Future Proofing is Vital for SME Company Directors

Hello, I’m Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS Small Business and ESS BIZTOOLS.  Welcome to Empowering SMEs.

Creating “future proofing” for a SME company and not-for-profits, charities, sporting and social organisations is an important issue for directors of SME companies and committee members of organisations.  ESS Small Business’ “Corporate Governance Network” is targeted at SME company directors and officers and committee members and officers of not-for-profits, charities, sporting and social organisations.

The particular challenge that is being presented to participants is – “are you and your organisation developing strategies for “future proofing” your company or organisation to meet the challenges of the next few years?”

The “Corporate Governance Network” is being presented in 8 x 90-120-minute webinar/workshops during 2018/19 with the first series being presented at varying times to suit to participants on:

• Wednesday, 15th August 2018 at 12-noon AEST; or
• Wednesday, 15th August 2018 at 7.00pm AEST; or
• Tuesday, 21st August 2018 at 7.30am AEST

The annual investment in the Corporate Governance Network is $499 (incl GST) for the first participant from a company or organisation.  There are discount packages available for more than one person registering from the same company/organisation. 

The issues confronting SME company directors and committee members of organisations, as they set strategies for “future proofing “ their company or organisation, include:

• finding and keeping quality staff
• corporate “memory” – are important matters being documented?
• digital disruption
• new market trends
• winning new business
• implementing appropriate innovation within the company or organisation
• monitoring business activities in the company/organisation including:
• Marketing
• Selling
• Budgets
• Cashflows
• Debtors’ Systems
• Debtors’ Collection
• Human Resources
• Workplace Health and Safety
• Government Grants
• Research and Development activities being undertaken within the company or organisation
• identification of research and development projects that have revenue generation potential
• ensuring that systems have been implemented to ensure that trade secrets are documented and protected and, that if the project is identified as requiring protection, a patent application has been prepared and lodged
• continually reviewing the skills that the company/organisation needs at the board/committee level
• updating the company/organisation skills’ matrix to identify skills needed for the board/committee
• identifying potential new persons to be appointed as directors or committee members
• an ongoing policy to “refresh” the board or committee
• being aware of new opportunities in the marketplace including:
• Crowd Sourced Funding Equity Raising opportunity to raise up to $5m annually from the market
• Early Stage Innovation Company Capital Raising opportunity if the company has developed new products, processes or services
• considering questions such as:
• what do you want your business to be like in 3 to 5 years?
• revenue, profit and cashflow
• services, products
• clients/customers
• technology
• team members
• brand
• marketing and sales
• governance
• leadership
• what outcomes do your clients/customers want?
• what outcomes does your team want?
• what is your board or committee’s position on culture and values within the company or organisation?
• What behaviour is acceptable?
• What behaviour is not acceptable?

What have you established relative to strategic initiatives for the business – what three things do you need to nail this quarter?

Has your company or organisation developed a business governance policy?

What meeting patterns has your company or organisation adopted?

• Annual Strategic Business Review Meeting?
• Quarterly Board/Committee Meetings?
• Monthly Board/Committee Meetings?
• Monthly Operational Meetings?
• Weekly Project Group Meetings?
• Weekly Job Review and Sales Meetings?
• Daily 10-minute stand up with direct reports?

To find out more about the Corporate Governance Network, why not click on to our webinar overview at ESS Small Business – Corporate Governance Network – please click here.

Why not subscribe now so that you can access the Corporate Governance Network members area for the articles for the first webinar/workshop – please click here.

If you have any questions on the aspects of the Corporate Governance Network being presented by ESS Small Business to assist directors and officers of SME companies and committee members and officers of not-for-profits, charities, social and sporting organisations, please do not hesitate to contact us – peter@essbiztools.com.au or Telephone 1800 232 088.

Have a great day!