The System for Integrated Growth
A virtual program, the System for Integrated Growth® (SIG) gives second-stage leaders access to a team of business experts to address specific issues that impact growth, whether those issues are internal or exist outside the walls of the company.
For example, Rich Fowles of Scratch and Peck Feeds LLC sought help with supply chain efficiencies and adding a second manufacturing facility.
Just-in-time expertise
The System for Integrated Growth (SIG) helps participants identify what’s really preventing their companies from scaling profitably or causing chaotic growth — and then connects them with the right expertise to move forward.
The program begins by having a solid understanding of your company’s corporate strategy and marketing tactics. What do you want your organization to look like in the next five to 10 years, what resources do you need to get there, and what obstacles do you need to overcome? At that point, we bring in business experts who can bolster your knowledge, decision-making and capacity around those issues. For example, SIG specialists can:
- Walk you through a strategic planning process to create a roadmap with specific action steps.
- Help you understand why and when current customers buy from your company — then leverage that knowledge to target new market segments, companies, and individuals within in those companies.
- Pinpoint the right branding, messaging and channels you need to leverage to reach these prospects.
- Help you manage human assets more skillfully, such as evolving from an org chart to an accountability chart and ensuring people are in the right positions.
SIG differs from other types of business assistance in several ways. For starters, the program adapts to a company’s unique needs, rather than moving through a prescribed set of services. Information is delivered by a team rather than one person. And, instead of being generalists who provide broad counsel, SIG specialists are private-sector consultants with deep expertise who have been vetted by the Edward Lowe Foundation.
SIG specialists don’t give advice. They listen intently and provide customized information, best practices and insights about your particular constraints and opportunities, so that you can make better decisions. After all, it is your business.
A virtual program, SIG is delivered online and made available to second-stage companies through organizations and government agencies in their communities. To learn where the program is offered, visit SystemForIntegratedGrowth.org
What to expect
Fees — Costs may be covered by local, regional or state organizations. In locations where a host organization is not available to subsidize costs, please contact Paul Bateson.
Time commitment — About 8-12 hours spread over 2 months.
Focus areas — HR (recruiting and retention as well as compliance), operations and supply chain, accounting and finance, global trade, sales and marketing, succession planning, secondary market research, online marketing and customer prospecting.
Logistics — The program kicks off with a call between the CEO and a SIG team leader to clarify your company’s greatest needs. Next, you talk with SIG specialists to dive deeper into those pain points. Specialists then prepare their deliverables and schedule followup calls to walk you through those materials. Finally, the team leader conducts a debriefing call before wrapping up the engagement.
Companies will be asked to submit an online application and provide revenue and employment amounts for: the past three calendar years, the current year and projections for the next two years. You’ll also list where you need assistance. Your program administrator can help you think through these initial issues. If accepted into the program, we’ll schedule and interview with you and a SIG team leader to start the process.
Feedback from SIG participants
“The SIG engagement is probably the most impactful thing my company has ever experienced. Prior to SIG, I had ideas about what I wanted to do, and thought they might be possible. Yet now I am certain with the direction of the company — and how we’re going to do it.”
— Jordan Munsters, founder of High Caliber Karting and Entertainment in Okemos, Michigan
“The SIG engagement was priceless and worth every second of my time — in fact, it’s saving me time and money. It was great to have people look under the hood of my business. Their perspectives were truly enlightening. I also felt they genuinely wanted me and Geaux Above to succeed, which is empowering.”
— Shanna Felker, CEO of Geaux Above LLC in Madisonville, Louisiana
