Financial Times

Business planning firm enters local market

Having revolutionised strategic business planning in several FORTUNE 500 companies, SCQuARE international, the global training and consultant firm, is preparing to launch its services in Sri Lanka, in view of the country's potential for economic growth.

Edwin Silvester Das, Chief Operating Officer of the Malaysian regional office, said that the need for proper planning techniques and methods to harness creativity and strategic thinking, whilst saving time was essential for any organisation to succeed.

Das believes that people generally have the knowledge, experience and creative prowess to solve their own problems.

However, he observed that in an organisation, everyone tends to think on different levels and in different directions, resulting in conflicts and delays in arriving at crucial decisions.

"Our role is to speed up the problem solving process by stimulating creativity, harnessing collective energy and revealing management potential for decision making."

"We offer a methodology that provides for a complete business process, which can consistently convert ideas into bullet-proof business plans, reducing time spent on decision making by 30 percent," he said, during a recent visit to Colombo. Using the SCQuARE methodology, an organisation can strategically analyse ideas, define problems, find solutions and enhance teamwork.

Amongst its international clientele are companies such as British American Tobacco, Coca Cola, Nestle, DHL, and BBC Worldwide. Das also said that the company's services extended beyond business organisations and multinational companies.

"In fact, SCQuARE conducted a special consultancy for the National Population and Family Development Board of Malaysia on a Parliament Bill, which had been submitted by them, but rejected four times by the relevant minister. Within 48 hours we reviewed the Bill, re-arranged its contents using our SCQuARE methodology, and it was immediately approved."

Das said that the difference between other consultant firms and SCQuARE, was that it enabled each company to design their own unique business plan according to their specifications, instead of having to use a standard business plan drawn for most other companies. "We turn your ideas, into an efficient and effective business plan," he said.

SCQuARE offers three types of programmes. The corporate programme is conducted in groups of 9-12 participants, drawn from the same organisation to inculcate a system of corporate planning.

The customised programme has been designed to kick off planning processes, product launches, mergers and other management requirements.

The Powerplan programme introduces techniques to address pressing business problems and ways of clinching new opportunities.

With regards to cost, Das said that it was a worthwhile investment, which would significantly reduce company costs, by increasing efficiency.

Since programmes are conducted in small groups, and consultants would be brought down from Britain, costs were marginally higher than other programmes. "However, I believe that it would only be a scenario of being penny wise and pound foolish."

SCQuARE International was founded in the United Kingdom, and has branched into over 51 countries over a period of 10 years. The local representative is Nirmali Jayetileke, an accountant. (SG)