Thomas Benedict shared his knowledge to strengthen FIT resources as a social enterprise

About the organisation
FIT Resources promotes sustainable Business Development Services for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) to ensure business growth and contribute to poverty alleviation. They offer services to the Private Sector Development sector like radio media services.

The business case
The area of Private Sector Development is getting more competitive. Sole reliance on FIT's innovative service provision no longer guaranteed a sustainable future for FIT. Therefore all staff members recognized they needed to work within a strategic business plan, which was not yet available. Using a strategic planning process would strengthen this firm as a social enterprise. (profit, people and planet in balance) Thomas Benedict owner and director of InContext, a consultancy firm in the Netherlands, was able to consult FIT for two weeks in 2010. Thomas was asked to design and conduct a collaborative process with internal and external stakeholders in order to develop a new business plan. This plan compromises the companies' vision, general strategy and commercial strategy.

Results
Analysis
Thomas facilitated multiple workshops, with the team and several stakeholders. The idea was to get the necessary information to create strategic focus and direction. Team issues, motivational, managerial and organisational issues have been addressed. Each team member has received personal feedback based on the Facet5 personality questionnaire (by InContext). Also leadership issues and possible barriers to growth have been discussed. In week 2 the vision and strategy was finalized. The last days of the Programme were used to facilitate a large interactive event in Nairobi, in which clients, important stakeholders, the Kenia Institute of Managers and the Kenia Broadcasting Corporation participated. This enabled them to "strengthen their market presence". After evaluating the process of these two weeks, the team felt confident and saw new opportunities for sustainable growth.

Advice
Fit Resources will implement the following recommendations:
• Rationalisation of business model
• Develop a Staff Policy Manual
• Commence operations under the newly identified departments
• Work with the strategic business plan
• Use the business planning cycle

Deliverables
- business plan, supported by the entire organisation.

Impact on the partners
Thomas Benedict: "It was a unique experience to be able to add so much value in such a short time. I also feel affirmed that I managed to build rapport with people at each level of the organisation. The trip has boosted what I would call quiet, kind confidence."

Richard Isiaho: "The expert is a practicing entrepreneur with admirable knowledge and skills and a down to earth personality, who managed to interface quite easily with staff and clients. We liked the informal and practical approach to strategy development because results have been owned by staff. The personality profiling for each member of staff (Facet5) was a great tool for team dynamics"

Follow up
This is a start of a two-year partnership between SharePeople and FIT Resources. Both organisations will keep in touch. After this Programme, an official update on the status of the organisation takes place at least every 12 months. With this information, a new Programme is one of the possibilities to boost the organisation if needed.