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Thursday, November 26, 2009
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volume 1
issue 1
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“a-connect guided us skillfully on the project, the back office team gave us the support we needed and I especially appreciated the feedback after completion of the project.” —R.B., IP since 2003
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Recent Projects
Read about four exciting projects our independent professionals are executing around the world
Mapped processes and identified risks and inefficiencies for a trading and sales department of a large Swiss-based financial services institution (Talent Partner Nils Hagander)
Based on some preliminary documentation, the customized team (a-connect IPs and client employees specialized in process documentation) mapped the specific processes in detail using a workflow tool. The project focused on identifying risks and inefficiencies and clustering them into significant issues. Based on this delivery, the team brought forward specific improvement initiatives to the decision makers. a-connect contributed three IPs with very specific sales/trading/product/accounting expertise.
Refined the product lifecycle management approach for a US-based provider of laboratory equipment and supplies (Marcel Kucher and Rene Limacher)
One of our US-based IPs worked hand-in-hand with a large client team lead by the head of product management to redefine the company’s product lifecycle management. The most significant achievements included: 1) the introduction of a new and systematic product lifecycle management process, involving top management and focusing on innovation, growth and profitability; 2) an estimate of the complexity costs involved in maintaining a large portfolio of products, including clear recommendations on how to best streamline it in order to increase profitability; and 3) a variety of measures targeted at accelerating product introductions, determining the optimal timing of mid-life marketing investments, as well as making the necessary organizational changes to support the new approach.The team estimated that all the measures combined will generate a significant bottom line impact (approximately 5% net margin).
Business building in Asia (Walter Renfree)
We have just begun a business building incubation project in India for a Swiss-based client. We started with about 3 weeks of secondary research led by an IP who investigated key political, economic, social, and environmental factors and conducted interviews with thought leaders to get a sense of how experts are thinking about the future of the industry. The research provided fuel for a kick-off workshop led by another IP wherein participants engaged in scenario planning for a half day and then spent another half day on implications of the scenarios and opportunities. By all accounts the workshop was a success, with participants eagerly sharing their ideas about the future of the industry in India and the opportunities the client should explore. We are now in the post-workshop phase wherein new a-connect talent partner Atul Khosla and an IP are spending a month investigating the prioritized opportunities (5-10) and will report back with hypotheses of the top 2-3. A final month will be spent doing a deep dive on the top 2-3 opportunities, and the client will then make a series of investment decisions based on the team’s work.
Redefine the mission, strategy and operations for a conservation non-profit organization (Rene Limacher)
A team of two a-connect IPs currently support a large non-profit organization focused on conservation (ecosystems, natural habitats, and endangered species). In a series of workshops with the board and key internal staff, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are being identified and a new mission and strategy statement is being crafted. Separately, a detailed review of the grant making process identified improvement opportunities in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.
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Copyright © 2006 a-connect (group) ag. All rights reserved.
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CH-8008 Zürich
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Phone: +41-43-266 77 77
Fax: +41-43-266 77 27
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Phone: +852 2526 6766
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