Integrated Business Management
Effective business management requires connecting strategy to day-to-day operations, yet many organisations struggle with disconnected planning processes, siloed departments, and an inability to adapt quickly to market changes. Arkaro’s approach to Integrated Business Management provides the frameworks and processes to break down silos, align functions around ‘one set of numbers,’ and transform planning from a time-consuming exercise into a powerful management tool that drives strategy implementation and sustainable results.
Do you recognise any of these challenges?
The outcomes we deliver
- Disconnected planning processes with finance, sales, and operations using different assumptions
- Planning meetings dominated by operational firefighting rather than strategic discussions
- Declining executive engagement as planning meetings drift into tactical details
- The planning horizon shrinking from 18+ months to primarily the current quarter
- Meeting fatigue with teams attending multiple meetings covering the same topics
- Siloed decision-making creating an ‘us versus them’ mentality across functions
- Strategy disconnected from execution with strategic initiatives faltering in implementation
- Difficulty adapting to changing market conditions due to rigid annual planning cycles
- Integrated Business Planning (IBP) that evolves from traditional S&OP to a core management process
- Breaking down of organizational silos through structured cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic alignment with clear connections between high-level direction and daily operations
- Enhanced executive engagement in forward-looking strategic discussions
- Greater agility through rolling 24-month horizons that adapt to changing conditions
- Improved resource allocation with clearer visibility of future opportunities and risks
- Effective Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) managing day-to-day fluctuations in supply and demand
- Clear accountability at all levels through defined roles and decision-making processes
Our Approach
Arkaro’s ‘do it with you’ methodology builds lasting Integrated Business Management capabilities through our proven 4-step approach:
- Understand: We assess your current planning processes, identify disconnects between functions, and develop a clear case for integration based on your organisation’s unique context.
- Co-create: We work collaboratively with your team to design tailored IBP and S&OE processes that reflect your specific business realities rather than imposing generic best practices.
- Enable: We build capabilities across functions, providing coaching and tools to implement effective planning cycles, from Product and Demand reviews through to executive decision-making.
- Sustain: We establish governance mechanisms and performance metrics that ensure new processes become permanently embedded in your organisation’s management approach.”
“Ready to transform how your organisation plans and executes?
Get in touch today to discuss how Arkaro can help you develop integrated planning processes that connect strategy to operations and deliver sustainable results.
“Commercial Excellence has been positive for us for three main reasons:
1. it took us out of our daily routine, that it took us out of what we were used to do!
2. It brings us some tools, it gives us tools to really go and catch the right and big fish!
3. it gives motivation to the team, reinvigorates them, regenerate them, and that helps us to set some new targets. There was something new that allowed us to take a step back from what we were used to do, and to embrace for good the new way to do things.
So, I felt really good during these first three weeks with Arkaro.”
1. it took us out of our daily routine, that it took us out of what we were used to do!
2. It brings us some tools, it gives us tools to really go and catch the right and big fish!
3. it gives motivation to the team, reinvigorates them, regenerate them, and that helps us to set some new targets. There was something new that allowed us to take a step back from what we were used to do, and to embrace for good the new way to do things.
So, I felt really good during these first three weeks with Arkaro.”
"From the client's view the top three attributes that differentiate Mark as a consultant are:
1. Practical
2. Project based
3. People
Mark helps people adopt the right mindset and change behaviour to make the process work successfully"
As the downstream global brewing industry was consolidating, Malteurop engaged into a global program focusing on asset productivity and cost reduction to ensure sustainable profitability.
The organisation was motivated for change and many project concepts soon emerged. However, it soon became clear that there was a need to structure program management, with common rules for shop floor and top management teams regarding project selection and prioritisation. In addition there was a need to design a forecast system connecting leading KPIs with planned savings and ensure that resources were deployed effectively.
This is where Mark's contribution proved to be highly valuable. His analysis skills, his ability to interact empathetically with all levels of the organization and lay down an unbiased diagnosis combined with his vast continuous improvement toolbox and business transformation experience applied to our specific case were key to the success of the Malteurop program deployment.
The organisation was motivated for change and many project concepts soon emerged. However, it soon became clear that there was a need to structure program management, with common rules for shop floor and top management teams regarding project selection and prioritisation. In addition there was a need to design a forecast system connecting leading KPIs with planned savings and ensure that resources were deployed effectively.
This is where Mark's contribution proved to be highly valuable. His analysis skills, his ability to interact empathetically with all levels of the organization and lay down an unbiased diagnosis combined with his vast continuous improvement toolbox and business transformation experience applied to our specific case were key to the success of the Malteurop program deployment.
"Diamalteria is a rather small business with 20 mln Euro turnover but a wide range a very wide range of SKUs had grown over the years to serve a multitude of small and large B2B food ingredient accounts. Mark helped us tremendously in harnessing and streamlining complexity.
Despite his long experience with large organizations, Mark has understood very well the dynamics and people in a small business environment. Mark could adapt the world-class approaches of the industry giants to suit our reality. Mark was an attentive listener, he helped the top management to formulate the right questions and he then worked with the teams to crunch numbers in order to bring meaningful answers.
More than a consultant, Mark was also a coach who left us with new capabilities."
Despite his long experience with large organizations, Mark has understood very well the dynamics and people in a small business environment. Mark could adapt the world-class approaches of the industry giants to suit our reality. Mark was an attentive listener, he helped the top management to formulate the right questions and he then worked with the teams to crunch numbers in order to bring meaningful answers.
More than a consultant, Mark was also a coach who left us with new capabilities."
“Having completed the Commercial Excellence programme we are already looking forward to strong double-digit growth with the target customers,
and further gains expected in the future as more customers are taken through the programme”.
"Strategic thinking, result-oriented, and business acumen are where Mark is outstanding.
I had worked with Mark to establish Innovation Strategy Process and develop Innovation Strategy within the organization. He has the ability to facilitate and lead the challenging discussion. Mark is structured in his approach to inspire the team to embrace the risk and step out of comfort zone.
Certainly, one of the great professionals that I have worked with."
I had worked with Mark to establish Innovation Strategy Process and develop Innovation Strategy within the organization. He has the ability to facilitate and lead the challenging discussion. Mark is structured in his approach to inspire the team to embrace the risk and step out of comfort zone.
Certainly, one of the great professionals that I have worked with."
“We wanted experienced support to help us with our Commercial Excellence transformation.
A team that could rapidly engage with our sales team, secure confidence-building quick gains as well as a sustainable value generation for years to come”.
Mark has extensive consulting experience working across a broad range of industries including;
Food, Agriculture, Advanced Materials and Chemicals.
He is a consummate professional with a strong intellect, excellent interpersonal and analytical skills, and proven experience in managing the needs of stakeholders"
“I believe that this particular training has opened my eyes.
This training got me reinvigorated as a salesman.
It’s as if I am a fresh salesman again.
It’s a new start.”
"Mark successfully orchestrated a worldwide business performance improvement initiative for the Health & Protection DuPont Division, directly managing worldwide product and asset management teams . In this capacity, he helped increase profitability and cash generation, acted as a facilitator to the process and cultural integration into DuPont as well as directed to embed a Culture of asset management and Six Sigma project management.
His global management capability, strategic thinking and drive for results made him a valued contributor of the management team of the Health & Protection Division"
His global management capability, strategic thinking and drive for results made him a valued contributor of the management team of the Health & Protection Division"
