Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header about About Home Profiles articles Tools forums inspirational quotes About facebook Twitter YouTube Blog
Share for a Cause











How can Hyper-Question based business planning improve planning quality?

Guest post by: Marcus Tarrant

Article Overview: Not all business plans are created equal. After creating hundreds of successful business plans, we have come to understand some of the key elements that determine planning success.

Free Download - Why do most Business Plans Fail to Raise Capital? By Marcus Tarrant
Name: Email:

How can Hyper-Question based business planning improve planning quality?

Many first time planners focus on the template or layout of the plan. Whilst a clear, well presented plan is important, it is not sufficient to raise capital, obtain a loan, or interest partners or collaborators in your business.

The business concept, business model and execution approach are at the heart of a successful business plan. These core elements need to be backed up with factual references where possible.

Question led business planning is a proven technique that has been pioneered by Business Planning HQ as a result of thousands of consulting hours assisting clients build better business plans.

The consulting approach by and large is one where a series of targeted questions are asked to guide the client to the creation of a clear business concept, business model and execution strategy. Through experience we have found that these questions are often the ones asked by investors, partners or collaborators, and by answering them throughout the planning process, we are able to provide a substantial increase in the quality and consistency of a plan.

Thorough document automation, we have been able to reduce the costly process of consulting input but directly using the answers to questions throughout a well structured and proven business planning document.

Being able to focus exclusively on the answers to a series of targeted questions enables the business planner to communicate their plan with a significantly greater degree of clarity. Clarity and consistency between business planning elements are often considered to be significant indicators of a poor quality plan. Describing a business is not like describing an object, it is comprised of many interlinked moving parts. Clearly outlining the intersection of these parts and the fact that they fit together neatly like a jigsaw puzzle, leads the reader to greater clarity about your proposed business.

Related Articles
  How much Planning is enough - Use Lean and Standardize
  Planning Vs Worrying
  How to Avoid Business Failure
  Strategic Planning
  Strategic Planning: Taking Time Out to Work "ON" Your Business
  Negotiation- fundamentals!
  How can Hyper-Question based business planning reduce planning timeframes?
  Question Based Planning reduces Business Planning Timeframes
  Year End Strategic Planning - To Plan or Not to Plan - That is the Question\"
  Why Is It OK To Plan A Vacation But Not Your Business?
  “The Top Ten Reasons Strategic Planning Meetings Fail, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  “Do You Know Where Your Succession Plan Is? And Do You Know What To Do If You Can’t Find It?”
  The Importance of International Tax Planning
  Guess What? Succession Planning is not Rocket Science
  “Dysfunctional Planning of Goals Facilitates Failure, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Role of Leadership in Planning
  Quality planning is essential for success
  Clearing Up The Myths About Strategic Thinking and Planning
  Succession Planning - Vital For Your Business At All Levels
  Team Building Seminars

Home > Venture-Capital > Marcus Tarrant > How can HyperQuestion based business planning improve planning quality >
Article Tags: Business Plan, Business Planning

About the Author: Marcus Tarrant
RSS for Marcus's articles - Visit Marcus's website

Marcus Tsarrant is an accomplished management consultant who has worked for leading consulting and venture captial firms including Deloitte Consulting. Lloyd Morgan Consulting and Offspring Ventures. Marcus has assisted clients raise capital in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Marcus Holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Masters in Entrepreneurship. He is the founder and principal of BusinessPlanningHQ.com - A website that offers an entirely new approach to business planning.

Click here to visit Marcus's website
Dashed Line

More from Marcus Tarrant
Business Planning why is a good business model critical
Why do most Business Plans Fail to Raise Capital
The 4 key reasons that people build business plans
Should I use a consultant to create my business plan
How can HyperQuestion based business planning reduce planning timeframes


Related Forum Posts
Re: Is A Business Plan A Waste Of Time? Re: Is A Business Plan A Waste Of Time? - Business Plan or generally work plan (to do list) improves the quality of my work at least 4 times. I have seen the positive results of planning and focus in my online business. And I know from my past experience how uneficient your business can be when you are not doing planning. So I agree that there is a relationship between entrepreneur success and planning.
Re: 4 Home Based Opportunities For 2011 Re: 4 Home Based Opportunities For 2011 - Event planning can be a very good home based business. I have a friend who is considering becoming an event planner as she does very well with planning events, parties and other social events. She's very well organized, which is a must-have trait for someone thinking about getting into this opportunity.
Re: Is A Business Plan A Waste Of Time? Re: Is A Business Plan A Waste Of Time? - I feel that you don't really need one. I didn't write one down when I first started, but I have made various planning and decision-making spreadsheets along the way. I also think that a business plan is a HUGE waste of time IF you never take action. The step that most people fail on is failure to get started. Sitting around and planning won't ever get you anywhere. I would say implementation is more important than planning.
What Kind Of Internet Biz Do You Want To Have? What Kind Of Internet Biz Do You Want To Have? - Hello and welcome to the forum! The advice we give really depends on what you are planning to do as well as your level of experience... Are you planning to take orders for products that you will stock, pack and ship yourself? If so, signing up with Paypal would be a good start. Or are you planning an affiliate site, where you take a commission on sales you generate without having to handle the goods yourself? Or a mixture of both? Are you planning to design your website yourself? Are you working within a fixed budget? (The good news is that some of the best methods of marketing a website are quite cheap or even free - if you are prepared to do the work required!) Good luck! David H.
Re: Google Calendar Re: Google Calendar - GT, My laptop is about 16 or 17 months old too, and it is OLD, I ma already planning on buying a new one. But I keep the planning in my head. My husband computer is 6 years old. I think we will replace it first.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article

Bottom Footer



Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

What To Do With a Troublemaker?

Environment and productivity at the office

You Have A Website What Now

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.