"Woodward Partners really catalyzed our strategic planning. They helped us uncover the most important issues in the region so that we could focus our efforts on the right opportunities."

Asia Growth Strategy

Change is inevitable, but growth is intentional. Although most companies desire to grow, few achieve their full potential. Frequently, companies' growth stagnates after their initial entry into Asian markets because they fail to optimize cost and revenue opportunities from their core business. Some companies become stuck in their current markets and cannot break their thinking to identify new opportunities or business processes or systems that impede growth.

We help companies break these paradigms move to the next phase of growth in Asia. We help them understand the value they can extract from their traditional lines of businesses via distribution channels or customer segments. We help them identify ways that they can grow in a cost effective manner.

Woodward Partners worked with a US industrial materials manufacture to turnaround 20 years of declining growth in Asian markets.

The Problem
Dakota had years of experience in Asia - the company had grown organically and built a complex network of sales agents, distribution partners, suppliers, and joint venture partners. However, the management team thought growth had stagnated and wanted to explore ways to position itself for growth in existing markets.

The Response
After a series of executive workshops, it was discovered that significant collaboration issues were hindering growth. Woodward delivered a clear and comprehensive picture of Dakota's value network, highlighting key communication and collaboration gaps. Woodward developed a fresh approach to country teams and regional support functions which enabled Dakota to better tap its strength, utilize its network of partners, and revitalize its joint ventures.

The Result
These improvements positioned Dakota for growth in previously stagnant markets. Our work to create a unique Asia growth strategy enabled Dakota to root out core problems and focus its attention on significant new growth measures.

The complexities of Asia present many companies with daunting challenges to effective collaboration and governance. Value Network Analysis (VNA) offers companies a way to gain clarity, pinpoint deficiencies, and realize maximized benefit from an extended network of people and organizations. VNA is gaining traction among researchers and practitioners from a wide range of fields. A brief VNA case study is also presented.

Prof. Nitin Pangarkar of the NUS Business School and authority on China and India looks at the implications of the emergence of "Chindia," dispels common misconceptions about these fast growing economies, explores opportunities, and outlines five rules of thumb for effectively integrating "Chindia" into a global strategy.