Saturday, 28 February 2009

Business Planning - Part 2


Professor Marc Clements - Vice Chancellor, University of Wales

As I update the Plan, I have just started working on the section 'Research & Development'.

This has always been a key part of Pingar's long term business strategy. We have invested heavily in R & D (with the support of The Foundation for Research Science & Technology) and our commitment to it is unrestrained.

Whilst, I was in the UK, I had the opportunity to spend 3 days in Wales. At the Swansea Technium, I met Professor Marc Clements. We talked about the Welsh Techniums (technology / business incubators) and their relationship with Welsh Universities. I spoke about my excellent experience of working with WaikatoLink (University of Waikato) here in NZ. I'm not sure whether it was the rugby, the sheep or the Brains beer, but I was not surprised to learn that 3 ex-University of Waikato lecturers were now based in the Computer Science Dept at the University of Swansea.

The trip to Wales was not accidental. I have been working for several months with Gareth Davies, Australasian Head of International Business Wales (IBW). We have developed a good relationship with IBW and other Welsh agencies and are looking at how to develop these relationships in the future.

The Technium concept is one that I like. It reminds me very much of the Innovation Park attached to Waikato University in Hamilton. In Wales, there are seven. In Tauranga, it would be nice to have one!

Business Planning

Well, it is wet. Very. Yesterday's blog did not lie.

One of the effects of any extended offshore trip is the cumulative build up of new strategies, ideas and plans for action. I have arrived back in Tauranga this time with a vast collection of jotted notes, half-edited brochures and no shortage of Tasks in my Outlook folder.

So despite it being a Saturday, I am at the desk trying to make sense of it all.

My solution is to go through my existing business plans and start editing with the new information I have. That's going to be a whole lot of editing.

The backdrop for the planning is an interesting one. Whilst many are focused on the downside of the economic challenges out there, I am reminded of the words of Lord Erroll at that lunch. He looked at the scenario of the last major global crash of the late 1920's and early 30's. That was a time when many of the old models of the day succumbed and it was the disruptive technologies and new ways of thinking of the time that were to emerge as the industry leaders of the future.

That is how I am approaching my world and my space today. The world of content and advertising are facing insurmountable challenges and many of the old ways are collapsing. Yahoo today reports that The American Society of Newspapers Editors has just canceled its 2009 Annual Convention.

"The industry is in crisis," said Charlotte Hall, president of the trade group and editor of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel. "This is a time when editors need to be in their own news rooms doing everything they can," to help their publications survive.

For the Rocky Mountain News, it all comes too late. Colorado and Denver's major daily, and the largest to to fold in the current crisis, ceased publication today. Earlier this week, the adverse economic conditions also prompted Magazine Publishers of America to cancel its convention this year.

It's a sobering background to update the Plan. And so are the recent stats from the Interactive Advertising Bureau. In a report released this week, the IAB said that ad spend had increased from $135.6 million in 2007 to $193.15 million in 2008. That's an increase in online spend of 43% year on year.

That's my world. That's my space. And it is with those thoughts that the current Business Plan is being edited and updated. And yes, it's still raining outside.

Friday, 27 February 2009

Tauranga Life

So I have been back in the Bay for almost 72 hours.

The jet lag is wearing off, the GST return has been completed and the weekend ahead looks wet. Very wet. According to Metservice, we face 100km winds and up to 150mm of rain. And I thought the snow in London was a problem.

I am also facing up to the reality of NZ politik. Today, we have the NZ Prime Minister's Employment Summit. Back in the UK, Gordan Brown's response to the global economic crisis has be to put billions into the banking system. In the US, Obama has put in hundreds of billions. In NZ, we are to build a cycleway. High level sources say Prime Minister John Key is particularly enthusiastic about the cycleway, saying it will create jobs and boost tourism. It's nice to be back home.

Beyond weather and politik, there is the small matter of Pingar. Over the past four weeks, significant progress was made in terms of the UK market entry strategy. Against a slightly depressing economic backdrop, we made some key strategic decisions. Then there was the lunch in the House of Lords, the 3 day trip to Wales and the 'Wedding of the Year'.

The impending wet weekend means that the much anticipated fishing trip has been postponed. 'Sea Horse' remains in dry dock. It will give me time to marshall some thoughts and put the basic next 6 month 'plan of action' into writing.

There's nothing like a Business Plan template to concentrate the mind. Or 150mm of cyclonic rain..

It's good to be back.

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

I'm Back!

Some regular readers might think that I pre-emptied the recent Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act NZ blackout, by canning my blog for the past four weeks.

Sadly, the real reason is not that exotic.

I have just returned from a month's market visits offshore. And that has meant intermittent Internet access, strange time zones and some wonderful experiences. More will become clear over the next few days and weeks.

Today however, it is a case of unpacking and getting back into the Bay of Plenty way of life. Anyone for the beach then?