May 6 2009
In today's troubled economy many companies are coming to a crossroads regarding their market focus, product positioning or other critical issues that can impact future success and even viability. Business Forward Strategies LLC, established in mid-2008, offers consulting and training services to provide practical guidance on strategies for targeting promising markets, products and programs, as well as a frank and expert assessment of a company's strengths and weaknesses. The company can help clients enhance their competitive advantage by focusing on industry and customer needs that drive differentiated solutions. Business Forward Strategies specializes in the assessment of both challenges and opportunities facing an array of industries including plastics and medical. The company is headed by CEO Clare Frissora, a veteran manager and professional trainer with 20 years of experience within five GE businesses.
Business Forward Strategies directs strategy assessment, planning and development programs for clients through consulting or training methods. Topics are tailored to meet the specific needs of the client and include performance assessment and management; market assessment and strategy development; program management; and product/market management. These professional services are designed to enable businesses to identify, evaluate and target new strategic business opportunities or underperforming offerings ripe for turnaround or elimination. The company is positioned to support start-up ventures, major business programs, and product or market initiatives. As a professional consulting firm, Business Forward Strategies places the highest importance on client confidentiality. Consulting topics focus on:
- Performance Assessment: Utilizing financial and sales analysis methodologies to uncover untapped business value and/or identify sources of drag.
- Market Assessment and Development: Applying techniques that build strategic market insight and plans, including industry trend analysis, share maps, value chains, customer segmentation and Porter's Five Forces.
- Program Plan Creation and Management: Designing an operational business plan to enable program launch readiness and execution, with a primary focus on project creation and management.
- Product/Market Management and Analytics: Conducting in-depth analyses of category performance using concepts such as portfolio performance and alignment of manufacturing, technology and service capabilities.
Frissora brings to Business Forward Strategies a wealth of expertise that has helped to turn around or refocus business organizations. In one example, a supplier to medical device manufacturers benefited from a strategic market assessment, which indicated an inadequate product portfolio and insufficient expertise. By following Frissora's recommendations to target emerging customer needs such as global support, efficiency in selection and purchase of products and new product capabilities, the company rapidly achieved double-digit growth.
In another case, a raw materials supplier in the plastics industry required direction in identifying new programs to meet its growth goals. Frissora's market assessment revealed two opportunities: one in a major, existing segment and the other in a minor, unattended segment. Customers in both categories required industry-specific support, which had not been adequately provided by the company. Teams were then guided through identification and prioritization of new products and services to respond to unmet customer needs, yielding double-digit growth and leadership in both categories.
Diversity and Customization of Engagements
Business Forward Strategies offers its clients a diverse portfolio of consulting engagements from performance assessment based on financial, sales or portfolio conditions to assessment of markets and strategy development. Depending upon client needs, the scope of the consulting engagement may also include the design of significant business programs. Consulting sessions are typically conducted both on site and remotely depending on project scope, timing and goals.
When defining and executing training engagements, Business Forward Strategies offers the advantages of flexibility and customization. Programs draw from a broad portfolio of presentation-based educational modules with practical exercises to reinforce concepts. Modules are ready for use or may be tailored to your business situation and are taught in a classroom setting over one or multiple days.
Frissora, whose career at General Electric spanned GE Aerospace, GE Capital, GE Lighting, GE Financial Assurance and GE Plastics, possesses broad expertise in industrial and financial business operations. She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from The Pennsylvania State University and an executive MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Frissora has also undergone extensive executive training in the GE Business Manager Course, GE Advanced Marketing Management Seminar, GE Financial Management Program and GE Manager Development Course. Additionally, Ms. Frissora had achieved a GE Master Black Belt in Six Sigma and a Series 7 license.