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Andrew Watt | wattacoach.com

How to get there: Orbit planning tool

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable” attrib. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1962

Often businesses or careers find themselves following a path of organic development or growth. A journey that is good enough to stay on, without necessarily being the ideal one. Of course circumstance and serendipity can intervene and many of the best opportunities are unexpected. But there is value in following a path that has been chosen rather than one that just happens.

Above all, this is because you tend to get to where you’re trying to get to. Motor racers call this target fixation: you naturally go to the point that you’re looking at (and if it’s the wrong point you’ll go there too). And your intuition is often a poor judge of where the next step should be; racers learn to follow conscious learnt behaviours rather than using their instincts in an emergency.

The point about organic growth is that it tends to make intuitive sense to us – do a bit better, earn a bit more – so we keep doing it. But if over time this is not satisfactory, I use a three year planning tool that works for individuals as well as small and large enterprises.

The UK government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) developed Orbit as part of the Growth Accelerator scheme which helped high potential small and medium sized companies. There are three key stages 1. Creating a framework 2. Setting long and then short term objectives 3. Prioritisation of the Vital Few.

When I take clients through this process, depending on their situation, it might take anything from an afternoon to a few months. It works well as a collaborative process and often forces management teams to address fundamental questions about their business and what they want it to achieve. They key output of a one page diagram is often put up on the wall and referred to over time and then perhaps revisited and re-worked on an annual basis.

I remember one of the first clients I used it with doing a review after three years and they being amazed to realise that things that had seemed beyond reach had in fact been delivered. In their case it was landing six-figure clients – with hindsight the progress made sense, although when they’d set that goal it was way ahead of where they were at the time.

Of course it helps to do this exercise with someone like me, but you can follow the three steps yourself, following the guide here.

1. Creating a framework

The process begins by deciding what are the key measurable things that will determine future success. Things like, revenue, profit, customer numbers, market share which are common to many businesses, but also things specific to your business. This might be a re-location, setting up a new facility or developing a particular type of marketing.

Some of these key variables will be ‘hard’ and allow for clear numerical targets. Others might be ‘soft’ (or less tangible) and need benchmarking. One of my clients saw they could be getting good exposure by a more deliberate approach to PR, and set themselves a goal to be interviewed on Newsnight as an industry expert (which they ultimately did).

Once determined these targets will create the first version of Orbit and look something like this:

2. Setting long and then short term objectives

The next stage is to set the point you’ll be at on each of these key lines. Habit might suggest that we begin with the near future then plan out from there, but this is to lapse into an organic development state of mind. Instead, we begin with the end. Hence appearing on Newsnight was the measure for year 3 rather than year 1, something that seemed unachievable in the immediate future but was a realistic goal of where they wanted their PR effort to be in the longer term. Once you’ve set the stretching targets for year three, you plan backwards to the present day and set out a path of measures that will lead to your ultimate destination.

This is time also for sense check, to make sure that the path you’re setting is the right side of challenging but also credible.

Once completed you have something like this:

3. Prioritisation of the Vital Few

Having created the overall framework of measures and activities that will get you to where you want to be, you need to prioritise. Which three of these lines will be the tent poles that hold the overall strategy up and without which it would fall apart? Often this shows up a discrepancy between your current immediate priorities, which are often driven by operations, and an alternative which will drive strategic change.

Once you’ve pulled out the three most important measure these become your Vital Few. Further work is done to flesh these out further as these will be your priorities for action in the immediate future. They could become the focus of some coaching, to get activity going now. Sometimes these priorities will be things that were previously on a lower priority, things to get round to but never as important as ongoing operations which keep being the focus of attention. I had one client who decided they wanted a shop as part of their business in the longer term. Their key short term priorities were therefore to research and become knowledgeable about leasing and furnishing commercial premises. Since they were a graphic designer this was a completely new area of activity for them, but by engaging with it, they built the platform of knowledge that concluded with them successfully launching their shop.

I quoted Eisenhower earlier, pointing out that plans are useless but that planning is essential. Often Orbit will be re-iterated and adjusted as events alter the assumptions behind it. It’s not unusual for goals to be delivered on a longer time frame that expected, but just as common in my experience for it to be the other way round. The key is to develop a sense of destination so that individually or collectively there is a goal in place: over time, once you know where you’re heading you can work to get there.

Published by Andrew Watt

After ten years of coaching people in creative and tech industries in London I decided to write about some of the themes that often come up. View all posts by Andrew Watt

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Orbit - an interactive tool to create a 3-year strategic plan

Building excellent and trusting relationships with my clients is central to the success we have together. Such is the case with the wonderful people at Ampersand Associates , surveyors, designers and technical experts. We have been working together on programmes since 2016, and they call upon my expertise for business strategy programmes and team development periodically as required. We have just finished a 10 session programme over 6 months over which time, we updated their 3 Year Strategic Plan called an Orbit. This looks at every element of their business and is used to determine growth plans.

I’ve been using the Orbit strategy since being introduced to a basic version of it during the Growth Accelerator days (a Government funded scheme 2012-15) and developed it to the next level of strategic planning and functionality, at the time using Visio to manually update it. In recent times I have developed an interactive, agile, easily and automatically-updated new version of the Orbit, with planning information and data of the business automatically linked to the front Orbit diagram.

Planning ahead for every part of the business is very exciting and essential; creating new lines of thought, ideas, innovation and direction that had not been previously contemplated! And so it was with Ampersand Associates!

If you are interested in creating an easily updatable 3 Year Strategic Orbit Plan for your business, please message me and we can discuss the potential and options.

"Tina’s analytical approach, coupled with a friendly nature and genuine interest in who we are and our business, is a real breath of fresh air. Now we have the tools to take our business from strength to strength."

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How to Use Our Landscape Irrigation Planning Designer

Before we start, we want to mention our amazing online sprinkler design tool: the Orbit Sprinkler System Designer . This tool allows you to create an online sketch of your property. 

As you’ll see, the process of planning a sprinkler system can be a worthwhile challenge. It requires time and accuracy. We’ve seen countless times how a small mistake—a bad measurement, a misplaced head, or forgetting a feature of your garden—can result in a bad plan (which, if not caught before installation, can cost hundreds of dollars in supplies and labor to replace).

The Orbit Sprinkler System Designer (OSSD) can make this step very simple. Just upload a bird’s-eye picture of your property (which can usually be obtained online through Google Maps or similar programs) and then trace over it. You’ll only need to measure one item of your yard, like the width of your driveway, for scale and the computer does the rest. Once you’ve finished tracing and drawing (it usually takes about 30 minutes) the system will ask for the water flow information you collected in last week's blog and, bingo, you’re done. The computer will do the calculations and give you a plan for placing heads, valves, and zones in ideal locations. OSSD will even give you a comprehensive parts and estimated price list of all the supplies you’ll need. You also are able to print a detailed, customized guide for installing the sprinkler system, down to the placement of every pipe, every sprinkler head, and every nozzle. Oh, and it’s totally, completely, 100% free!  Yeah, it’s a pretty great tool and we’re quite proud of it. We encourage you to give it a shot.

For those who are able to find success with the sprinkler design system, the rest of this post will be more about sprinkler theory and why things are done the way they are. For those going the old fashioned way, pay close attention to what follows.

Theory and Best Practice

Irrigation systems work in funnels; well, reverse funnels is probably a better description. At the top you’ve got your main water line connection. This usually comes from the municipal water system, but for some people a well is used or even, in rare cases, pumps from some freshwater source like a river or lake. But the Average Joe is connecting to his city’s water line.

From the water source, the water travels to your valve box containing a manifold and several valves. Of course, your water may be required by local code to pass through such things as a backflow prevention device, but the basic premise is water comes from the main line, passes through the manifold, and then flows out through a valve to the watering zone. Each zone contains a number of sprinkler heads, which is determined by your available water flow. Sprinkler heads are the mechanisms you see spraying the water on your lawn. There are various types of heads, each with a specific purpose, and we’ll get to that in a bit.

There are many approaches you could take in deciding the number of zones, type of heads, and watering means you will use, but the question that should guide all your choices is, "How can I effectively water all areas of my yard using the least amount of water?" This is where the savings will really come from, because no matter what kind of system you put in, it will generally pay for itself if you maximize efficiency. So, make watering efficiency and conservation your target and you’ll get where you need to go.

There are a plethora of head types used in irrigation systems. Let’s talk about each, their pro’s and con’s and where you might use them.

Medium Area Sprinkler Heads

The most common sprinkler head is the pop-up. They come in a number of sizes, but the basic premise remains the same: the water forces the interior of the sprinkler to pop up and spray water in a pattern through interchangeable nozzles. Pop-ups are fabricated to spray at different distances, which you will choose based on your yard layout. Adjustable nozzles used on pop-up sprinklers can spray anywhere from 4–19 ft. They are great because they are inexpensive, reliable, and easy to repair. The nozzles screw on and off, letting you choose the one that best suits head placement. They are great for watering the average lawn and errors can be easily detected.

Pop-up sprinkler heads aren’t perfect though, and there are situations where they may not be ideal. Pop-ups are the carpet-bombing of sprinklers; they’re not precision instruments. Now, when you’re watering your lawn, this isn’t a big deal—in fact, it’s what you want—but for watering flower beds, gardens, trees, pots, or anything that doesn’t cover an expansive area of ground, pop-ups aren’t the best choice. The advantages of using pop-up sprinkler heads are the ease of use, even watering patterns, and affordability.

Large Area Sprinkler Heads (Rotors)

There are two types of large area heads, impact and gear drive. As their name implies, these sprinklers are effective in covering large areas of turf. Impact heads are familiar to us because of the recognizable ratcheting noise they make as they go back-and-forth.

Gear drive sprinkler heads are a relatively new product in the sprinkler line-up. These are very quiet in their operation, and emit a single stream of water. Their superior area coverage means you don’t have to install as many sprinkler heads. These heads are adjustable, allowing you to adjust the spray distance (how far the water goes) and the radius (how wide the arc of the head is). Their closed case design resists clogging from grit, sand, and heavy grasses.

Remember, rotors aren’t ideal for small patches of land. They cost more and repairs can be a more intricate and may even require changing the entire head.  Finally, rotors require higher water pressure.  When considering rotor sprinklers it’s important to determine if your area meets these requirements   If so, you'll be pleased with the outcome.

Eco-Stream Rotator (Rotary)

The pop-up Eco-Stream Rotator Sprinkler Head is a hybrid between pop-ups and rotors. Often called the rotary sprinkler, it looks like a popup, but behaves like a handful of gear drives being sprayed in a kaleidoscope pattern. Further, they offer the adjustability of rotors with the effectiveness of popups. Other benefits include use with lower water pressures where gear drives cannot be used. There is also evidence suggesting that rotary sprinkler water coverage is superior to popups. They are also easy to install and repair. These are best for medium sized watering areas.

What head you use will be determined by the size of the watering area. For areas larger than 25’ x 25’, you’ll want to use large area sprinklers (either gear driven or impact heads). Areas smaller than 25’ x 25’ will use popups (either traditional or rotary). For flower beds, shrubs, ground cover, etc. you’ll want to use small area sprinklers, drip, or soaker lines.

Gardens and flowerbeds require a different approach to watering. Pop-up, gear drive, and impact sprinkler heads work great for the lawn but they aren’t precision instruments. These will work well if you have a lot of ground cover, but what if your beds just have shrubs, flowers, etc.? For those plants, drip irrigation is an excellent choice because it’s easy to install and maintain, its flexibility in a changing garden is unmatched, and it’s efficient. We will talk more about this awesome option in a later edition of our blog, but be aware that using drip irrigation can save on your water bill and water your plants more efficiently and directly.

Head Placement

Once you’ve placed your heads you are ready to create your zones. This part can be tricky and requires a bit of math. Group plant types into specific zones. By this we mean that grass, flowerbeds, grow boxes, etc. should all be separated into their own zones. This is because each plant type has different water requirements.

Warning! Heads of different types (rotors vs. pop-ups) cannot be combined in the same zone. This goes for drip and shrub sprays as well. Things have to be the same because each type of head has different GPM requirements and output. If you combine different head types in the same zone, you won’t be able to evenly distribute water; some places will get over watered, some under watered.

Knowing these two things, you can begin to group your heads into zones. When mapping out the zones, it’s important to provide sufficient water pressure to each zone. All the heads in the zone combined must be using at or below the total available water flow (GPM). You might even want to step it down by 1-2 GPM just to make sure there is enough water in the case of a drop in pressure. Note how we’ve grouped the two zones on the right in the example above. They don’t exceed the total GPM of our main line (14 GPM and 13.35 GPM). We’ll do the same with the other zones.

Manifold Placement

Zones connect to valves, which are grouped together in a valve box, where they connect to the main water line. These boxes usually can hold up to four–six valves. Placement is a matter of preference, but there are few things to take into account when deciding where to put your valve boxes.

First, grouping is a good idea so you can daisy chain the main line. The main line from your water source is the most expensive run of piping that you’ll lay, so it’s best to keep these runs short. Of course, we don’t recommend putting all your boxes in the front yard, but you don’t want to space boxes all over the yard either.

Another consideration is making sure your boxes are easy to access. When you’re having problems with your sprinklers—which will inevitably happen—there’s nothing more frustrating than having to poke around in difficult to reach places behind rose bushes or under trees. A better option is to have the boxes in a clear location where you can work in them with ease. Admittedly, the caps can clash with the aesthetics of yard but options, such as faux rocks,  can blend the boxes with your landscape.  

So, there you have it. We've covered the basics of sprinkler theory, sprinkler head types and placement, as well as manifold placement.

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Planning Your Business Strategy for 2023

by Gillian Thompson | 13 Dec, 2016 | Business Strategy Archives | Thompson Training and Development

2016 is drawing to a close. Now is the time to reflect – and plan for the year ahead, mapping out your 2017 business strategy.

You’ve built a thriving, successful company. You’re ready for your next big phase of growth. The question is, do you know how to get there?

Before you can initiate the next stage in your business journey, you need to identify the barriers holding your business back and establish the critical steps needed to achieve growth – rapidly and sustainably. When setting out your 2017 business strategy, it’s vital to set out a framework that will help you to:

• build a successful growth strategy;
• discover new routes to funding and investment and
• unlock your capacity for innovation.

If you’re looking forward to 2017 and beyond, there are 5 essential “must-do’s” any business leader should be looking to do before the end of 2016:

• Complete a ‘diagnostic assessment’ of your business
• Create a single page, top-level growth plan
• Set out clear, defined actions plans for key growth projects
• Identify funding opportunities from local growth hubs and LEPS
• Partner a business coach with a proven track record for driving businesses growth

This blog sets out a methodical framework for approaching business growth strategy, supporting you in planning for 2017 – and beyond.

1.Complete a diagnostic assessment of your business

Before we can understand where it is we want to go, first we need to know where we are now .

This stage gives you the opportunity to consciously explore your ambitions, your capacity and your opportunity to achieve growth before entering the next stage of your business. Use this time to identify the main barriers holding your business back from further growth and develop a clear, tailored 3-year growth plan.

If completing a ‘diagnostic assessment’ sounds a bit too much like a medical intervention, don’t panic. The key is to keep it simple and get a clear SWOT analysis of where your business stands – and where it could go.

Start by creating a one page “word picture” that summarises your company’s strategic development and performance plans for the next three years. Using an ‘Orbit Diagram’ gives you a highly visual yet simplistic approach. To ensure you get maximum value from the technique and to optimise buy-in, it is recommended to include the company’s top management team in this process.

An example Orbit Diagram at this stage would typically take the format below.

Completing your Orbit Diagram

At the most basic level, your Orbit Diagram should describe your company vision for the next three years.

Begin by agreeing with your group what measures of performance would be most meaningful when describing your strategic journey. These, in effect, become the axis labels around the outside of the Orbit Diagram. They will typically, but not exclusively, include strategic growth measures such as:

• Sales turnover
• Number of employees
• New office locations
• New product launches on stream
• % Blend of customer types
• Amount or % of turnover from overseas sales and opportunities
• Key strategic appointments to the team
• Quality standards / accreditations
• New Marketing / Sales resources

Strategic planning is a conversation that evolves, not a one-off task.

Therefore, at this point, it’s a good idea to begin with the fundamentals. Approach the Orbit by initiating discussions and agreeing your three-year target for core financial measures like turnover and profit. This way, your Management Team can clearly define exactly how much growth is desirable and feasible.

This is your core framework. After agreeing and completing the turnover and profit figure axis for all three years, consider the other axis labels to define and explain how your company can realistically deliver this financial growth.

Here, you are answering the question, “What else needs to change?” These axis labels may include topics like “breaking into new markets”, “securing additional financing” or even “key board appointments”.

When completed, your Orbit should set out all the necessary high level information needed to tell your company’s three year “growth story”.

2. Create a single page, top-level growth plan

You have your Orbit Diagram and a top level three-year plan. Now, it’s time to focus thinking around the specific breakthroughs that need to be achieved in the next twelve months.

Begin your single page planning session by reviewing your three-year Orbit diagram. Facilitate a discussion with your team as to what they believe to be your company’s ‘vital few’ breakthroughs for the coming year.

As the name suggests, these are a small number of critical strategic breakthroughs the company must achieve if it is to stay on target to achieve the vision defined in the Orbit diagram. Consider these the 20% of actions that will ultimately drive 80% of the outcomes for the year.

Remember : you are selecting the optimum ‘vital few’ genuine breakthroughs that will drive strategic growth. Resist the temptation to include progression goals that would have naturally occurred anyway!

Next, decide which of the draft ‘vital few’ breakthroughs your company should adopt. To do this, you must first recognise the reality of the situation.

These breakthroughs must be high level, high-growth orientated and strategic in nature. They should be set with understanding, not just bravado. And like any tangible business objective, they should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely).

Typical “vital few” examples which deliver step changes in growth could include:

• Increase sales turnover with existing customers from £1 million to £1.5 million by November 2017
• Achieve £0.5 million turnover from new export strategy by Dec 2017
• Generate £400k from the launch of new product X by year end
• Win a £600k contract from the aerospace sector before Dec 2017

If we refer to these agreed ‘vital few’ as the “WHATs” (What we want to achieve), then next we must establish and agree the HOWs (How we will achieve the WHATs). Alternatively, you can think of the “WHATs” as the ends, and the “HOWs” as the means to an end.

Take each selected “WHAT” in turn; ask the team to brainstorm what they believe to be the key drivers of execution for this breakthrough. What important things must happen to convert this aspiration into a reality?

3. Set out clear, defined action plans for key growth projects

Once you’ve identified your HOWs, it’s critical to drill down further still to deliver on your vision.

This stage ensures that each distinct project has defined targets, measures of success and agreed timescales for delivery. In addition, it helps establish who is to be responsible for the delivery of each HOW project – a Champion, who can take ownership and hold accountability for outcomes.

Develop an Action Plan for each HOW project. Champions will need a robust action plan to ensure each HOW project is delivered on time and to specification. While there are many complex project applications and tools available, it can be helpful to take a simple, top-level approach to mapping out the core essentials, as per below.

This highly visual review technique can also be used to drive the agenda for review meetings, with projects in ‘red’ getting immediate attention.  This helps keep your strategic plans on track.

4. Identify funding opportunities from local growth hubs and LEPS

If you’re a business with the ambition and potential for growth, the good news is, there’s a wealth of support available.

Growth hubs  are local public/private sector partnerships led by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). They join up national and local business support, making it easy for businesses to find the help they need.

Available grants can range between £1,000 and £6,000 in some areas, with funds available to SME businesses to support identified growth projects that demonstrate a clear ‘step change’ approach for the business. These can provide vital assistance to increase turnover and support the creation of new jobs. Grants can also make up to a 40% cost contribution towards the cost of services such as expert advice, coaching or consultancy across a variety of business disciplines.

In other areas, grants are also available to put towards the cost of funding and support to expand and develop your workforce. To find out more about support available for your business, visit www.gov.uk or call the Business Support Helpline on 0300 456 3565 to speak to an advisor.

5. Partner a business coach with a proven track record for driving businesses growth

Partnering with an experienced, specialised business coach can maximise your chances of delivering on your strategic vision and provide you with the freedom and time to focus on what you do best: running your business.

When setting out ambitious growth plans, don’t underestimate the value a coach can deliver; these are individuals who can provide focus, align actions with your overall objectives and give valuable insight and experience.

However, buyer beware: there are so many ‘coaches’ out there, but not all are equal in terms of what they can deliver. Ensure you look for one who is verified and credible; ideally qualified with an ILM Level 7 Masters Equivalent in Coaching and a member of a recognised coaching body such as the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). By selecting someone who is certified, you can safeguard your business and investment while ensuring your partner meets with set standards and a defined code of practice for coaching.

Take time to consider what your objectives are for working with a coach. There are many definitions of coaching; not all coaching styles are suited to all organisations. It’s more important when sourcing a partner to look for an individual who has robust experience of business and the commercial world, with a proven track record for delivering high quality business coaching.

The two key criteria against which to judge potential Growth Coaches, therefore, are:

• Personal business record: look for experienced and credible business people who have strong commercial acumen and firsthand knowledge of growing a business, either as a business owner or in a senior position.
• Proven track record in coaching business leaders: the most effective coaches can demonstrate an existing successful track record as a business coach, focusing on business performance.

Finally, look for a coach who can demonstrate their credibility, experience and expertise. These are the individuals who can build strong and robust relationships with business leaders, creating profitable partnerships.

Is it too late to get started for 2017?

No. It’s never too late. Before we wrap up for Christmas, take the time to get your leadership team together and get business planning for the year ahead. You won’t regret it.

We are an award winning Sales Training, Leadership and Business Coaching provider, we focus on delivering tailored programmes to help businesses achieve sustainable growth.

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Create Your Business Plan in Minutes

Type your business idea below.

What Our Users Say

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How it Works

Questionnaire

Respond to a series of targeted questions about your business goals and objectives.

AI Business Plan Generator

The engine analyzes your responses and generates a business plan tailored to your vision.

SBA Approved Business Plan

Receive a detailed, tailored business plan that aligns with your requirements. Ready for funding.

WHO BENEFITS FROM Plannit?

Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Analyze your ventures through extensive business plans aligned with your vision and goals.

Business Owners

Back your business with a solid plan that aligns with your vision and goals. Perfect for startups and small businesses.

Educational Institutions

Develop your business understanding and vocabulary by analyzing your business idea and creating a plan.

Startups Accelerators

Work alongside your founders as they build their plan to ensure they have a solid roadmap for growth and scalability.

Try Plannit AI For Free

Funding ready business plan, executive summary, company overview.

Problem Statement

Business Description

Mission Statement

Business Model

Products and Services

Additional Features

Revenue Model

Market Analysis

Target Market

Market Size and Segments

Unique Value Proposition

Risks and Mitigations

Identified Risks

Mitigation Strategies

Financial Overview

Income Statement

Marketing and Sales Plan

Focus On Your Vision

Language support.

Key Features & Benefits

Ai editing companion.

Modify and regenerate sections of your business plan using premade or custom prompts. Our AI will help you refine your plan to perfection.

Multi-User Collaboration

Invite team members with easy sharing to collaborate on your business plan in real-time. Communicate and make changes together. Collaborate with your partners in real-time as you perfect your plan.

Education Center

Immerse yourself in a rich library of articles, tools, templates, webinars and resources for continuous business and professional growth. Learn all about the key aspects of starting, running and growing a business.

Powered by Chat GPT

Our algorithms are powered the latest in AI technology to ensure the most accurate and relevant output. We use OpenAI's GPT 4 and 3.5 engines for the perfect blend of accuracy and speed.

Business Resources

We recommend a variety of useful tools and resurces that help sustain your growth. We only recommend the best in the business. Filter your needs and equip yourself with the best tools.

Your plan in your language. We offer a choice of over 150 worldwide languages to ensure the best fit for your business plan.

Financial Projections

Take an additional questionnaire about your financial trajectory and get a detailed financial projection + 3 year income statement for your business.

Tools and Templates

Plannit's comprehensive suite that accompany business planning. From pitch decks to financial models, we have you covered.

Plan Export

Download your business plan in an editable .docx format. Fully edit & share your plan with investors, partners, and stakeholders.

Privacy & Security

Rest assured, your privacy is our top priority, and we're committed to keeping your information safe and confidential.

PLANNIT BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Initiate with Your Business Concept: Lay the Groundwork: Start by introducing your business idea into Plannit AI's Business Plan Generator. This first step is crucial, as it sets the tone for a tailored, insightful business plan that truly resonates with your vision. Capture the Essence: Our platform is designed to grasp the nuances of your concept, ensuring that the generated plan accurately reflects the core and potential of your business.
• Navigate Through the AI-Guided Questionnaire: Tailored Interactive Experience: Plannit AI’s AI-guided questionnaire is your interactive guide through the planning process. It meticulously gathers information about your business's objectives, strategies, and market positioning, ensuring a comprehensive and reflective plan. Intelligent Feedback and Suggestions: As you progress through the questionnaire, benefit from smart prompts and suggestions, ensuring that your plan is not just detailed but also strategically sound and aligned with industry standards.
• Generate Your Plan with Advanced AI: Intuitive Plan Creation: With the questionnaire complete, Plannit AI's advanced algorithms intelligently analyze your responses. They then craft a detailed, customizable, and strategically aligned business plan, providing you with a structured, coherent, and actionable format. Benefit from AI-Powered Insights: Plannit AI offers AI-driven insights and suggestions, ensuring your plan is not just a document but a strategic tool equipped with tailored AI prompts and an in-app plan editor. Get inspired by browsing through our sample business plans, a collection of successful strategies across various industries.
• Finalize Your Plan with Confidence: Dynamic Adaptation and Refinement: Plannit AI recognizes that a business plan is a living document. Our platform allows for continuous adaptation and refinement, ensuring your strategy remains agile, relevant, and aligned with your evolving business goals. Professional Presentation and Sharing: Once your plan meets your standards, utilize Plannit AI's export features to present your plan professionally. Choose between various formats for exporting your business plan, ready to impress stakeholders, attract investors, or guide your team. Review and Adapt: Ensure your business plan is a living document, ready to evolve with your growing business. Plannit AI's dynamic platform allows you to adapt your strategy as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Roadmap for Success: At its core, a business plan acts as a strategic guide, providing detailed steps on how your business will achieve its objectives. It helps you navigate the startup phase, manage growth effectively, and tackle unforeseen challenges with a well-thought-out strategy.
• Securing Funding: For startups and businesses looking to expand, a business plan is crucial for securing loans or attracting investors. It demonstrates to potential financial backers that your business has a clear vision, a solid strategy for profitability, and a plan for delivering returns on their investment.
• Informed Decision-Making: A well-prepared business plan offers valuable insights into your market, competition, and potential challenges. This information is vital for making informed decisions, from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic shifts.
• Market Analysis and Strategy: It allows you to conduct an in-depth analysis of your target market, understand customer needs, and position your product or service effectively. The marketing strategy outlined in your business plan helps in identifying the best channels and tactics to reach your audience and achieve market penetration.
• Financial Planning: One of the most critical components of a business plan is the financial forecast. It outlines your funding requirements, expected revenue, profit margins, and cash flow projections. This section is essential for budgeting, financial management, and ensuring the financial viability of your business.
• Goal Setting and Performance Measurement: A business plan sets clear, measurable goals and objectives. It provides a framework for monitoring performance, measuring success, and making necessary adjustments to stay on track.
• Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you're at the idea stage, looking to transform your vision into a viable business, Plannit AI offers the tools and guidance to bring your concept to life. Our platform helps you articulate your business idea, define your target market, and develop a solid plan to turn your dream into reality.
• Students and Educators: For students delving into the intricacies of business planning and educators teaching the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, Plannit AI serves as an invaluable resource. It provides a practical, hands-on tool for learning and teaching how to create detailed business plans, analyze markets, and understand financials in a real-world context.
• Startup Founders: In the dynamic startup environment, Plannit AI is the ideal partner for founders looking to pivot quickly, secure funding, or understand their competitive landscape. With our AI-driven insights and market analysis tools, startups can make informed decisions and adapt their strategies to thrive in competitive markets.
• Small Business Owners: For small business owners seeking to optimize their operations, expand their customer base, or explore new markets, Plannit AI offers targeted solutions. Our platform simplifies the planning process, enabling owners to focus on growth while managing the day-to-day challenges of running their business.
• Consultants and Freelancers: Consultants and freelancers specializing in business development, strategic planning, or financial advising will find Plannit AI a powerful addition to their toolkit. It allows them to provide clients with comprehensive, data-driven business plans and strategies, enhancing the value of their services.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Leaders of non-profit organizations can leverage Plannit AI to plan initiatives, secure funding, and manage resources more efficiently. Our platform helps non-profits articulate their mission, set achievable goals, and measure their impact, ensuring they can make a difference in their communities.
• Innovators and Inventors: Individuals looking to commercialize innovative products or technologies can use Plannit AI to navigate the complexities of bringing new ideas to market. From patent strategies to go-to-market plans, our platform covers all bases, ensuring innovators can focus on what they do best.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Government Agencies: Government and SBA backed entities can greatly benefit from integrating Plannit AI into their services, enhancing their ability to support a larger number of clients more efficiently. By facilitating quicker, more in-depth business plan development, these organizations can spend more time assisting with plan execution and less time on creation, ultimately serving their communities more effectively.
• Anyone with a Business Idea: Ultimately, Plannit AI is for anyone with a business idea, regardless of industry, experience, or stage of business development. Our mission is to democratize business planning, making it accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone.
• Interactive Questionnaire and ChatGPT Integration: Plannit AI transforms the business planning process into an engaging conversation. Through our advanced ChatGPT integration, we offer a questionnaire that dynamically adapts to your responses, ensuring your plan is personalized, comprehensive, and aligned with your business goals.
• Dynamic Planning Environment: Unlike static templates provided by many, Plannit AI introduces a living platform that grows with your business. It features real-time updates, strategic insights, and a feedback mechanism that keeps your business plan current and actionable.
• Extensive Educational Resources: Our Education Center is packed with articles, guides, and sample plans to bolster your planning process. It's designed to arm you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of your industry confidently.
• Enhanced Collaboration and Customization: Recognizing the collaborative essence of business planning, Plannit AI supports team efforts with multi-user editing, annotations, and feedback features, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your strategy.
• Customer Success Stories: Our users' achievements are a testament to Plannit AI's effectiveness. These success stories illustrate how diverse businesses have utilized our platform for strategic planning and growth.
• Tailored Business Plan Creation: Our platform stands out with its tailored approach, featuring customizable templates that directly cater to your business type and industry, making plan creation straightforward and relevant.
• Content Generation:: ChatGPT helps draft various sections of a business plan, from executive summaries to marketing strategies, by providing structured and coherent text based on the prompts given.
• Strategic Insights: It can offer suggestions on business strategies by analyzing trends and providing examples from a wide range of industries.
• Financial Planning: While it can't replace professional financial advice, ChatGPT can guide the structure of financial projections and statements, helping you consider important financial aspects of your plan.

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We help organisations boost their business performance through practical improvement strategies.

We build a clear picture of how all aspects of your business come together to create value, uncover hidden inefficiencies, and reveal untapped opportunities.

We design and define customer-centric processes and enable organisations to effectively manage operational risks and meet compliance requirements.

We serve clients from corporate, government, and not for profits sectors.

Our Services

Advisory, Design, Improvement and Operational Risk Practice

We assist CEOs, Heads of Divisions & Team Leaders to solve their business challenges and improve their customer and business outcomes, and become resilient to operational risks.

Our experience spans strategy, business planning, budgeting, operations design, operating risk management and controls design, compliance by design, process transformation, technology transformation, Agile delivery, Lean, Six Sigma, and Design Thinking. 

Our expertise is founded on Lean principles, Human-Centered Design thinking, meticulous data analysis, process engineering, and insightful performance measurement.

We have synthesised these into a cohesive Open Orbit approach where Clever meets Simple.

Clients engage us for advice on:

• Documenting processes and controls to meet regulatory requirements
• Translating strategic goals into Operational Excellence
• Stripping out non-value-adding activities
• Delivering consistent experience to customers and staff
• Situating KPIs in the flow of service delivery
• Streamlining business processes
• Assessing automation readiness
• Building Lean and continuous improvement muscle in their teams

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The Open Orbit platform provides a DIY tool to define and optimize your processes.

It makes Lean Six Sigma and Design Thinking accessible through an easy to use platform where Clever meets Simple.

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Senators See Possible Conflicts of Interest in Health Care Pricing Tools

A data analytics firm that helps insurers collect big fees while leaving some patients with unpaid bills has been summoned to explain its business model.

By Chris Hamby

Chris Hamby has been investigating the lucrative business of out-of-network medical claims.

The chairmen of two Senate committees overseeing health policy, concerned about companies “padding their own profits” at the expense of patients, are looking into the practices of a data analytics firm that works with big insurers to cut payments to medical providers.

The firm, MultiPlan, recommends what it says are fair payments for medical care, but the firm and the insurers can collect higher fees when payouts are lower. This business model could “result in an improper conflict of interest,” the chairmen of the two committees, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, wrote in a letter to the firm’s chief executive that was released on Tuesday.

The senators called on MultiPlan to meet with the committees’ staffs to discuss an investigation last month by The New York Times that found the firm’s pricing tools could leave patients with unexpectedly large bills when they see doctors outside their health plans’ networks.

“Our committees are engaged in ongoing legislative work to put a stop to practices by plan service providers that drive up health care costs for consumers while padding their own profits,” the letter to Travis Dalton, the MultiPlan chief executive, said.

In a statement, MultiPlan said it was working with the Senate committees “to address their questions and explain the cost and complexity patients can face” when choosing high-priced care outside their networks. “We are committed to helping make health care transparent, fair and affordable for all,” the statement said.

The committees’ inquiry reflects growing scrutiny of the New York-based firm, which has largely remained out of the limelight even as it has staked out a dominant position in a lucrative corner of health care.

Another senator, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, this month asked federal antitrust regulators to investigate whether insurers and MultiPlan were colluding to fix prices, and multiple health systems have sued the firm, accusing it of similar anticompetitive behavior.

Separately, the Department of Labor said Tuesday that it had “a number of open investigations” into the type of pricing services MultiPlan provides, but declined to name specific companies. The agency, the primary regulator of employer-based health insurance, stressed in a statement that companies were legally obligated to ensure the firms processing medical claims acted in their employees’ best interest.

The letter from Mr. Wyden, a Democrat, and Mr. Sanders, an independent, also steps up attention on employer-based health insurance, which is the most common way Americans get coverage and a major component of MultiPlan’s business.

As health care costs climb, some employers are looking more closely at what they pay insurance companies to administer their plans, but they are often frustrated by contracts that limit access to their own claims data. To address this, a bipartisan group of senators, including Mr. Sanders, introduced legislation in December that would require insurers to turn over this data .

“Most businesses do their best to manage the ever-increasing cost of their group health plan, but it should be easier,” Senator Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican and cosponsor of the bill, said in a statement.

A majority of employers choose to pay medical claims with their own money and use an insurer to administer their plans. This setup, known as “self-funding,” can be lucrative for insurers like UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Aetna, as well as specialized firms like MultiPlan.

The insurers pitch MultiPlan’s tools as a way to save employers money when their employees see a medical provider outside the plan’s network. The bills for these out-of-network providers are subject to negotiation, and insurers often send the claims to MultiPlan, which recommends an amount to pay.

Both MultiPlan and insurers typically collect a fee from the employer based on the size of what they call the “savings” — the provider’s list price minus the recommended payment. Lower payouts can mean bigger fees. Meanwhile, patients can be stuck with the unpaid balance, The Times investigation found.

Companies are legally obligated to ensure the insurers act in employees’ best interest, and a closely watched lawsuit filed last year could force them to become more active monitors.

A worker at Johnson & Johnson sued the company, saying it had failed to adequately oversee the administrator of its drug benefits plan. By paying too much — in one instance, $10,000 for a drug that was available for as little as $28.40 — the company had allowed the administrator, the Cigna subsidiary Express Scripts, to profit at employees’ expense, the suit claimed.

In a statement, Johnson & Johnson called the claims “meritless” and said, “We are committed to our employees and seek to provide the best coverage.”

A small industry of consultants, lawyers and data analysts has arisen to help companies step up monitoring and negotiate better deals with the insurers administering their plans.

Kraft Heinz last year sued Aetna, claiming the insurer improperly paid claims and kept millions in undisclosed fees. Trustees for a union health plan in Massachusetts sued Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in 2021, accusing the insurer of repeatedly overpaying claims and then charging a fee to correct the errors. And in January the Department of Labor sued Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, claiming the company forced multiple employers to pay medical providers’ tax bills without disclosing the charges.

(Aetna declined to comment on the case but said it worked with employers “to facilitate access to quality, affordable and convenient health care.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota said the government’s allegations were “without merit” and “based on unsupported interpretations” of the law. A court dismissed the Massachusetts case.)

The success of the employers’ efforts sometimes hinges on an unsettled legal question: Does a company’s duty to act solely in its employees’ best interest extend to insurers and firms like MultiPlan? Courts have reached different conclusions.

MultiPlan has argued that the answer is no, and in March a federal judge in California agreed, dismissing the company from a lawsuit filed by medical providers. The case against the insurer, Cigna, was allowed to go forward.

In pitches to investors, MultiPlan has highlighted its murky legal obligations. Because the firm doesn’t provide insurance or pay claims, it noted in a public filing, “we generally are not directly regulated and face significantly lower levels of regulatory complexity.”

Chris Hamby is an investigative reporter for The Times, based in Washington. More about Chris Hamby

Our Coverage of Congress

Here’s the latest news and analysis from capitol hill..

Border Deal Fails Again: Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border enforcement bill for a second time this year , voting down legislation they initially insisted upon to stem a surge of migrants across the United States border with Mexico.

Noncitizen Voting Law: The House passed legislation that would undo a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote  in local elections, part of a broader bid by Republicans to amplify false claims of widespread illegal voting by immigrants.

Democrats’ ‘Sword and Shield’ Strategy: Despite certain defeat, Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, is pushing showdown votes on border security  and abortion rights  ahead of this year’s elections. Here’s why .

Trump’s Meeting With Oil Executives: Senate Democrats opened an investigation  into a fund-raising dinner where Donald Trump asked oil executives to donate $1 billion to his campaign and vowed to roll back climate rules .

A New Centrism Rises: The emergence of a new form of American centrism — call it neopopulism  — has made the last four years arguably the most productive period of bipartisanship in Washington in decades.

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North Korea plans to launch a rocket soon, likely carrying its second military spy satellite

FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what the country said is the launch of the Malligyong-1, a military spy satellite, into orbit on Nov. 21, 2023. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol talks to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, duo not pictured, during their trilateral meeting at the blue house in Seoul, South Korea Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Daisuke Suzuki/Kyodo News via AP)

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea announced plans to launch a rocket apparently carrying its second military spy satellite during an eight-day period starting Monday, drawing quick, strong rebukes from neighbors South Korea and Japan.

The notification of the planned launch, banned under U.N. resolutions, came as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul for their first trilateral meeting in more than four years.

Japan’s coast guard said it was notified by North Korea about its planned launch of a “satellite rocket,” with a warning of caution in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and China and east of the main Philippine island of Luzon beginning Monday through midnight June 3.

North Korea provides Japan with its launch information because Japan’s coast guard coordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia.

North Korea’s planned launch is thought to be an attempt to put its second military spy satellite into orbit. South Korea’s military said Friday it detected signs of suspected preparations to launch a spy satellite at North Korea’s main Tongchangri launch facility in the northwest.

The U.N. bans North Korea from conducting any satellite launches, viewing them as covers for testing long-range missile technology. North Korea has steadfastly maintained it has the right to launch satellites and test missiles. It says spy satellites will allow it to better monitor the U.S. and South Korea’s moves and enhance the precision strike capability of its nuclear-capable missiles.

“Any launch (by North Korea) using ballistic missile technology would directly violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and undermine peace and security of the region and the world,” Yoon said at the start of the meeting with Kishida and Li. “If North Korea presses ahead with its launch despite the international warning, I think the international community must sternly deal with it.”

Kishida said he strongly urges North Korea to cancel the launch. China is a North Korean ally, and Li didn’t mention the North Korean satellite.

In phone talks earlier Monday, senior diplomats from Japan, South Korea and the United States agreed to call on North Korea to abandon the launch. South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which deals with North Korea, separately called a satellite launch by the North “a provocation that seriously threatens our and regional security.”

Later Monday, South Korea mobilized 20 fighter jets for a drill meant to demonstrate its resolve to punish North Korea in the event of provocation, according to South Korea’s military. Japanese officials said their missile interceptors remain ready to shoot down any debris from a North Korean rocket if it falls on Japanese territory.

Last November, North Korea sent its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit as part of efforts to build a space-based surveillance network to cope with what it calls increasing U.S.-led military threats. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later told a governing party meeting that the country would launch three additional military spy satellites in 2024.

Whether the North Korean satellites can produce militarily meaningful imagery is widely doubted, but some civilian experts say operating several satellites could help North Korea continuously monitor big enemy targets.

The latest launch notification to Japan identifies the same danger zones for potential rocket debris as those identified prior to North Korea’s last launch. That suggests North Korea would use the same first and second rocket stages as before, said Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.

Chang said launching three satellites this year would allow North Korea to obtain imagery on sites in South Korea, Japan and the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam more frequently.

Since 2022, North Korea has been engaged in a provocative run of missile tests to modernize and expand its weapons arsenal, prompting the U.S., South Korea and Japan to strengthen their security partnership in response. Experts say North Korea likely believes an enlarged weapons arsenal would increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S.

Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

Follow AP’s Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

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The Business Model Canvas. The Customer Journey Map. The Budget Template.

As you’ve probably figured out, there is no one-size-fits-all franchise model for rebuilding your local food system..

But there are best practices and business planning tools that can guide you toward building your operation in a smart, thoughtful way. We have adapted two excellent business design tools to a local food distribution focus. Whether you’re just getting started or whether you’re looking to grow your operation, these tools are an alternative to lengthy business plans that end up sitting on shelves (or digital folders). They’re designed to help you plan, assess and evolve. By providing a flexible framework for mapping your business and the experience of your customers, these tools offer a different lens through which to assess opportunities and solve operational challenges.

They’re designed to help you continually plan, assess and evolve – so you can develop a robust business that has the capacity to change the food system.

Download local orbit’s business model canvas.

Before you begin the Business Model Canvas, read through each area of the blank canvas. Every section prompts you with questions to think about. It might seem overwhelming at first, but it will begin to make sense as you see how all of the sections are connected. At the center of the canvas are your Value Propositions. What makes your business different from all of the other food distributors, and how do you add value for your producers and your buyers? When you have a clear sense of the various ways you offer value, you can begin to piece together other aspects of the canvas like the partners you should work with, the activities you’ll need to be doing, and which customer segments to focus on for business growth and sustainability. We recommend completing the canvas in an iterative way. Fill in the sections that come easily to you, then repeat the process and make revisions based on how other sections refine your approach. Completing the initial draft of this canvas will make it easier for you to communicate your ideas and receive valuable feedback from your colleagues and mentors.

• See a   sample populated canvas   using a well-known company’s model as an example.
• Take a look at a preview of the Business Model Generation book .
• Watch a video tutorial about the Business Model Canvas.

We suggest printing out the PDF as a poster – printing it out 24″ x 36″ on architectural printers is an affordable option at most copy shops – and then brainstorming with sticky notes. Alternatively, you might laminate it to use with dry erase markers. Seeing the various parts of your business from a new perspective then can help you be more strategic and see how to connect your big vision to everyday operations on the ground.  Make sure to put it on a wall where you and your team can continue to review and update as you learn!

Download Local Orbit’s Customer Journey Map

• Using Customer Journey Maps to Improve Customer Experience
• Examples of Customer Journey Mapping
• Customer Journey Mapping: 10 Tips For Beginners
• Customer Journey Map – the Top 10 Requirements

Download Local Orbit’s Budget Template

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A Starting Place

These tools are a just starting place. They are only as worthwhile as they are useful in helping you develop your business. If the Business Model Canvas is missing a key question for your operation, add a new section! If the budget doesn’t have the right expense categories for your situation, change it make it more useful for you.  Make them your own tools.  And please let us know how you’re using them, and how they could be more helpful!  We follow our own advice and iterate based on feedback.

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We share useful data, resources and occasional updates about the local orbit network..

There is no doubt about Green Survey’s advice for other startup businesses when it comes to the implementation of a digital solution for all their data.

COWI maintains a competitive advantage with new, superior solution to handle CV and Reference data

With the Orbit app for Power BI you get processed, ready to use data, for visual reporting, giving you the insights you need to make better business decisions.

Orbit Outlook Archive Extension, synchronise your files so you can easily navigate your email history and handle both your files and contacts without a hitch.

Work better with your data

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Features & Functions

The resource planning software for efficient booking of teams

Gather all your necessary data in one functional and clear solution.

Gantt: Clear visualisation of your booked resources

Getting an overview of your booked resources can be spreadsheet acrobatics, which causes administrative headache and no reassurance that your data is correct and up-to-date.

With Orbit's Resource Planning software, you save both time and labour, as the tool always gives you an updated and clear visualisation of your resources.

That way, you always have a well-informed basis for assessing whether there is a profit in investing in new projects, or what consequences previously exceeded deadlines will have for your available resources in the future.

Clear visual of your resources

Gain a complete overview of the occupancy rate across professional groups. Filter on departments, competencies, or the structure of the organisation.

Assigned Task

Direct link to assigned task

Project management references give you a short cut to restructuring and booked resources that are e.g. overbooked.

Create your own view

Create and save your own Gantt dashboard. Resource management uses master data from employees to filter, so you can create filters with the exact data that your need.

The resource planning software to avoid overbooked teams or competencies

Overbooked employees or lack of competencies in a project can have serious consequences for the company – both financially and operationally.

Priorities can change after a project has been jump-started, and you will often have to re-assign project participants.

Orbit Resource Planning software makes it possible for you to reorder your resource priorities directly in your to-do list while maintaining an overview of whether or not the new assignee is available for the task.

Use Orbit Resource Planning to keep track of available capacity for delegated tasks as soon as you begin planning the project.

Orbit has helped us to a better solution than we could have imagined. Through ongoing advice and guidance from Orbit, we got a platform that suited us. Mila Stenbye Vester Digital Business Development Manager, NCC

Auto-assign: forecast projects fast & accurately

In a sales situation, it can be crucial to be able to give a realistic answer to when a project can be initiated.

The Orbit auto-assign feature uses your defined project template to know which competency group is used to execute the job.

Afterwards, you can use our simple “drag-and-drop” board, in the project module, which makes it easy to obtain an overview of when you realistically have the necessary resources available to kickstart the next extensive project.

Choose your industry

Explore all Orbit features

More time-saving features that streamline your project planning process

Restructure your resource management with Orbit

Contact us to book a live demo and learn more about how Orbit can help your business handle your execution capacity.

ORBIT ONLINE A/S

Åbogade 25 8200 Århus N

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