Koffman-Robbs Solutions Framework – A New Way of Doing Business

The Koffman-Robbs Solutions Framework (the KRF) is a map that 7i™ uses to structure our thinking about business and success. It is the template that explores and refines our methodology, it provides the backdrop to our range of products and services and structures our interventions for clients.

7i™ – A Butterfly

7i™'s vision is that clients become so integrated and skilled at infusing their own vision, mission and values into daily business practice, that all three areas become inseparable and each individual in the company continually grows at their point of highest potential, no longer needing external motivators and facilitation, but flying, fuelled from within.

The "Old" Way

Many businesses struggle to develop and integrate their vision into their daily practice, and often their actions are driven by questions such as these:

• What does the market need? Therefore, what does our product need to be? How do we create our product cost effectively? How do we sell it profitably in the market?
• When we are unsuccessful we ask: what changed in the market? How can we be more cost effective than our competitors? How can we more effectively dominate this niche?

According to this way of thinking, the criteria of success have to do with the market 'out there', rather than with the health and well being of the company and the people who work there. If we are even aware of a vision and mission we think they are irrelevant, because we assume that individuals and companies are interchangeable, and that competition is a reality. Companies are in a precarious position without foundations, and because of this it takes alot of energy and resources to maintain and to keep sustainable.

Knowing this, companies are then convinced that they do not have the time or energy to look at the vision and mission, and believe that if they do, the 'walls may come tumbling down' as there may be more things to deal with and get right besides also struggling to stay "in the game" and survive.

The truth is that if we don’t find out our core strengths and vision, and integrate that into our business on a day-to-day basis, we may eventually run out of steam and work ourselves out of business.

The Foundations of a Sound Business

7i™ understands that a structure is only as good as its foundation. If we don’t know who we are, how can we know what we are good at, and how can we find just that spot in the market that truly makes optimal use of our talents, interests and skills?

7i™’s way of thinking works with the reality that individuals and companies are all unique, and not interchangeable. By identifying our core values we discover who we, as individuals and as a company, really are. Once we know who we are, we can choose the market positioning that best makes use of our talents, interests, and skills. This way of thinking enables us to make use of the information so that there is no such thing as a favourable or unfavourable market position, but that it is always a question of fit.

However, it is not enough to use only our values and vision for planning and finding our optimum position. No human being, company or market position is static. To be successful we must become more of who and what we are. An investment consultancy that mismanages its own portfolio will not last long. In the same way our business strategy must be infused into every aspect of our daily business, our customer interface and the internal company culture. Our strategy must become fused with all aspects of our business practice.

The integration of vision and strategy into the actual concrete work process of a company, takes that company to a new level of success, measured not only by market success, but by the internal health, well being, and integrated strategic strength of the company itself.

7i™ understands that whatever a company looks like, every one of these three areas are essential to the company’s functioning. 7i™ has developed products and services to nourish organisations as a whole, and focus on customising these to suit the unique requirements of your organisation.

The following diagram is interactive. Click on the diagram to get a description and explanation of each part of the diagram