Introducing Strategy Labs: Modular Strategic Planning
The Problem with Traditional Planning
Imagine designing your dream kitchen. You have tons of ideas about the best layout and functionality of the space. But when you speak with contractors, they only offer a set design they've used in hundreds of other homes. You aren't offered any options. You don't have any control. Would you be happy with the end result? Would it still be your dream kitchen?
For decades, strategic planning has operated this way. Firms respond to RFPs pitching a rigid, "tried & true" process used countless times before, leaving little room for your unique insights or previous work.
The Solution: Strategy Labs
We believe your strategic plan should be as unique as your community or organization. Strategy Labs flip the traditional model on its head, putting you in complete control of the process.
Strategy Labs offer a truly modular way to build your strategic planning engagement. Instead of buying a rigid, pre-packaged solution, you choose the activities you need, when you need them.
Design Your Planning Journey
Whether you are building a strategic planning process from the ground up or need to fine-tune an existing effort, you only select the components you care about.
Example Strategy Labs:
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Community Outreach Lab: Grounding Your Strategy in Shared Vision
Don't rely on assumptions—build a strategy based on authentic input. This Lab is designed to efficiently and equitably capture the needs and aspirations of your key stakeholders and community members. We deploy targeted, data-informed outreach methods (surveys, focused groups, digital platforms) to gather the voices that matter most. If you've already conducted extensive engagement, we can use this Lab for a focused synthesis and validation of existing data to ensure alignment before the planning process begins.
Value Proposition: Authentic Buy-In, Data Validation, and Ensuring Your Plan Addresses Real-World Needs.
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Scenario Planning Lab: Stress-Testing the Future
The most resilient strategies are those prepared for change. This Lab moves beyond simple forecasting to help you identify and prepare for plausible future states—from economic downturns and technological disruptions to rapid growth or regulatory shifts. We facilitate structured workshops where your leadership team develops multiple future scenarios and stress-tests your current assumptions against them. This process highlights vulnerabilities and reveals new, adaptive strategies.
Value Proposition: Risk Mitigation, Uncovering Hidden Opportunities, and Building an Adaptive, Future-Proof Strategy.
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Organizational Review Lab: Aligning Capacity with Ambition
A brilliant strategy is only as effective as the organization implementing it. This Lab provides a laser-focused assessment of your internal capacity, governance structure, staffing model, and resource allocation. We identify organizational bottlenecks, skill gaps, and misalignments that could derail the plan's execution. The result is a clear set of recommendations on how to optimize your structure and resources to seamlessly support your new strategic goals.
Value Proposition: Execution Readiness, Optimized Resource Allocation, and Ensuring Your Team is Structured for Success.