Samples of Assessments, Quizzes and Test Drives

Snapshot: Tools and Assessments

We use a series of assessment tools that quickly and economically assess the business' performance and organizational culture. We also use our tools to use as annual benchmarking assessments for continuous improvement feedback. One process identifies over 250 key strategic and operational issues the company is facing and recommend activities to improve performance using a confidential survey and interactive assessment tools.  This process takes a few days, usually over a week or two, in order to collect confidential data and to develop a comprehensive report. We use our own Strategic Snapshot™ financial model, and Faust Management's Life Cycle Insight™ and Executive Insight™ assessment tools.  We also use a 360 degree benchmarking tool, called Capability Snapshot™, that assesses a company's 5 elements of the Balanced Scorecard, from the view of the internal organization, as well as the company's vendors and customers.  We also provide competitive assessments that rate the company's scorecard against each known competitor. This process usually takes about a month to develop.

Retreats and Seminars

We plan and facilitate in-house or off-site retreats or training sessions.  With Executive or Management retreats, we prefer off-site programs that help the group identify key issues, brainstorm solutions, and develop action plans for improvement.  With team training or problem solving sessions, we work hands-on with the group to improve abilities, skills and competencies.  Depending on the client's expectations and requirements, we have held retreats at resorts, sailboats, and remote locations.

Life Cycle Insight™

Some of the key areas of the Life Cycle Insight™process will focus on are:

  • The Organization's Culture
  • The Company's Purpose and Direction
  • Management's Structure and Delegation
  • The Company's Information and Control Processes
  • The Effects of the Company's Reward and Recognition Systems
  • The Company's ability to meet Customer needs and expectations
  • The Company's ability to transform those needs to products and services
  • The Company's systems for developing people
  • The Company's systems involving money
  • The External Factors that are threatening the Company
  • The Results: Profitability, Customer Satisfaction, Employee Satisfaction and Marketshare
Click Here to read a sample Life Cycle Assessment 

360 Degree Assessments

We also provide customizable 360 Degree Assessments using the Capability Snapshot™ set of tools. It is a process that surveys employees, vendors/suppliers/stakeholders and customers covering the 5 elements of the "balanced scorecard" concept that was authored by Robert Kaplan and David Norton.  The five elements include: Operational Effectiveness (questions involving Cost Management, Time Utilization, and Quality Improvement), Organizational Agility (including Rethinking Strategy, Redesigning Structure, and Reengineering Processes), Customer Satisfaction (Customer Focus, Customer Value, and Customer Partnering), Innovation Opportunities (Product/Service Development, Market Foresight, and Knowledge Leverage), and Learning Culture (Employee Envolvement, Competence Development, and Teamwork Commitment). We work with the management team in developing customized survey questions from our 40 plus industry surveys already completed to best provide meaningful feedback and information.

Strategic Snapshot™

We also provide forecasting modeling tools using our Strategic Snapshot™ industry economic model to help bridge ideas into meaningful financial illustrations with industry benchmarking capability. The model views the financial performance of the last 3 years, and goes forward 5 years.  There are over 15 different worksheets, including the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, the Cashflow Statement, the key financial ratio's including a break even analysis, Industry Comparatives, Monthly Income statements for the 5 outgoing years, and a business valuation model.
Click here to view a Sample Snapshot

Executive Insight Process™

We also provide management retreats to identify the top key problems of the business, with the goal of developing action plans to improve performance.  The Executive Insight™process involves a 1-2 day retreat with the CEO and his/her key managers at an offsite location.  This process is usually an annual exercise to help benchmark strategic change and performance initiatives in conjunction with other strategic initiatives the CEO may have.

Team Building, Education and Training

Our workbook "Creating Strategic Innovation," along with our teambuilding classes are designed to help educate management teams on how to implement strategic change without costing the company excess money.  It also provides a means to bridge together independent/functional departments in order to improve customer satisfaction and operational performance.  We have found that as companies grow, the left hand doesn't necessarily know what the right hand is doing.  We also find employee turnover is a function a company's ability to provide opportunity and job worth to everyone.  We use teams to educate and develop the next generation of management.  Obviously, if Customer Satisfaction, Operational Performance and Employee Development are improving, financial performance goals are usually met.  Some of the topics of the Workbook include:

  • Creating a Team System
  • Team Decision Skills
  • Developing Problem Solving Skills
  • Understanding Work Processes and Process Mapping
  • Customer Requirements and Customer Surveys
  • Measurements and Scorecards: including Balanced Score Card measurements, and Understanding Financial Reports that could lead to ESOP Open Book Management systems 
  • Implementing Change
  • The Business Life Cycle
  • Management Concepts
  • Personal Development
  • Getting Results
Coaching/Mentoring

Our professionals are skilled to assist CEO's and their management team with experienced coaching and strategic advisory services to improve effectiveness and performance.  We will schedule weekly meetings at first, evolving down to bi-weekly, and monthly visits.  We review topics on time management, personal assessments, interpersonal issues, and strategic direction.

Part Time CFO/Controller

We can provide interim, part-time CFO/Controller services and assessments that will attract outside funding and equity financing.  Our experience in developing timely financial reporting, budgets, forecasts, and costing systems are just some of the expertise we provide. 

Capability Snapshot™ is a registered Trademark of Capability Snapshot Inc.
Strategic Snapshot™ is a registered Trademark of PTCFO, Inc.
Executive Insight™ and LifeCycle Insight™ are registered Trademarks of Faust Management Corp.

©2006-2007 PTCFO, Inc.

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