CreditUnionPlanner E-Newsletter
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"4 Pillars of Future
Competitiveness: Building a Sustainable Business Model"
(Issue
#35)
--
Discover four key strategic
pillars that we believe will determine the long-term viability and success of individual
credit unions.
"Stories from the Great Recession" (Issue #33) -- This issue of the CreditUnionPlanner E-newsletter provides on overview of ISL case studies featuring credit unions that have make great progress in achieving their strategic goals despite the Great Recession.
For the full "Stories from the Great Recession" case studies, click below:
"What Would Peter Say to Credit Unions?" (Issue #32) -- Peter Drucker - for many, the inventor of modern management - would have turned 100 this year. This issue speculates regarding what advice Drucker might offer today's CU executives and boards as they seek to lead their CUs out of the worse economic crisis in generations.
"How the Crisis is Strengthening Strategic Planning" (Issue #31) -- The third in a series, "Strategic Planning in an Economic Crisis," this issue demonstrates how the current economic crisis is necessitating that CUs become better at strategic planning in four key areas: 1) Managing risks better, 2) Becoming more focused and efficient, 3) Making more disciplined business decisions, and 4) Strengthening leadership practices.
"The Contingency Planning Imperative" (Issue #30) -- The second in a series, "Strategic Planning in an Economic Crisis," this issue focuses on contingency planning: a powerful strategic planning tool to help CUs quickly adapt to uncertain business environments. Yet, it has been our experience that contingency planning is underused, with many CUs avoiding contingency planning until it is too late. This article makes the case for the wisdom of implementing proactive contingency planning as part of your CU's overall strategic planning process.
"Why Strategic Planning is More Important than Ever" (Issue #29) -- This is the first newsletter in a three-part series, "Strategic Planning in an Economic Crisis." As the financial outlook for 2009 dims, it might be tempting to focus your attention on short-term issues and put strategic plans on the shelf. While obviously biased, we are convinced that strategic plans and strategic planning are more important than ever. We are confident that, over the long haul, the ultimate winners will be those CUs that stay focus on their long-term goals, while adapting to new realities, seizing new opportunities, and helping members impacted by the downturn.
"Differentiation & Niching Assessment (DNA) Preview" (Issue #28) -- As never before, CUs are being challenged to avoid being "all things to all people" and to give members a compelling reason to choose them over other financial institutions. In response, ISL has created the DNA. In this special issue, you have the opportunity - not just to learn about the DNA - but to experience it first hand by completing an abbreviated preview version of the assessment tool.
"Strategic Challenges 2008" (Issue #27) -- ISL's strategic planning facilitators recently met to reflect on our experiences facilitating planning sessions across the country over the past year and to anticipate the most critical strategic challenges CUs will likely face in 2008 strategic planning sessions.
"ISL's New Competitive Differentiation Process: A Success Story" (Issue #26) -- Over the past year, ISL collaborated with a dozen CUs to create an innovative, long-term planning process for credit unions: Competitive Differentiation. This newsletter tells the story of one of these CUs and how they used this process to define and strengthen their competitive positioning and identify key niche markets for the next 5-20 years.
"The Member Satisfaction vs. Loyalty Debate" (Issue #25) -- Do away with those lengthy, costly member satisfaction surveys. Instead, ask your members one simple question, and you will know everything you need to be profitable and grow, while creating legions of enthusiastic fans. Sound good? Or too good to be true. Find out in this issue of the CreditUnionPlanner e-newsletter.
"A Roadmap to Competitive Differentiation" (Issue #24) -- While credit unions talk about the critical importance of competitive differentiation, in reality, most are still trying to be "all things to all people." Discover a proven process ISL has developed to help credit unions separate themselves from the pack and provide competitively superior value to their members.
"Notes from the Strategic Planning Front" (Issue #23) -- ISL's strategic planning facilitators recently met to compare notes from last year's planning sessions. Find out what other credit unions identified as their most critical strategic challenges and how these issues differed from those raised in previous years.
"Competitive Differentiation: More than Great Service" (Issue #22) -- As never before, credit unions are struggling to differentiate themselves from other financial institutions. This newsletter challenges credit unions to go beyond relying solely on "great service" as a competitive advantage.
"How to Make Planning a CU Priority" (Issue #21) -- Has strategic planning lost its credibility in your credit union? Is it not being given the time, resources, and central focus you think it should receive? Find out what you can do about it.
"Make Your Social Mission Part of Your Strategic Plan" (Issue #20) -- Jo Anne Fillwock, CEO of Financial Health CU (MI) and an ISL client, challenges credit unions to make fulfilling their social mission a strategic priority.
"Taking It to the Next Level: Sustaining High Performance" (Issue #19) -- This is the final installment in a three-part series of newsletters highlighting the results of ISL's three-year groundbreaking research study, Taking It to the Next Level.
"Taking It to the Next Level: Making the Transition" (Issue #18) -- This is the second in a three-part series of newsletters highlighting the results of ISL's three-year groundbreaking research study, Taking It to the Next Level.
"Taking It to the Next Level: Laying the Foundation" (Issue #17) -- This is the first in a series of newsletters highlighting the results of ISL's three-year groundbreaking research study, Taking It to the Next Level.
"From the Balanced Scorecard to the Strategic Scorecard: Continuing the Revolution in Measurement Systems" (Issue #16) -- ISL has been a long-term advocate of Balanced Scorecard-type measurement systems. Find out the difference between Strategic Scorecard and the Balanced Scorecard and what it truly takes to "measure the strategy."
"Planning Serendipity" (Issue #13) -- The most important benefit of strategic planning is improved communications and relationships between boards and senior management teams.
"The Tough-Choices Method" (Issue #4) -- Stop the wordsmithing. Throw away the buzz words. Let's get down to what strategic planning is really all about: making critical decisions about your credit union's future.
"Four Planning Styles" (Issue #2) -- Who really owns your strategic planning process? The answer might surprise you.