Professional Advice and Business Planning Report for Accenture

This report offers a comprehensive analysis of business planning strategies for Accenture, a consulting firm. It begins with an introduction highlighting the importance of professional advice in business planning, covering areas such as market analysis and customer preferences. The report then delves into a SWOT analysis, identifying Accenture's strengths and weaknesses, including its vast workforce and lack of internal coordination. It examines performance measurement, including key performance indicators and feedback processes. Marketing threats are discussed, along with recommendations to overcome them, such as customer loyalty programs. The report also explores business expansion strategies, like collaboration and establishing in new regions. It covers the development of training programs, the importance of business plans, and the implementation of action plans. Finally, it discusses the impact of change management, including the process of identifying problems, selecting solutions, and monitoring performance to ensure continuous improvement and business success. The report concludes with a focus on the importance of regular review of business performance within the consultancy context.

Professional Advice on
Business Planning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 ...............................................................................................................................................1
1.2................................................................................................................................................2
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................2
2.1................................................................................................................................................2
2.2................................................................................................................................................3
2.3................................................................................................................................................3
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................4
3.1................................................................................................................................................4
3.2................................................................................................................................................4
3.3................................................................................................................................................5
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................5
4.1................................................................................................................................................5
4.2................................................................................................................................................6
4.3................................................................................................................................................6
CONLUSION..................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
.....................................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
In this modern competing world it is very difficult to step up a new business without
taking professional advice for doing business planning as per the requirements and changing
needs of the environment like market study, taste and preferences of the customers and the
opportunities available to ensure that all the key elements are covered (Goretzki, Strauss and
Weber, 2013). Apart from this continuous monitoring and evaluation of work performed should
take place place so that improvement is undertaken as soon as with the occurrence of the
problem. Considering the following points present report is prepared considering the importance
of professional advice in doing business planning for Accenture which is a small business
consulting company.
LO 1
1.1
Reviewing strength and weakness in SWOT analysis of a particular company helps to
identify what are the distinct feature a company offers as compared to another players of the
market and what are its weakness it needs to focuses and work upon so that it can be converted it
into an opportunity (Lerner and Malmendier, 2013).
In the present context of Accenture it has the following strength and weakness:
Vast workforce: as Accenture has its offices situated in 48 countries having locals employed
within the respective countries its work is divided among the on shore and the offshore people
equally.
The policy of the company includes treating everyone with respect and giving equal
opportunities to everybody irrespective of their designation like accessing to gym and cafeteria,
parking facilities etc which makes accenture a great place to work.
Weakness
There is a lack of internal coordination between different branches of the company which is very
necessary to compete globally (Waldorff, Reay and Goodrick, 2013).
Dependence on consulting business for its major part of the revenue apart from having
management and Business Process Outsourcing as its other forms of activities.

1.2
Comparing Accenture through comparative measure of performance and delivering high
performance includes analysing it in terms of growth, profitability, productivity, investment
performance and consistency. Investment performance and consistency are the distinguished
performance areas which contribute maximum to its efficient working. The process adopted to
measure the organization performance efficiency includes:
identifying the goals and objectives and implementing it with the key performance indicators.
After implementation comes the regular feedback process which involves exchanging the ideas
between the employers and employees and judging their strength and weakness (Muzio and
Faulconbridge, 2013). In order to implement it efficiently proper senior management support and
training facilities are provided so that a proper performance management system is entrenched in
the organization culture.
Assessment of the feedback comes after this process in order to evaluate the actual performance
with the targeted.
Finally the improvement task is done in the respective fields so that it leads to the improvement
in overall performance of the organization in its every field of activity.
LO 2
2.1
Marketing threats are factors in the external environment that can inhibit you from
achieving your marketing goals (Muzio and Faulconbridge, 2013). Identifying these threats is
part of the strategic planning process of SWOT analysis. that are the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats. The concept helps to develop strategies to overcome marketing
threats, either by using your strengths to reduce the vulnerability to threats or by eliminating
internal weaknesses that make the organization vulnerable to threats.
The following are the recommendations that need to be implemented to overcome the identified
weaknesses.
Threats: The company should include the emergence of new competitors or low-cost
competitors, new products that offer better performance, slow market growth, barriers to market
entry.

Monitor: The concept threats to Accenture and be prepared to adjust the strategy as new threats
emerge. The company should make the use of the Internet to monitor the activities of existing
and emerging competitors.
New competitors: New competitors with a strong market offering can threaten to reduce the
organization's market share (Barbera and Hasso, 2013). So in order to protect Accenture should
develop customer base by developing a customer loyalty strategy or increasing the barriers to
entry for competitors. And also the company can introduce a customer loyalty program which
will be rewarding customers for maintaining or increasing levels of business.
2.2
The quality of the products and the services rendered is the key factor used in the
satisfaction of the consumers and they are wholly an solely responsible for the development of
the business organization. There should be acceptance of the products and services of the
organization and this factors aids in the growth of the business and this quality level should be
maintained by Accenture so as to enhance the quality of the products and services for future. So
the organization need to follow some ways for maintaining and strengthening the performance of
the business corporation (Walter, Parboteeah and Walter, 2013).
The consumer satisfaction should be considered and should be kept on top priority basis
and for that the company can carry out a survey on the quality of the products. Comparison of
the prices of the products of the rivals can be done in order to keep the prices of the products at
the lowest and here also the company can make survey or some reports which will play a key
role.
2.3
The below are some of the areas in which Accenture can plan to expand its business.
Collaboration: The concept is concerned with a way of bringing the skills and
experience of the business corporation together with those of another complementary business
that has a similar customer base to Accenture. By joining forces the company will be able to
raise awareness of the company's brand with customers in the target market that might never
have heard of the corporation.
Establishing in new regions: As the company is already established a successful
business in one location, one option for expansion is to set up the firm elsewhere. This needs to
be carefully considered though the business successful because of it's current location and could

it run without spending most of the time setting up elsewhere (Blackburn, Hart and Wainwright,
2013).
LO 3
3.1
Accenture is a consultancy firm and the main objective of the organization is to provide
the potential and most efficient individuals to the client companies and for establishment of this
objective the company the organization has developed different plans and strategies and also
tries to implement it. For the development purpose Accenture provide training sessions and
development programmes to the selected human resource at a very low range as compared to
their competitors. The weakness of the competitors are to be kept on priority basis and are used
while developing and planning the strategies. And this will be proven fruitful for the business
corporation.
3.2
Business plans are very essential element of the company because when the business
organisation has been set up it has to carry out its business in a planned manner. Such step has
been taken by the company that various kind of profits shall be attained by the company and
there shall be several kinds of development in the company (Lussier and Corman, 2015). It has
been seen with the big example of Accenture that it has taken a great business plan while
establishing its root in the market of corporate world. The business plan which has been followed
by accenture is:
understanding the nature of the business- it is very important to understand the nature of the
business so that a particular working shall be carried out in business context only.
Calculating strength- a company must know its strength and the application of strength in right
manner
Accounting Opportunities- it is very important for the company to incurred various kind of
opportunities so that business shall take a big turnover.
Rectifying threat- a company must also know what are its threat so that various kinds of solution
and precaution can be taken to avoid or to rectify them.

3.3
An action plan can be defined as the plan which has been undertaken by the organisation
in which certain actions are to be defined, help in attaining the goals of the company. It is very
important for a company to prepare and present an action plan for the organisation so that
various goals which has been set up by the company can be achieved and profits shall be
incurred (Van Auken and Horton, 2015). The sequence of steps which shall be taken by the
company in order to attain goals are:-
 firstly it shall be determined by the company that what shall be goal which will be
achieved by it.
 After determining goals, a target shall be set in order to set the goal
 specific rolls shall need to be allocated by the company which will ensure a sufficient
amount of training.
 Resource shall be considered while allocating the problem.
 Member of group which will analyse the progress
 such progress shall be examined to ensure future success.
LO 4
4.1
A change shall be considered as one of the essential element of the business organisation.
It is very important for all the business organisation to bring certain changes for the regulation of
a work (DuFour, R. and DuFour, 2013). The impact of bringing up the change in the organisation
is that, while implementing a change a organisation has to identify that what problems a
organisation has been facing because certain change has to be done. In this manner a change can
be brought in the company and problem can be identified. One of the biggest impact of bringing
a change in company is that various kinds of development shall be encountered by the
organisation. If development shall be welcomed in the organisation, then such a company shall
be able to incurred profits in the organisation like wise it has been seen in the context of
Accenture that various changes has been brought by the company by which several development
has been calculated. Therefore it is very important for a business organisation to bring out some
change which will give a positive impact on the organisation.

4.2
In the business organisation there are certain activities which has be carried out to
regulate the work of the organisation (Cooke and Williams, 2013). In the same manner, in a
business organisation, it is very important to Bring certain development. When the development
has been brought by the company then it will amount to development and any kind of
development in the organisation will help to incurred profits for the company so it is very
important for a organisation which has been working in the business scenario, to apply changes.
Such changes shall be in a planned form because if the application of changes has not been done
in according to a particular plan then there shall be no use of bringing up those changes in the
organisation. Accenture can plan the change for its organisation so that various development can
be welcomed. A plan can be carried out in a manner-
Analysis of the problem- first of all the organisation must recognize what is the problem which
the organisation has been facing. Without recognizing the problem a change cannot be initiated.
Selecting a solution- when the problem has been identified by the business organisation, then a
perfect solution has to applied in order to make the change. A solution shall be accounted as a
kind of change only (Johnston and Bate, 2013).
That is how a company can plan a change and can bring in the company.
4.3
It is important for each and every business unit is to monitor their performance in a
particular time. Specially for a consultancy firm it is significant to regular review of their
business activities. Business environment is change after a period of time. Therefore it require a
new skill, capabilities and specific knowledge. So that they can meet the future needs of the
business. Accenture required to make their operations accordingly. As a consultancy firm
company make sure that they have to provide a wide range of services for their clients. An
effective monitor approach can be used to review their business operation. There are various
consultancy services which is provided by the company to their clients. These services includes
strategy, digital, technology and operations services. For these improving these business services
they have to provide proper training to their staff. Which can increase the skills, knowledge and
other capabilities of their staff. The employees of the company are ready to take any future
challenges which is good for both company as well as their employees (Bryman and Bell, 2015).

CONLUSION
From the above project it can be concluded that when a business has been carried out byu
an individual then there are certain professionalism to be carried out by the person. Such has
been done in order to make certain developments and to attain various kind of profits in the
company. The project had made a detailed description of various kinds of plans which has been
taken under a business organisation to maintain a professionalism. The project has made a
reflection of small scale industry and taken a good example of Accenture. The project further
described about various kinds of action plans and changes which helped the company to bring
certain change and to invite profits.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Blackburn, R.A., Hart, M. and Wainwright, T., 2013. Small business performance: business,
strategy and owner-manager characteristics. Journal of small business and enterprise
development, 20(1), pp.8-27.
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Collins, J.M., 2012. Financial advice: A substitute for financial literacy?. Financial Services
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Johnston, R.E. and Bate, J.D., 2013. The power of strategy innovation: a new way of linking
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Lerner, J. and Malmendier, U., 2013. With a little help from my (random) friends: Success and
failure in post-business school entrepreneurship. Review of Financial Studies, 26(10),
pp.2411-2452.
Lussier, R.N. and Corman, J., 2015. There are few differences between successful and failed
small businesses. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 6(1), pp.21-34.
Muzio, D. and Faulconbridge, J., 2013. The global professional service firm:‘One Firm’models
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Van Auken, H.E. and Horton, H., 2015. Financing patterns of minority-owned small business.
Journal of Small Business Strategy, 5(2), pp.31-44.
Waldorff, S.B., Reay, T. and Goodrick, E., 2013. A tale of two countries: How different
constellations of logics impact action. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 39,
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Walter, S.G., Parboteeah, K.P. and Walter, A., 2013. University departments and self‐
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