The CFO Show Strategic Finance and Investments: More Than Just Trade Offs
Jan 30, 2024
Dive into the pivotal role of finance in driving business strategy. Learn how aligning investments with company goals can optimize performance. Explore how to define strategic investments using zero-based approaches for high ROI. Discover the often-overlooked spends that can make a significant impact. Hear expert insights on fostering organization-wide alignment and the importance of tough conversations in finance. Plus, get actionable leadership tips for navigating change and making tough trade-offs.
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Prioritize High-Impact Investment Areas
- Headcount, skills development, technology, ESG and supply chain are common strategic investment areas.
- Focus on the few investments that will truly move the business needle rather than chasing everything.
Define Strategy By Outcomes And Tradeoffs
- Define strategic by aligning investments to where the business wants to go and the handful of initiatives that will move the trend line.
- Treat strategy as choosing what not to do as much as what to do to avoid dilution of focus.
Use Zero-Based Thinking And ROI Tests
- Suspend status-quo thinking and use a zero-based mindset to identify where to deploy funds.
- Build clear ROI cases so you stop repeating low-return activities and reallocate to higher-impact work.
