511 Business change in Turbulent times by Kingdom Site Ministries

MODULE 511 BUSINESS CHANGE IN TURBULENT TIMES Contact Person Dr. Mario Denton Crown Financial Ministries Marketplace Programme Director for Africa Africa Director for FCCI (The Fellowship for Companies for Christ International) CEO STRONG MESSAGE BUSINESS CONSULTANT Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive. Let's network. Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. E-mail address: mario@crown.org.za Website: www.crown.org.za and click on marketplace E-mail address: marden@mweb.co.za website: www.strongmessage.co.za Skype: mario.denton

Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Is the future predictable? 3. Elements of change 4. Summary and conclusion

Business Change in Turbulent Times I.

Why is it important to understand change in our business environment?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Prophet Joel in approximately 835 BC : “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears” (Joel 3:10 NIV) Prophet Isaiah in approximately 700 BC : “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4 NIV) 2

II.

Is the Future predicable?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“How do you know what will happen tomorrow?” James 4:14 NLT III.

Overview- we will focus on nine elements of change A. We will resist change B. Change usually occurs over time C. Small changes often herald major changes D. Need to understand and focus on changes that have already occurred E. Need to be market driven F. Evaluating your business based on a changing environment G. Need to understand and focus on strengths H. Abandon what is not working I. Move quickly

IV.

We will resist change A. Why?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jesus: “The land of a certain rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning with himself, saying, ‘what shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do; I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods’.” (Luke 12:16:18 NASB) B. Who is responsible for dealing with change?

Ezra to Israel: “Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act”. (Ezra 10:4 NASB)

C. Can Change be stopped? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------King Solomon: “A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted…A time to tear down, a time to build up…A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw

away. A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together” (Ecclesiastes 3:2-7 NASB) D. How does fear keeps us from making changes? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Apostle Paul: “For God has not given us a sprit of fear…” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJ)

V. Change usually occurs over time A. King David’s overthrow-2 Samuel 15:2-14 1. Absalom was working a very long time 2. Absalom was public, visible for all to see 3. Absalom was making progress day by day 4. King David, and the leaders would have known/ should have know what was happing 5. Action could have been taken easily before the revolt

B. Examples of change over time 1. Auto industry using less steel, more plastics

2. Atkins Diet

VI. Small Changes often herald major changes “Slowly, steadily, surly, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled” Habakkuk 2:3 NLT

VII. Focus on Changes that have already happened in society that have not had the full impact The Lord to Saul: “It is hard to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14 NASB)

Warren Buffet: “It’s not just how fast you row the boat; it’s how fast the water is moving in the river”

VIII. Examples of Changes in society that have and will affect our business future A. Explosion of advanced education B. Women as full time workers outside the home C. Shift from a blue color society to a knowledge based society D. Aging of the workforce population E. Some people with more money than time available 6

F. People aged 50-55 have largest growth of disposal income- impact? G. Single population Effect H. Worldwide effect of AIDS VIII. What changes have already occurred in market structure, science, technology, society that have not yet had the full impact? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A. Innovation does not create the change, successful innovations

exploit changes

that have

already

happened (multi-level marketing) B. Shift from telephone and mail communications to email, fax, Internet C. Last 100 years developed countries have increased real income 50 times D. Growth in leisure business E. Growth in medical

F. Growth in education

IX. Becoming a Market Driven Business A. Understanding your customer today- to effectively respond B. Know your customer 1. Profile 2. Likes 3. Dislikes 4. Service Requirements 5. Price Willing to pay 6. Loyalty C. Know who is not your customer 1. Most people are not your customer 2. Focusing only on your customers gives you no information on those people 3. You can miss a trend completely D. Trends normally show up first in your non customers

X. Focus your efforts on your strengths “Do you see a man excellent in his work? He will stand before Kings” Proverbs 22:29

A. We can not do everything well- identify and focus on what you Do best 8

B. Understanding your core competencies- a strength assessment A core competency is being able to do something others cannot do at all, or find it difficult to do, even poorly C. Ask yourself: 1. What is you company good at? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. What do you do well as a company? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. What strengths give you a competitive edge? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Are your core competencies strengthening, or weakening? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------D. Focusing on what your core competencies are, will focus your business on what you do best, and should be doing, can, and should do -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------E. Every business must understand own strengths, otherwise, how can you maximize? F. When focused on changes that have already taken place, you can develop an action plan utilizing your strengths based on those changes

XII. Abandonment- should some part of our business activity be abandoned? John the Baptist: “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10 NIV) A. Understand what is not working in your business, and why B. Determine if what is broken can be fixed, how and by when C. Drop activities, products, service that no longer produce results D. Opportunities lost are costly E. We must be willing to drop those things that are not working and change F. Review your current business activities- minimum of every two years King Solomon: “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your heads; For riches are not forever…” (Proverbs 27:23-4 NASB) 1. Challenge every product, service, every policy, every distribution channel, every system 3. What is working, and why?

4. What is not working, and why? 5. What is likely to not work in the future and why? 6. What is likely to work in the future that we are not doing now?

XIII. Move quickly Elijah to the people “How long will you hesitate between two opinions…” (1 Kings 18:21 NASB)

A. Adopt to changes quickly or risk failure 1. Time is not your friend during changes 2. Adopting is a race and your competition is running in that race 3. Today a competitive advantage seems to have the half life of a nano second B. Change will require new innovation and a change of direction 1. 60% of new initiatives will likely not succeed 2. Need to try more then one effort 3. Need to be exploring new options and directions when business is

successful

XIV. Summary and conclusion A. Change is undeniable B. We will resist change C. Our business environment will change D. Most changes happen over time E. Focus on what changes have already happened in society and Not yet had its full impact F. Need to be market driven G. Focus on strengths H. Abandon what is not working I. Move quickly “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory rests with the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31 NIV)

Our part God will not do, God’s part we can not do

Dig deeper and learn more (Optional)

This section includes various support material for further inspiration and encouragement and relates to the material covered in this section ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name

Date of completion

511 A 511 B

Facilitating resistance Power and Influence

Progress Report James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does.” (NIV) Name and Number of Module ________________________________________ Participant’s Name: ________________________________________ The Biblical Truths (Principles) I learned from this module:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I intend to apply this Truth (Principle) in my business by: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------________________________

_______________________

Participant

Date

Acknowledgement Steve Marr consults with business and organizations bringing a national and international perspective to achieve improved vision, focus, quality, and management effectiveness in today’s competitive environment. Effective practical assistance is provided to the business person or ministry leader. Steve’s radio feature “Business Proverbs is heard on worldwide, including armed Forces Service radio For more information visit www.stevemarr.org

Material adapted by Dr. Mario Denton

Mario is the International Field Continental Programme Director – Market-place for Crown Africa, the Africa Director for FCCI (The Fellowship for Companies for Christ International) and the CEO of Strong Message Business Consultancy. He is an international teacher and industrial psychologist and uses his strong academic and corporate background and his uniquely effective coaching to help people tap into their inner being; to utilise their strengths and expand their skills to make a difference in the workplace. He and his wife, Mariene, are based in Cape Town, South Africa, and are blessed with three grown sons.

Servant Copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system without permission. Regarding permission to reprint material from this material, please write to Dr Mario Denton: Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved