The Step Change Blog

For decades, the SWOT analysis was the go-to framework for strategic planning. Simple. Familiar. Accessible. But in a world moving at the speed of disruption, is SWOT still fit for purpose?
Short answer — not really.

Now for the million-dollar question. Is it time to retire the old checklist and embrace a smarter, more adaptive way to think strategically? Can we as leaders even imagine an era without SWOT? And how do we even get started without losing sight of the results that matter most?

Welcome to the era of the Strategic Radar — built for complexity, time sensitivity, and decision-making that actually drives change.

Involving your team in decision making is complex, but it doesn't have to be stressful. This blog post explores four techniques that will ensure team consensus.

UPDATED: As of 2 June 2022

When creating your value proposition, one thing you should never forget is that people make emotional decisions and then rational justifications. They are not buying the product or service. They are buying the benefits or outcomes they receive.

A truly great value proposition focuses on this by including these 3 things to get maximum value:

1. Ground in insight and an understanding of what your customers really want
2. Powerful and relevant brand messaging 
3. Alignment with your purpose and tone to be memorable and believable

Discover the 12 famous archetypes and how they can make your brand top-of-mind for your consumers.

If you had to make a list of some of the most powerful brands in history, online retail giant Amazon would undoubtedly be right at the top. According to one recent study, the company saw $2.371 billion in net income in 2016 on the back of $136 billion in net sales — and that’s just in the United States. The company is also growing at a rate of about 27% year-over-year and currently employs more than 341,000 people. All of this is to say that the fact that Amazon has decided to make its long-awaited move into Australia should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody. 

Offering a product or service with utility or merit is no longer enough. It’s now necessary to create a value proposition to get people to notice and convert them to loyal customers.

WATCH: Step Change Founding Partner, Jeff Cooper, on the four myths in B2B that salespeople need to know.