Hello, my name is Andrew Smith.  I specialise in helping people create practical business, organisation and project plans.

I have a practical rather than an academic approach to business and project planning. Simplicity, speed and a visual thinking approach are my points of difference.

The NASA connection . . .
Several years ago I was inspired by a very clever planning method that the NASA organisation developed. This completely changed my thinking and my approach to all aspects of planning. I have simplified the NASA process and added a range of creative and user-friendly features.

My simplified and enhanced method is called "Accelerated Planning Technique™" or APT for short.

Simpler, faster, better. . .

The whole APT planning method can be summarised in three words:   simpler, faster, better. . .

What do I mean by simpler?
Many struggle when they need to organise themselves and others to perform effectively. To simplify the planning process I have developed a visual thinking method that translates ideas and goals into clear organised thinking.

If you can picture the results you want, I can show you how to translate them into practical actions and predictable results. It even works for woolly or incomplete thinking.

What do I mean by faster?
Using the Accelerated Planning Technique, 95% of businesses, organizations and projects can be results planned in one day. So if we start your plan at 8:30am, you can be ready to start taking intelligent action around 5pm. If your prefer, this can be done in two half-day sessions.

What do I mean by better?
During the past 10 years there has been continuous development and refinement of the APT planning process. APT now offers some 30 unique ways to improve business, organisation and project results. For strategic and business planning, these can be grouped as follows:

• Better Purpose, Direction and Focus - Ways to answer these questions on an ongoing basis: Where are you now? What is your purpose? - what direction should you be heading? - what needs to be done now?

• Better Marketing  - Ongoing ways to understand, communicate with and stimulate your customer base.

• Better Creativity and Innovation - Tools to think outside the square and translate business ideas into practical action and improved performance.

• Better Production or Service Delivery - Setting up systems to meet customers' expectations profitably.

• Better Team/Human Resource Performance - Putting systems and procedures in place so that you can get results through others.

• Better Systems and Administration - Anything that you do more than once, could be systemised. . .

• Better Structure for Financial Management - Putting in place systems and procedures that increase awareness and control.

• Better Facilities and/or Working Environment - How do you need to be set up to perform effectively?

How I can help you - (Services & Products)

• The Do-It-Yourself option. I can teach you or your team so you can plan your business, organisation yourself - more information - or

• The Facilitation option. In one day (or two half-day sessions), I will facilitate the complete process for you so that you have clear organised thinking and action plans ready for an immediate start. - more information

Or, I can do both at the same time - at no additional cost. And because it can be done quickly, it's not expensive.

• Special half-day sessions.  If you just need help getting started, or fleshing out your plan, or selecting priorities or designing action plan etc - a half-day session may be all that you need.

• The Software option. My team have also produced a software application that embodies the fundamentals of the APT process. - more information

Costs
An initial meeting to discuss your requirements and outline a solution method is free. This gives you an opportunity to see if you are comfortable with me and my approach to planning and problem solving.

Group or Team session: The standard cost of a full day (or two half-day) planning session held at your site or an off-site location for up to 12 participants is $4,000 + GST. Travel and accommodation costs for out of Auckland sessions are additional.

Individual session: The standard cost of a full day (or two half-day) session held in my Takapuna office for 1 to 2 participants is $2,500 + GST.

Free support: 100 days of free support via telephone or email is provided for the above options.

Other options: Half-day Learning and facilitation options are from $1200 + GST. Full day sessions are from $2,000 + GST.

Software: $232 + GST will buy you the APT software program. Delivery is free within New Zealand.

APT Refresher Session: Have you attended an APT seminar/workshop in the past few years? If so you may wish to refresh your knowledge and learn the latest additions and simplifications to the APT planning method. Send me an email (see below) or telephone me (09-486-2879) for the One-on-one or group options that are available.

Distance facilitation and learning: In situations where live facilitation or learning is not practical, a distance facilitation service is available. Please contact us for more information.

Guarantee: All the above come with a money back guarantee of satisfaction.

Terms of payment: Payment for Group or Team sessions is due within 7 days of session invoice unless other prior arrangements have been made. For individual sessions held at our Takapuna office, payment is due on the day at the completion of the session. Software orders are usually payment with order. Payments can be made with cheque, VISA or MasterCard. Secure Internet payment facilities are available. Direct bank payments can be accepted. Tax Invoices can be provided in advance via post, fax or email - on request.

 IN A NUTSHELL, THIS IS WHAT I DO

Facilitate your Strategic Business Plan or Project Plan (in 1 day)
More information

or

Teach you how to plan (in 1 day)
More information

and/or

Provide APT planning software
More information

"A simple, easy to implement technique for adjusting thinking to the planning process. Well backed resource material. Most value to me was the visual representation of the plan". Richard Malloch, Marketing, IBM New Zealand.