Building your business performance can feel like a lot to take on. But done right, it can save you time, improve your offering to customers, and make you more profitable.

Our content on business performance is created in partnership with the New Zealand Business Performance Panel — a group of globally recognised experts from New Zealand and around the world. The panel’s specialist knowledge is combined with business.govt.nz’s own research into Kiwi businesses to bring you up-to-date advice that’s tried and true. 

The performance topics we plan to cover for New Zealand businesses are:

• Business strategy
• Marketing strategy
• Governance
• Sales
• Decision making
• Environmental sustainability

Taking time to plan for the future is worthwhile. A general strategy for your business prepares you for challenges before they become problems. It gives you control over the direction of your business, and insight into which opportunities to create or pursue.

This section will cover:

• Competition — how to identify your competitive edge, find uncontested markets and create leverage.
• New markets — how to identify new markets and decide what’s right for you.
• Scenario planning — how to withstand risk and volatility.
• Disruption — what it is, how to spot it and stay ahead of it.

Marketing is much more than promotion. The market is where you do business, and where you connect with customers. A good marketing strategy increases revenue, gives you a better understanding of your customers, and helps you keep a competitive advantage.

This section will cover:

• New markets — how to enter them with impact.
• Adaptation — responding to changes in local and global markets, and how to scale.
• Customer relationship — how to create lasting, mutually beneficial value for your customers and your business.
• Innovation — how to create and test new products and methods.

Governance helps you deal with strategic issues in your business rather than the daily tasks. A good governance system improves business performance, mitigates risks, helps to manage business finances and creates future opportunities.

This section will cover:

• Governance – what governance is, why it’s important.
• Implementation – approach to implementing an effective governance plan.
• Setting up an effective board – what an advisory board & board of directors are, how to set these up.
• Duties of a director – what are the legal responsibilities for executive and independent directors.

Sales bring in money and are your business’s lifeline. So having a sales strategy is vital if you’re keen to grow. A strategy involves optimising sales and delivering value to customers.

This section will cover:

• Price and demand — how they influence each other, and how to make good decisions about stock levels.
• Forecasting — how to accurately project sales and plan for both busy and quiet times.
• Sales data — how and when to collect and analyse these numbers.
• Conversion — how to get the most out of customer interest.

Making the right decisions for your business can be a juggling act. There are tools and techniques you can use to make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

This section will cover:

• Governance — understand different approaches, why have a board and how to appoint one.
• Negotiation — how to be effective, what makes a good or bad negotiation, and how to avoid common mistakes.
• Frameworks and techniques —analysing your options, and how to land on the right decision.
• Mergers and acquisitions — when to consider them, and how to decide on terms that set you up for success.

Growing your business doesn’t have to cost the earth. Your bottom line and your brand can benefit through an environmentally sustainable approach.

This section will cover:

• Cost saving — how to save money by reducing waste.
• Sustainable business practices — what these are and how they can give you a competitive edge.
• Circular economy — how to reduce environmental impact and improve your business processes.
• Consumer values — responding to the way your customers think about the environment.