A future-proof strategy for childcare
Challenge
In 2019, a childcare organisation approached us with a request to develop a future-proof strategy. The childcare sector was facing major changes, such as the formation of Integrated Child Centres and new trends in how people live, work and interact with each other. These developments required a clear vision as a basis for strategic decisions and an operational plan that would be widely supported. In addition, it was essential that the strategy would make the organisation more flexible so that it would remain strong even in challenging times.
Approach
- Strategy
We approached strategy development in five phases:
Exploring the future:
We started with an event for 60 employees in which we explored future trends in technology, society and brain development. During this inspiration day, participants translated their insights into strategic input, focusing on expected changes for parents, children, staff and physical locations.
Assess current situation:
It was important to understand the organisation's current position in order to move forward. By using existing sources and conducting interviews in different locations, we obtained an objective picture of the organisation's strengths and challenges, which helped in shaping the strategy.
Designing strategy:
Together with the management team, we defined the organisation's core values, inspired by Simon Sinek's 'Golden Circles'. We formulated an ambitious goal for 2030 and identified strategic themes through ideation sessions that would help realise this ambition.
Review and finalise strategy:
We organised a major review session with the staff who had participated in the inspiration day to validate their input. The management team then refined the strategic themes and developed a 'what if...' scenario to be prepared for possible economic downturns.
Operationalising the strategy:
The final step was to translate the strategic themes into concrete goals for the coming year. In addition, the impact on the business model was assessed to embed the strategy in the organisation's day-to-day operations.
Result
The result was a strategy that was widely supported within the organisation, thanks to the inclusive approach involving employees at multiple stages. The strategic themes ensure long-term relevance, provided they are regularly updated. Adding a 'what if...' scenario provides an extra layer of resilience, allowing the organisation to move quickly if economic conditions change.
This broad-based strategy provides the organisation with a solid foundation to operate future-proof in a changing sector, and enables them to remain flexible and resilient even in difficult times.