two days of off-site workshops are required to develop strategic account plans that can be executed immediately.

• The account plans are presented across both the Strategic Account and Supplier's organizations during the week following the Work-Out Session.
• Detailed work-plans are finalized and reviews scheduled with the Account Teams at 30, 60 and 90-day intervals following the Work-Out Session.

Strategic Supplier Work-Out Sessions

What is the purpose of Strategic Supplier Work-Out Sessions?

• To enhance the execution of strategic supplier management within 30 to 90 days.
• To eliminate non-value adding steps in the strategic supplier management process.
• To develop practical strategic supplier plans that can be executed immediately.
• To get all business functions emotionally engaged with the organization's most important Suppliers.
• To identify the essential Key People who will sustain the relationship for the long-term.

• A brainstorming session by a group of the right people to find practical solutions to business challenges.
• The priority is to develop solutions that can be implemented to produce results within 30 to 90 days.
• Fast action is the priority.
• Work-Out sessions may last from half a day to two or three days depending on the complexity of the issues. The basic session format is as follows:

• Overview of the business challenge by the Work-Out Sponsor.
• Team meetings to discuss the challenge and brainstorm a list of immediate solutions to address the challenge.
• Team reviews and discussions of each team's solutions.
• A presentation of each team's top solutions to the Work-Out Sponsor for an immediate decision.
• Reviews on Work-Out action items at 30, 60 and 90 day intervals with the Work-Out Teams.

• Work-Out is a proven way to execute strategy fast. The Work-Out term was coined by GE in the late 80's. It described action-oriented planning sessions focused on speeding-up decision-making and reducing non value-adding work and bureaucracy. GE used Work-Out to enhance speed, simplicity and self-confidence in its people's operating style.
• Many other organizations have also successfully used this process, under a variety of names, to lead change and enhance results.

• About 30 days are required to plan Strategic Supplier Work-Out Sessions. This involves:

• Selecting the strategic suppliers.
• Establishing cross- functional teams to develop the supplier plans.
• Researching strategic suppliers in detail to get a deeper understanding of their business strategy.
• Reading relevant background material that is directly related to the business challenges.
• Identifying and understanding the key people in both organizations that need to be involved in the strategic supplier management process.

• For most situations, two days of off-site workshops are required to develop strategic supplier plans that can be executed immediately.

• The supplier plans are presented across both the strategic supplier and supplier's organizations during the week following the Work-Out session.
• Detailed work-plans are finalized and reviews scheduled with the Supplier Teams at 30, 60 and 90-day intervals following the Work-Out session.

What is the purpose of Customer Retention  Work-Out Sessions?

• To develop and execute strategic business initiatives within 30 to 90 days.
• To eliminate non-value-adding business processes and bureaucracy.
• To increase people's knowledge, skills and capabilities.
• To get all business functions emotionally engaged in the business.
• To identify the Key People to lead strategic initiatives.

What does a Customer Retention Work-Out Session look like?

• A brainstorming session by a group of the right people to find practical solutions to business challenges.
• The session may be preceded by a reading program to bring participants up to date on the latest information related to the challenges. This makes Work-Out Sessions a very flexible and interesting educational event.
• The priority is to develop solutions that can be implemented to produce results within 30 to 90 days.
• Fast action is the priority.
• Work-Out Sessions may last from half a day to two or three days depending on the complexity of the issues. The basic session format is as follows:

• Overview of the business challenge by the Work-Out Sponsor.
• Team meetings, moderated by an independent facilitator, to discuss the challenge and brainstorm a list of immediate solutions to address the challenge.
• Team reviews and discussions of each team's solutions.
• A presentation of each team's top solutions to the Work-Out Sponsor for an immediate decision.
• Reviews on Work-Out action items at 30, 60 and 90 day intervals with the Work-Out Teams.

• Work-Out is a proven way to execute strategy fast. The Work-Out term was coined by GE in the late 80's. It described action-oriented planning sessions focused on speeding-up decision-making and reducing non value-adding work and bureaucracy. GE used Work-Out to enhance speed, simplicity and self-confidence in its people's operating style.
• Many other organizations have also used this process successfully, under a variety of names, to lead change and enhance results.