Case studies
Global pharmaceutical manufacturer IT division BSC
- Challenges: To ensure survival, a client was abandoning autonomous SBU strategy to employ global manufacturing supply network. A new executive was hired from outside to implement the client's first-ever enterprise-wide IT systems to support a global strategy.
- Actions: T. Swords assisted the executive and his leadership team to define the mission, strategy and programs for IT to consolidate disparate functions into one organization. We defined stakeholder management and developed a communications plan to support transition.
- Result: The leadership evolved to a high-performance team. They assumed ownership of the strategy definition and detailed programs for its implementation. They improved the credibility of IT with its business partners.
- Client Testimonial: “T. Swords has an excellent mastery of Business Scorecard methodology -- grounded in theory and practice -- excellent facilitators -- enabled us to define our strategy using their BSC approach -- would definitely recommend their services” -- Leadership Team Executive
5,000 employee financial services firm BSC
- Challenges: Faced with industry consolidation, the CEO needed his leadership team to continue managing 30% growth while adapting to become a top-tier provider.
- Actions: Revised strategy from niche player to become full-line in five years. Cascaded the strategy to business and support units.
- Result: Leadership team and entire firm aligned to the strategy. Development of required new products and systems support kick-started and the enterprise took off.
- Client testimonial: “Ryan did a great job as a facilitator. This was not a fly-in. This puts me at a high level of satisfaction on an absolute basis and on a dollar per value basis.” -- CEO
Leading discount brokerage "active trader" strategy
- Challenges: The firm's active trader business was characterized by a weak trading platform and high prices, leading to poor customer satisfaction and declining market share.
- Actions: Working with the active trader management, the brokerage firm president, CIO and CFO, undertook a comprehensive analysis of the active trader market, customer buying and trading behavior, and competitor positioning and trends.
- Result: T. Swords refocused the active trader strategy and identified key technology functionality, leading to a complete rebuild of the trading platform and a rapid 30% increase in the customer base. The strategy also set the foundation for future technology improvements and strategic acquisitions.
- Client Testimonial: The T. Swords team was innovative, data-driven, analytically rigorous and objective. We went from getting "D" ratings from our customers and industry analysts to "A" ratings and top-place competitive rankings within months of the strategy roll-out --SVP
“Management isn’t on the
same page.”
New leadership can quickly fall out of agreement if roles and responsibilities haven’t been clearly defined. T. Swords’ leadership evaluations quickly uncover the obstacles that impede progress – and point the way to more collegial and productive efforts.