Strategy Analysis
An investment decision is on the table. A new CEO is taking over. Growth has stalled, and no one knows exactly why. Before you launch a comprehensive strategy project, you need one thing: clarity on the current situation.
The strategy analysis delivers that clarity in half a day. Not a full strategy engagement, but a focused diagnosis: Where does the company stand? What is the central bottleneck? And which three levers create the most impact?
Format
| Duration | Half day (4 hours) |
| Participants | CEO + 2-3 key people |
| Location | On-site or remote |
| Preparation | 1 week (questionnaire + document analysis) |
| Deliverable | Situation assessment + top 3 levers + recommendation |
| Follow-up | Analysis report within 3 business days |
Does this format fit? → Schedule a conversation
Process
Preparation (1 Week Before)
Before the analysis day begins, we collect the relevant information: a structured questionnaire captures each participant’s perspective — independently, so that group dynamics do not distort the assessments. In parallel, we analyze existing documents: financials, org chart, existing strategy papers, market data.
From these inputs, we create a preliminary system map: a visualization of the most important dependencies and bottlenecks. This map is the starting point for the analysis day — not a blank canvas, but a prepared picture that gets refined together.
- Structured questionnaire to all participants (20 min effort per person)
- Analysis of existing strategy documents and financials
- Creation of a preliminary system map
Analysis Day: Morning — System Mapping
The morning starts with the prepared system map. Together, we review and refine the picture: Which dependencies are missing? Where do participant assessments contradict each other? Where are the blind spots?
The goal: a shared, honest picture of the company — not the polished version for the board, but reality with all its tensions.
- Validation and refinement of the system map
- Identification of contradictions and blind spots
- Clarification of key interdependencies
Analysis Day: Afternoon — Bottleneck and Leverage Points
Based on the system map, we identify the central bottleneck: the point that most constrains the company’s development. Then we prioritize the leverage points — the places where change creates the greatest impact.
The result: not a list of 20 measures, but three concrete levers with a clear recommendation on which to move first.
- Identification of the central bottleneck
- Prioritization of the top 3 leverage points
- Recommendation with rationale
Follow-Up (3 Business Days)
Within 3 business days, you receive the written analysis report. It contains the system map, identified bottlenecks, the top 3 leverage points, and a concrete recommendation. The document belongs to you — immediately usable for internal decisions or as a briefing for a follow-up project.
What Makes This Format Different from an Internal Analysis
Internal strategy discussions often go in circles: everyone knows the problems, but no one sees the full picture. The system map makes dependencies visible that get lost in day-to-day operations. And an external perspective asks the questions that nobody asks internally — not out of ignorance, but because organizational blind spots are systematic.
The methodical approach draws on the Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie (EKS), developed by Wolfgang Mewes: rather than improving everything at once, find the one point where change creates the greatest impact. Combined with systems analysis methods, this produces an assessment based on structures, not opinions.
More on strategic foundations: What Is Strategy? and Before You Start Strategy Development.
You need clarity before you decide? → Talk to us
Results from Practice
Starting point: Facing a major digitalization decision — the IT department was requesting a multi-million budget for a new platform. The half-day strategy analysis revealed: the actual bottleneck was not technology but the sales structure. Existing digital channels were underutilized because sales management was optimized for branch visits. Decision: restructure sales before investing in IT. Result after 6 months: 30% more qualified leads through existing digital channels — without additional IT investment.
Analysis, Offsite, Strategic Design, or In-House?
| Strategy Analysis | Strategy Offsite | Strategic Design | In-House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Half day + preparation/follow-up | 2 days + preparation/follow-up | 8-12 weeks | Undefined |
| Investment | Mid to high three-figure to low four-figure range (EUR) | Mid to high four-figure range (EUR) | From mid five-figure range | Opportunity cost |
| Deliverable | Situation assessment + top 3 levers + recommendation | Strategic priorities + 90-day plan | Complete strategy + 12-month roadmap | Idea list or status quo |
| Depth | Diagnosis and assessment | Direction decision and prioritization | Bottleneck analysis, positioning, target group | Variable |
| For | Quick clarity before a decision | Leadership team needs a binding direction | Fundamental strategic realignment | Quick check without external help |
Not sure which format fits? We can clarify in 30 minutes →
Who It’s For
A strategy analysis is for decision-makers who need clarity fast:
- CEO facing an investment decision: Budget for digitalization, new markets, or acquisitions — but first understand where the actual bottleneck is.
- New CEO needs orientation: A structured situation assessment in the first 100 days, rather than relying on predecessor assessments.
- Before annual planning: Clarify strategic priorities before budgets are allocated.
- Companies at a growth plateau: Revenue is stagnating, initiatives are not working — before doing more of the same, understand what is blocking the system.
Not suited for: companies that need full strategy development (that is what Strategic Design is for), or teams that want to decide together (that is what the Strategy Offsite is for).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a strategy analysis cost?
Costs depend on preparation effort and the complexity of your organizational structure. A strategy analysis is in the mid to high three-figure to low four-figure range (EUR). You receive a binding fixed-price offer upfront.
Is half a day really enough?
Yes, because the actual analytical work happens during preparation. The analysis day condenses findings from the questionnaire and document review into a structured diagnosis. Half a day is enough for a solid strategic assessment with clear leverage points — not for a full strategy development. That is what the strategy offsite or Strategic Design is for.
What is the difference from a strategy offsite?
The strategy analysis is a focused diagnosis with 3-4 participants in half a day. The strategy offsite is a two-day format with the full leadership team (5-15 people) that includes strategic decisions and a 90-day action plan in addition to the analysis. The analysis delivers the assessment; the offsite delivers the decision.
What happens after the analysis?
Within 3 business days, you receive the written analysis report with system map, prioritized bottlenecks, and top 3 leverage points with recommendations. The document belongs to you. A strategy offsite or Strategic Design project often follows as the next step.
Who should participate in the analysis?
The CEO plus 2-3 key people who know the company from different perspectives — typically sales, product/delivery, and finance. More than 5 participants are not practical for this compact format.
Do we receive a written report?
Yes. Within 3 business days, you receive a structured analysis report with system map, identified bottlenecks, top 3 leverage points, and a concrete recommendation. The document is immediately usable — for internal decisions, board meetings, or as a briefing for a follow-up project.
Can we run the analysis remotely?
Preparation (questionnaire, document analysis) runs remotely regardless. The analysis day itself works both on-site and remotely. In our experience, on-site discussions tend to be higher quality, but for distributed teams, a remote format is a good alternative.
What if we need more comprehensive support after the analysis?
The strategy analysis is intentionally designed as a standalone module. If deeper work is needed, we recommend either a strategy offsite (direction decision with the team) or a Strategic Design project (full strategy development over 8-12 weeks), depending on the situation. The analysis results feed directly into the follow-up project.
Related Services
- Strategy Offsite — Strategic direction decision with the full leadership team (2 days)
- Strategic Design — Strategy consulting with bottleneck analysis, positioning, and specialization (8-12 weeks)
- Business Design — Business model development and revenue models
Further reading: Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie · What Is Strategy? · Before You Start Strategy Development
Next Step
The strategy analysis delivers the situation assessment. Once you know where the lever is, the Strategy Offsite is the natural next step: your leadership team makes a binding direction decision in two days — based on the analysis you already have.
