The document outlines 7 strategies used by Best Managed companies to achieve success. The strategies are: 1) being laser focused on their strongest offering, 2) using social media to engage customers and employees, 3) investing in technology, processes, and people, 4) using data analytics to gain insights, 5) benchmarking against global competitors, 6) pursuing strategic mergers and acquisitions to grow, and 7) managing risks proactively before crises occur. Following these strategies has allowed Best Managed companies to significantly outperform average growth rates in revenue and profits.

1. The 7 strategies of
Best Managed companies
Program partners
CEO Forum sponsor

2. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 2
The 7 strategies of
Best Managed companies
Implementing the right strategies, at the right time
can make a difference. A big difference.
As Canada’s economy delivered 3% growth, our
Best Managed companies grew by double digits –
with profit growth rates far outpacing
revenue growth rates.

3. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 3
What defines a Best Managed company?
Best Managed companies come in all shapes and sizes.
But they share a few key traits:
• They adapt quickly to changing conditions
• They invest in their own competitiveness – no matter what
• They never lose sight of their core business and value
Moreover, they applied to the program, earning the mark
of excellence for Canadian owned and managed companies.

4. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 4
Best Managed – making the right decisions
How do you build a
Best Managed company?
Let’s look at 7 strategies that Canada’s Best Managed
Companies take, regardless of size, industry or region.

5. LASER FOCUSED1
The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 5
Best Managed companies are laser focused on what sets them
apart. They can tell you precisely who they are and why they’re
in business – in very few words.
Best Managed companies identify their single
strongest feature. Then specialize around it.

6. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 6
LASER FOCUSED (CON’T)
Rather than spreading their resources across many
good offerings, Best Managed companies focus on first
providing one great offering.
It may take time to develop and refine a value proposition
– for instance, to become the go-to company for a specific
product or service.
But that sharpened focus can quickly turn into a
compelling advantage.

7. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 7
Two billion people use social networks. Are you one of them?
Digital engagement is fast shifting from fringe to mainstream,
making today’s customers more informed and better equipped
with the latest technology.
Best Managed companies leverage social media as a powerful
brand-building tool to provide customers with an interactive
experience. In the process, they’re capturing important
information about what matters to their customers.
GET SOCIAL2 2

8. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 8
The enterprise gets more social.
Best Managed companies engage their employees through internal
social media, using conversations to help employees connect to the
company’s overall mission and goals.
GET SOCIAL (CON’T)

9. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 9
Becoming better, faster and stronger – Best Managed companies
spend money to make money.
Best Managed companies spend on key infrastructure: Enterprise resource
planning (ERP) and client relationship management (CRM) systems.
Doing so makes them more competitive as they attract new customers
and leverage their existing customer base.
INVEST IN PEOPLE,
PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY
3

10. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 10
Silver linings abound.
Infrastructure doesn’t have to be a big cost. As cloud solutions
mature, some organizations are moving ERP and CRM processes to
the cloud, transforming an up-front cost to a scalable service fee.
INVEST IN PEOPLE,
PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY (CON’T)

11. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 11
Analytics is transforming all aspects of business, from
optimizing supply chains to preventing workplace
accidents. Best Managed companies are taking steps
to understand the power that deep data dives and data
analytics can provide.
And big data can mean big money – industry-wide,
companies that use data analytics are 26% more
profitable than their competitors.
4 DIVE DEEP INTO BIG DATA
26%

12. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 12
Size doesn’t matter.
With declining costs, data analytics is being adopted by mid-sized
companies to level the playing field.
Whether it’s intelligent pricing, financial performance management,
predictive project risk, or workforce analytics, even small datasets can help
companies focus resources on the most important business problems.
A little data goes a long way – for companies large, medium and small.
DIVE DEEP INTO BIG DATA (CON’T)

13. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 13
See how you would measure up to global
competitors…
Quality, delivery time, customer service and
efficiency – Best Managed companies use
fact-based analytics and benchmarking to know
where they truly stand against their competitors.
5
BENCHMARK
AGAINST THE WORLD’S BEST

14. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 14
…to transform your business at home.
Companies that compare themselves against
global benchmarks operate to a higher standard.
They also gain exposure to new technologies and
business practices to raise their game. Wherever
they operate.
BENCHMARK
AGAINST THE WORLD’S BEST (CON’T)

15. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 15
Over the past few years M&A has returned as a driver of
growth. But the landscape has changed and Best Managed
companies have become more strategic in their approach.
6 BULK UP FOR THE BIG LEAGUES

16. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 16
Best Managed companies are becoming more aggressive about
the size and complexity of deals as they look for companies that
complement their core. This allows them to develop economies
of scale, deepen talent pools, and build strategies to compete with
larger enterprises.
For many companies, bulking up is a key step in expanding
beyond Canadian borders.
BULK UP FOR THE BIG LEAGUES (CON’T)

17. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 17
You can’t avoid risk…
A crisis could be around the corner.
Cyber attacks and other business threats are occurring at an
alarming rate. What would happen if a top supplier broke a
contract? Or your IT system was taken down?
…but you can face risk by managing it.
7
MANAGE RISK –
BEFORE CRISIS STRIKES

18. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 18
Best Managed companies are not risk averse, but risk aware.
Tackling larger, more complex projects often means assuming more:
The time to develop a risk management strategy is before a crisis strikes.
Doing so can mitigate the duration, scale and reputational risk of crises.
Best Managed companies emphasize risk management strategies as part
of their agenda.
MANAGE RISK –
BEFORE CRISIS STRIKES (CON’T)
• Contract risk
• Brand risk
• Political risk
• Environmental risk
• Financial risk

19. 7 strategies for success:
A Best Managed primer

20. The 7 strategies of Best Managed companies 20
7 strategies for success:
A Best Managed primer
Canada’s Best Managed Companies are:
• Laser focused
• Getting social
• Investing in people,
process and technology
• Diving deep into big data
• Benchmarking against the world’s best
• Bulking up for the big leagues
• Managing risk before crisis strikes

21. Let’s talk
bestmanagedcompanies@deloitte.ca
To learn more about Canada’s Best Managed Companies
and how to become one, contact us at:
Professional coaching throughout the process makes applying
to become a Best Managed company a benefit in itself.
Let’s talk about your strategies for success.

22. JOIN THE #BESTMANAGED CONVERSATION
Follow @DeloitteCanada
Like Deloitte Canada