Implementation, Strategic Controls, and Contingency Plans Essay

DRAKEN needs new growth methods, product development and new revenue sources. The implementation plan below will identify the course of action best suited for the company along with the objectives, functional tactics, action items, milestones, task ownership, and resource allocation. Also, the plan includes financial information including financial projections and a break-even analysis chart that will be used as the basis for moving the business forward. Strategy and Implementation The key strategy for DRAKEN is to build their operations and marketing around buildings and retail stores that are large enough to have permanent, on-site security needs, but not so large that they can save significant money by developing security staff in-house. To achieve this strategy, DRAKEN will: Train guards well for permanent check-in, patrol, and surveillance positions Use advertising and targeted lists to locate and market to these customer markets Focus specifically on guard services and high-level consulting audits, while outsourcing or referring to vendors for security equipment and system needs (ADT) Objectives According to Pearce, R., (2013), â€Å"Objectives or short-term objectives are measureable outcomes achievable or intended to be achieved in one year or less.† DRAKEN will base its success on meeting the following objectives: 1. Employ additional 25 full-time equivalent security guards by the end of the year 2015. 2. Supply security guards to 15 more buildings on a full-time basis by the end the year 2015. 3. Earn $2 million in revenue with net profit over $300,000 by the end of 2015. Functional Tactics According to Pearce, R., (2013), functional tactics are â€Å"detailed statements of the means or activities that will be used by a company to achieve short-term objectives and establish competitive advantage.† DRAKEN will built a competitive edge through high levels of customer service and assurance. The company will strive to not be a broker between clients and contracted security guards, as some security guard providers become, but instead be a partner in the security and protection of client’s assets, with security guards as a major tool in that protection. This strategy will require DRAKEN to carefully audit a client’s security situation and to work with them on plans to upgrade and maintain that security. DRAKEN supervisors will continually check in with clients and with the guards sent to client sites to learn about the challenges they are facing. Action items To reach its target markets of building management companies and large retail businesses, DRAKEN will use the following tactics: Improvement of a the basic â€Å"brochure† website, adding additional services, including corporate training, event planners, careers at DRAKEN, testimonials, and an open blog site. Advertising in trade publications read by managers in these two industries Advertising online with Google AdWords around keywords for security services and security guards, especially associated with these two types of customers New, more professional looking business cards and brochures for management and agents to distribute on appointments and while networking with Los Angeles business networking groups Direct selling work based on purchasing or developing target lists Direct mail of brochures and letters to these target lists of potential clients in the greater Los Angeles area. Milestones and a deadline The budgets for all marketing and personal relations (PR), and creating the brochure/stationery and website come out of the operating budget as they occur. The Chief Operating Officer will manage all marketing and sales activities while the CEO will set up accounting and operating systems and interview potential guards. These bullet points keep DRAKEN on track in its important milestones and deadlines. This helps DRAKEN management and everyone within the company to have a sense of urgency about what needs to be done. Tasks and task ownership The CEO and the COO are the primary salespersons for DRAKEN. They meet with clients at their location to perform an initial consultation and will create proposals for security services based on the client’s needs. DRAKEN management is tracking sales prospects and clients with ACT, a client management database system. The owner’s sales strategy is to listen carefully to the needs of the client and to provide assurance through stories of their experience and an expert understanding of their needs and concerns. While DRAKEN proposals may not be the lowest cost bids a potential client receives, DRAKEN management will follow up with care and the same personal attention that clients will receive if they move forward with using DRAKEN’s services. Resource allocation Resources will be allocated to all functional units in the business according to their needs. Functional units will be required to prepare annual budget for the finances they need to make units operational throughout the financial year. More resources will be committed to activities that generate more income to the business. Some of the profit generated from DRAKEN operations will be used in corporate social responsibility activities of the business. Key success factors DRAKEN believes the keys to success in its industry include: 1. Listening carefully to client concerns and objectives to create customized security guard packages 2. Knowing what the client does not know (bringing deep security expertise as well as knowledge of legal regulations and liability to the table) 3. Training security guards carefully and maintaining their training and certifications (e.g. to carry firearms) 4. Monitoring the  quality of security guard service to offer quality assurance Budget, and forecasted financials, including a break-even chart DRAKEN expects to produce excess cash after a lean year of operation in 2015, which can finance its expansion to an office space along with a 5 year home equity loan to support significant growth of its employee base in 2016 and 2017 to 25 FTE security guards (which can be estimated as 10 full-time guards and 30 part-time guards). Future growth will be financed by the business and will include launching operations in other citi es out of state and launching a line of security products. Budget The balance of start-up funding for 2015 will be provided from DRAKENS’s working capital of $56’000. Sales Forecast Security guard sales will be recurring. Assuming a client retention rate of 90% annually, based on DRAKEN CEO’s track record in the business, total sales will escalate quickly. Sales will be a combination of clients requiring 24/7 coverage and those with only daytime coverage. 40% of sales in dollars are expected from 24/7 clients. Sales are expected to meet the objective of $1.75 million in the third year. Direct costs of sales consist of supplies specific to each job, such as uniforms which must be purchased. Uniform may be a branded DRAKEN uniform, or contain the customer’s branding to provide the visible presence of security at the job site. Additional sets of uniforms must be purchased by the guards from the designated uniform provider. Suits for executive protection assignments, laundry, and cleaning of uniforms is the responsibility of the guards as well. Job supplies will include materials related to security audits and specific equipment purchases for a job as well. Break-even Analysis Monthly Revenue Break-even $24,475 Average Percent Variable Cost 4% Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost $23,407 The monthly break-even is low due to the cost savings by operating the office out of the CEO’s home in 2015. This allows for the business to become profitable quickly. Projected Profit and Loss Security guard labor is estimated at 55% of sales in 2015, dropping slightly to 53% by the 2017 as prices increase and cheaper labor becomes available due to the range of employees. Marketing includes ongoing Web hosting and maintenance fees, continued revisions and reprinting of the brochure and stationery, additional direct mail campaigns, ongoing advertising in trade publications, and online advertising for the website. Rent, utilities, and depreciation will be expenses beginning in 2016 when an office space is required. Training requires the use of larger meeting rooms for groups of guards which will have to be rented separately. Training cost will be reduced once an office is rented, as the business will choose a space with a conference room or table to hold employee training at the office. Training will be an ongoing expense both due to turnover and due to continued training and check-ins with employees. Licenses and permits will include licenses for new guards to carry firearms and to operate, and continued renewals of licensing and permits for the business each year. Net profit will swing to a net loss in 2016 due to the opening of an office space. Net profit will occur in 2017 again as the business scales up to cover these additional costs.