Process

FIRST STEPS

PATH Business Architects  provides essential strategy to businesses that need to start, modify, or totally transform their operations. After more than 20 years of first-hand experience building and consulting for businesses, we have evolved the PATH Process which yields proven and quantifiable results for our clients.

The PATH Process comprises 5 phases:

1. Discovery
   • Interviewing key people regarding company history, roles, available resources, challenges and goals.
   • Providing a summary-brief reflecting the discovery information.
   • Developing a list of questions to be answered prior to phase 2.

2. Outline Potential Paths

1. • Determining all the viable paths towards achieving the goals stated in Phase 1. Providing a list of follow-up questions for each path that will allow us to narrow down to one or a hybrid path in Phase 3.

3. Calendar Plan

1. • Determining a specific calendar based plan comprising action items and milestones. These may include such sub-deliverables as: 
     • Competitive Analysis 
     • Legal, Product & Market Research
     • Funding Plan
     • P&L Forecast
     • Human Resources Organization Chart
     • Marketing Plan
     • Physical Infrastructure Rollout

4. Structural Standards

1. • Determining the standards, policies and practices that will guide successful implementation of the Calendar Plan. This is the “how we conduct ourselves” part of “when we conduct our work.” These may include such things as:
     • HR standards and processes
     • Marketing or Public Relations standards
     • Information technology choices
     • Internal communications practices
     • Physical optimization of workplace

5. Ongoing review

1. • Establishing a review and compliance routine to ensure newly established standards are upheld, calendar timeliness are met, and ultimate goals are accomplished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does it matter if I only have a few employees?

A: No. All organizations including non-profits and volunteer based groups have goals and it’s the job of a Business Architect to evaluate the structures and resources that exist within the context of the organization. It might be a family-run business with a mix of part-time and non-paid helpers, or it might be a 100 person government agency. The PATH Process is universal and scales perfectly for both large and small organizations.

Q: How long does the PATH Process take?

A: The PATH Process always follows the 5 phases and is adjusted to the specific needs of each client. A sole proprietor may want to improve a small aspect of their business practice. Using our catalog of past experience, this could perhaps be accomplished in a short time. A large organization may need to transform from one type of structure to another– this may require many months or years. In each case I follow the process and provide the key frameworks needed to transform the business in the most efficient and viable manner.

Q: How much does the PATH Process cost?

The total cost of the Process is determined by the scope and time required to design a plan for your level of change. Hourly cost is $200/hr. Consulting may be billed on an ongoing basis or we can provide a firm up-front end-to-end cost based on an initial 1 hour consultation.

Q: Are there discounts for non-profits or first-time entrepreneurs?

Because we strongly empathize with the unique challenges first-time entrepreneurs and non-profits face, we offer a yearly lottery where we accept one client based on the particular merits of their challenge/opportunity. A reduced fee of $1000 payable in advance is returned upon completion of Phase 5. Please contact us with details of your organization for consideration.