Final Strategic Plan Running head: Final Strategic Plan and Presentation

Final Strategic Plan and Presentation Suzy Bell University of Phoenix Bus/475 Integrated Business Topics Maria Rutledge June 20, 2011

Final Strategic Plan Strategic Plan, Part1: Conceptualizing a Business

This paper is about a new Pet Cemetery and Crematorium (Tranquility Estates) starting in Pontiac, Michigan. Reviewed in paper the products and services the company handles, and states the mission statement. A vision statement needed creating for the company that demonstrates decisions made for what the company should become in the future. Then the paper defines the companys values for the business considering customers cultures, social responsibility, and ethics. Mentioned also is an analysis of how the mission, vision, and values guide the companys strategic direction. The new business for the paper is (Tranquility Estates) a pet cemetery and crematorium combined needed in Michigan. The company has purchased acres of land very picturesque for the customers with a serene creek flowing through the land. Tranquility has placed strategically play sets for families who have children to use while visiting their beloved pet. Tranquility believes where ones family member (pet) seeks a burial for eternity is the first priority in deciding where a family wants to go for their pets needs. The more beautiful and peaceful the ambiance the happier families will react on each visit. Tranquility also offers unique or custom made urns and jewelry pieces that they fashion from a customers pet remains at reasonable rates to attract new customers. Tranquility Estates realizes how difficult it is for families to lose a beloved pet. Pets in todays society always seem treated as a big part of ones family and when they pass a customer wants only the best for the pet. Tranquility is here for family pets eternal resting needs. Tranquility is here to help in making decisions at a rough time in a familys life. Tranquility Estates mission statement states, Tranquility came into existence to provide pet owners and veterinarian professionals a company that places concern for the safe and humane disposal of

Final Strategic Plan ones pet after passing the most important issue. The company will always provide and develop innovative ways to meet a loving pets needs and the pet owners peace of mind during an emotional period in a familys life.

The vision for Tranquility Estates is to create a comfortable, atmospheric environment for a family to visit when the family pet passes. A place where the serene property alone will attract customers who want the family pet to either have a burial plot or cremated on property and have the remains put into a keepsake for eternity. Where the family just know he or she has made the right decision in picking the pets final resting place. When leaving the pet with Tranquility a customer leaves with a warm sensation knowing the company will give the beloved pet the care, concern, and understanding he or she deserve. In the future Tranquility wants to purchase as much land around the estate as possible, so one only sees markers for someones beloved pet. Tranquility would also like to keep creating unusual jewelry, made from pet remains, so the clients will by word of mouth spread the information on about the company, and referrals from the community may help the company retain more business in the future. Tranquility Estates wants to ensure the neighboring towns and cities that the business will never come across as blight to the area. Certain people do not like cemeteries placed in areas surrounding town and such and believe that it will bring the property values down. Tranquility Estates ensures the public in the areas surrounding the company that the grounds and equipment used for cremations continually receive proper maintenance on a weekly occurrence. Tranquility understands the responsibility required in making sure everything is humanly and ethically done in the disposal of ones pet. The pet remains used in making jewelry pieces need kept stored safely until picked up by customers to avoid any health risk for the community. Again the

Final Strategic Plan equipment on site is up-to-date and a weekly maintenance crew needed hiring to ensure everything is done for health and safety reasons, and kept up to code. Tranquility Estates wants every customer to feel the choice made for the pet is the right one for the family concerned, so there is a small deposit request required, so families have a chance to think about the site for the eternal rest of the pet. If a family believes it will work for

the family pet to have the burial or cremation done by Tranquility one may precede. Making the customer feel at peace about the decisions made for the pets final rest place is the most important point to the company. Customer satisfaction is the number one quality Tranquility tries to stress for the client. If a customer seems satisfied Tranquility has done the job right and peace reigns for everyone concerned. Customer needs come in second to the company, so if he or she needs a burial plot picking the best one for him or her is done by walking the grounds and picking one suited just for that family. Michigan has only a few pet cemeteries and crematoriums in the area equipped to handle the demise of customers pet remains needs. Tranquility offers special rates and payment plans for customers who may not otherwise have his or her pet buried or cremated the way needed for the family. Families tend to move as a family grows, so a beloved pet may ultimately remain behind if buried in ones yard. Tranquility believes a new company in Michigan seems good for certain customers in the geographical areas, who may not otherwise have this service available to him or her. Also by having lower rates set into place more customers may use the services provided by Tranquility Estates. In conclusion, Tranquility Estates is the new company discussed in the paper. Tranquility realizes how hard the demise of a beloved family pet is to handle. The company wants to reassure the family that the decisions made by them may seem easier with Tranquilitys

Final Strategic Plan help. The companys mission to provide pet owners and veterinarian professionals a company that places concern for the safe and humane disposal of ones pet after passing the most important issue. Starting a new pet cemetery and crematorium may deem useful if started up in

new places in Michigan and may reach customers not otherwise able to use this kind of resource, so Tranquility came into existence. Tranquility meets the safety and health requirements for the business and has purchased prime property in Pontiac, Michigan with a serene creek running through the property and play sets available for children. Tranquility feels the business is ideal for the Michigan-based customers in the area and will cause much happiness for pet owners and the families pets have left behind to mourn. Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis In this paper the subject to analyze is seven forces and trends taken into consideration for Tranquility Estates to create a SWOTT table with summaries. Then it reviews how the organization may adapt to change. The supply chain operations needs analyzing in the paper also. Then the paper identifies any issues created during the beginning stages of the growth cycle, and any opportunities the company may face. Then last, research questions needed formulating in conducting an analysis for each issue mentioned above. The seven forces and trends used for this paper: 1. Legal and regulatory legal the laws established by or founded upon law; regulation the rules and restrictions to control humans or any societal behavior, and takes many forms as legal restrictions by any government authority. An example of this, for Tranquility Estates it consists of how the machines for cremations properly receive inspections and receive maintenance so the environment may feel safe (Answers Corporation, 2011).

Final Strategic Plan 2. Economic relates to an organization or business in the production, development, and the management in finances (Farlex, Inc, 2011). 3. Environmental that, which relates to any external conditions or surrounding (Farlex, Inc, 2011).

4. Competitive analysis analyzing a markets competitions strengths and weaknesses to improve ones position in a marketplace, and ways to prevent the competition from gaining the upper hand in the market (Answers Corporation, 2011). 5. Resources from a business standpoint consists of human, financial, physical, and knowledge factors that help provide a business means to enable one to perform the business process (Web Finance, Inc, 2011). 6. Goals consists of observable and measurable ending results that have one or more objectives needing achievement in a particular timeframe (Web Finance, Inc, 2011). 7. Innovations consists of a process in which ideas or inventions need translating into goods or services where people pay for anything that will result from the process (Web Finance, Inc, 2011). Tranquility Estates seems to adapt well to change. The business stays in the black even as the new land purchased, and new updated machines receive placement because the business consists of family donations to keep it going and the investors see the profits. For the business as long as the investors see customer contributing to the profits on regular a basis the money continues. When the company hits a snag investors seem only too pleased to help for now. By implementing the new plans the customers come only too pleased to use Tranquilities services. The supply chain involved with Tranquility moves along nicely. The products sold (plots for burial) need selling on property, so only the products used for the jewelry purchased,

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containing pet remains, require the parts for the jewelry delivered to site. This alone helps to put money into the maintenance repairs needed by a supplier. Also landscapers seem needed but they work for the company too so this also help the business to have fewer people outside the company to come in to do the work. Most of the work that Tranquility requires daily stems from the premises and not many outside vendors need acquiring, so the monies may go back into the running of the company. The issues that may arise for the company include: 1. How will the machines that requiring fixing in the middle of the night receives maintenance? When a machine breaks down during the am hours when business is empty should someone be there to fix it before anything happens to create a disaster for the environment. The water surrounding the property, and going through the property needs protecting daily. When the eco system seems contaminated the whole environment may suffer the effects so the business needs to think hard about hiring a person for a third shift to keep the business safe from problems. Hiring a new crew just for the maintenance may well help the problem as long as one knows about the call in the night to fix issues. Trying it for a few months may well help in the decision for a long-term position for the employees hired. 2. Does the company think one needs to hire maintenance crew for daily use and around the clock use, such as on call? The company would fare better if they employ someone 24 hours to be at business in case of an emergency. In the long-run theory this may elevate the problem and create new jobs for the community that in turn helps the economy. When someone is available 24 hours a day the environmentalist may not come down so hard on the company, and the water issues. In every area that retains a machine, they may pollute keeping the environment safe

Final Strategic Plan makes more sense because people need a cause to fight for and sometimes he or she look for issues when there are none. 3. Will customers enjoy play sets put up around the property, or will the money seem wasted? The company needs to take surveys for customers online to see how the public reacts to the new plan before committing the finances. Then if the survey has good feedback then move forward with the plan. The surveys may provide valuable information for the business to see how the customers feel about the plans needing implementation in regard to play sets on the property. Also asking the stakeholders and investors how he or she wants to have their money spent may help in the decision to go forward with the plan implementation. In conclusion, the paper relates the SWOTT table to the business by taking into

consideration the forces and trends analyzed in paper. Seven forces and trends needed reviewing and summarized for a better understanding. Then it reviewed how the organization adapts to change. The supply chain operations needed analyzing next in the paper. Then the paper identifies a few issues created during the beginning stages of the growth cycle, and opportunities the company may face. Then last, research questions needed formulating in conducting an analysis for each issue mentioned. Recommendations needed creating for a better understanding of issues Tranquility may have in the future. In the future Tranquility may service everyones pet burial needs, either with a picturesque burial plot, or with a customized piece of beautiful jewelry to keep the pet remain in for eternity. Tranquility is the wave of the future to meet every familys pet personal burial needs. Tranquility also plans on employing more employees to help any problem that may arise in case any of the machines break down, so the company wants to hire employees from the surrounding areas to service them on a 24-hour basis. Tranquility wants to give back to the neighborhood by creating more jobs. Tranquility seems to be for the people

Final Strategic Plan in every way possible. Tranquility wants only the best for customers and the areas surrounding the property. A happy customer means a happy working environment for Tranquility. Strategic Plan, Part III: Balanced Scorecard The purpose of the paper to identify and explain the critical thinking strategies that explain how one reached the objectives for the balance scorecard attached to the paper. The information for paper derived from the SWOTT analysis completed in another paper for this project. The information also came from the vision, mission, and values completed earlier for final project for the paper. The effective strategic objectives attained for this paper deemed specific in order for the company to achieve successfully every objective the company made meaningful, and highly

specific objectives made by the company indeed seemed important for the achievements made in the paper. One objective made for the company stems from the vision of company, first that the comfortable and scenic atmosphere created by Tranquility indeed makes a customer believe warm and fuzzy when one comes to the Estate to visit the passing pets grave site, or even a nice reaction when coming to pick out an urn or piece of jewelry to place the pet remains. Tranquility put loads of research and development into the grounds alone for the company so customers will want to return. The grounds daily require maintenance to achieve the special look one sees upon arriving at the front gate. The grounds needed a special fence installed to keep out animals and vandals for the safety of employees and customers. Tranquility indeed has the customers best interest at heart. The mission for the company is another objective thoroughly planed out before the company started, which states, Tranquility came into existence to provide any pet owner and also veterinarian professionals a place where the concern for the safe and humane disposal of ones

Final Strategic Plan pet after demise constitutes the number one important issue. Tranquility also provides and

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developed innovative ways for meeting the pets needs so the owners always hold onto his or her peace of mind during the emotional period of a familys life. The company created honest and caring values associated within the company toward the customers because when a customer returns; the company knows the best efforts required from the company existed. For the financial perspectives creating an honest financial payment plan for customers achieved a higher reward because customer who could not afford the burial of the family pet may visit the grave site or receive an affordable urn for a keepsake. The vision here seemed partially accomplished because the customers happily return to the company for the services and products the company offers. So from this standpoint part of the customer perspectives also seem met. The customer services offered to customer seems 100% approached because the online surveys offered proved the customers completely satisfied with the companies services. The company keeps changing the services offered by Tranquility adding new products and keeping the property refreshed and new looking through the maintenance employees new incentives added to the payroll. The company seems to add commissions to anyones payroll check when he or she sells plots or urn products. The incentives added 80% to the employee satisfaction and the employee turnover. The business process perspective sees that the target areas seem right on target for the year. The company seems at a large 90% to the good on improvements made to the grounds and to the machinery. The company added several new machines for the cremation section of the business and it runs more proficiently and at a better pollution setting for the environment. This pleases the company stakeholders and the employees who have stocks in the company. This

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caused the company profits to rise for the year and the company seems pleased by the success of the company for the first quarters. The learning and growth perspectives see the employees 95% happier in their job positions and the incentives helped in the rise for job satisfaction. Tranquility only requires a smaller employee roster, and because of this every employee speaks up at the weekly management meetings, each employee says how he or she thinks about the way the company needs handling. The new machines the company purchased create an easy environment to work in, seems the jobs became much less stressful on the workforce and even the employees seem happier. This creates a happy environment for the customers and the employees; thus the reasons for a higher profit rate for the year. In conclusion, the company seems at a good place for the customers and the employees right now. The profits seem at a high percentage rate now, and this cause seemed because of the satisfaction and the innovative ideas the company came up with to see customers completely happy in the choice s made to do business with Tranquility Estates. When the customers return and send new clients to Tranquility the profits will stay in the black and everyone will smile.

Balanced Scorecard Financial Perspectives Seems the market share is on target The revenues and costs will work themselves out for the year and see a black Profitability is seeing black again for the quarter The competitive position is way ahead as this business is the only one for the region

Final Strategic Plan Customer Perspective

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The strategies implemented by company has been a positive one and customer returning and his or her word of mouth sales are on the rise The customers are 100% satisfied with the products and services offered The values offered the customer have risen because of incentives offered to repeat customers Business Process Perspective Performance for the process is stable, the company is on target 90%, and maybe 10% of issues are with product materials faulty Improvements to grounds and new machinery are up 5% Have improved over 5% for customer service issues and improved 3% on most of the issues for new surveys taken online Learning and Growth Perspective The employees are 95% satisfied with his or her jobs and the employee turnover is at a low percentage Acquiring fewer employees causes everyone to be included in the daily operations for company, so everyone has an opinion The new machines are creating an easier environment to work in; jobs are becoming less stressful because of less work because of the new machinery Final Strategic Plan This part of the paper consists of adding to the paper the strategic and tactics toward implementing and realizing the strategic objectives, measures, and targets for the company. Then mentioned for paper three methods to monitor and control the companys proposed strategic

Final Strategic Plan plan. Last in paper recommended actions needed to address the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues facing the company and how to improve corporate citizenship within the company.

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When a company wants to reach the objectives and intents a plan needs reaching through short and long-term goals, and desired success. This sets the guidelines to accomplish a companys purpose for ones business. To reach those goals an organization needs to include the following in the strategic planning: 1.) Mission and vision statements 2.) Short and long-term goals and objectives 3.) Values 4.) Strategy External and internal analysis needs conducting before a strategic plan for the company becomes set. This analysis should include the following: External Analysis a.) Industry analysis b.) Competitive analysis c.) Market analysis d.) Environmental analysis Internal Analysis a.) Financial performance b.) SWOTT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and trends) c.) Corporate culture When a company needs to monitor and control the proposed strategic plan, first by making sure the vision statement becomes set, through creating advertisement schemes for the

Final Strategic Plan surrounding areas needs accomplishing. This may require weekly newsletters sent to public locations so one becomes knowledgeable about Tranquility Estates service and product rates, and the hours of operation for the business. Also by putting up fliers in public areas such as stores, gas stations, and laundry mats, to name a few may help in gaining new customers. Last by going online and creating a company web page this also may help in monitoring and controlling some aspects of the business strategic business plan. Next making sure the companys mission is clearly understood and accepted by the

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company and public needs accomplishing by-weekly meetings for managers to discuss new plans created for the business. By monitoring and controlling next the company may create monthly meetings so as to maintain fresh new employee ideas that may help to gain public awareness for the company. Last the company employees and managers need to remember the customer comes first in any decision made by the business. The strategic plan for the business needed timelines handled, this requires weekly meetings held to discuss new products, and conducting by-monthly meetings to communicate to the employees any new changes made toward the company by the head of the business. The company also needs to hold monthly meetings to communicate funds allocations. Last the company needs every day meetings held so the employees know the daily and weekly schedules for job allocations. Next the company recommended actions to address the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues facing the company and how to improve corporate citizenship within the company need addressing. This needs to be done by teaching the employees the ethical issues facing the company through either web-based training or going out to class-based training, and the old fashioned way by training the employees on site. The employees need to know that Tranquility is a very ethical company and stand by the right way to take care of the customers

Final Strategic Plan pet remains the legal and ethical way. The company adheres to the laws for the euthanasia machines and keeps the mechanics on call and up-to-date on the equipment processes for the

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business. Training is also done for the machines making sure the employees become well versed on machine mechanics. The company does everything above board concerning the regulatory acts for the state board. The company makes sure the water surrounding the Estates receives constant testing for pollutants that may arise from the companys daily working conditions. The surrounding land adjacent to the Estates needs purchasing to keep the company on an even keel property wise. Last the company needs to review annually the communication plan for changes or updates that need making within the business, and to update the plans as opportunities become identified to the business. The last to update plans as processes become ineffective. Corporate citizenship to the extent to which businesses become socially responsible for meeting legal, ethical, and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim needs for businesses to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the communities in which they operate, and still preserving profitability for stakeholders (Answers Corporation, 2011). By this Tranquility becomes involved more with the community by promoting better rate plans for the community and sometimes donating sites for burials or raffles for the community to win, by this the community benefits. In conclusion, the paper identifies the strategic and tactics toward implementing and realizing the strategic objectives, measures, and targets for the company. Next three methods to monitor and control the companys proposed strategic plan needed reviewing in the paper. Last the paper recommended actions needed to address the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues facing the company and to improve corporate citizenship within the company.

Final Strategic Plan References Answers Corporation (2011). Competitive analysis. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.answers.com/topic/competitor-analysis Answers Corporation (2011). Regulations. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.answers.com/topic/regulation-3 CFO Publishing LLC (2011). Corporate Citizenship. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from http://www.answers.com/topic/corporate-citizenship-1 Farlex, Inc (2011). Economic. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/economic Farlex, Inc (2011). Environmental. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/environmental Web Finance, Inc (2011). Business resources. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/business-resources.html Web Finance, Inc (2011). Goal. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/goal.html Web Finance, Inc (2011). Innovation. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/innovation.html

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