MTI Consulting

MTI Consulting recently completed an extensive strategic planning and organizational development initiative with the Lalan Group, for their operations in Sri Lanka and the international operations in the UK.  The Lalan Group, which is one of Sri Lanka’s leaders in rubber glove manufacturing has in its group portfolio businesses including plantations and other related value chain activities.
 
The 6C MTI model was utilized for this project, looking at the Lalan Group’s Cause (Strategy), Configuration (Organizational Structure), Core Processes, Controls, Competencies and Consider-it-done (Implementation Impact Management). An involved process was adopted, with the Lalan senior management team in a series of consulting workshops and assignments.

 
Lalith Hapangama, Chairman, said “The MTI initiative has helped the group define its direction, and importantly, laid out how we will put into action the critical initiatives that will take us there.”
 
MTI Consulting, with its own operations in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Dubai, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UK and Associates worldwide, offers solutions in the areas of Strategy Consulting, Corporate Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Technology, Supply Chain and Research & Analytics. MTI has worked on over 400 client-specific assignments across 40 countries.

MTI Market Research  (www.mtimarketresearch.com), which is a subsidiary of MTI Consulting, was responsible for the extensive market research that was conducted among users, non-users and the channel community.
MTI Market Research, which has thus far been exclusively focusing on all of the research needs of MTI Consulting, now operates as and offers the full suite of market research services on a stand-alone basis. This includes U&A studies, Product / Concept Testing, Brand Equity Measurement, Advertising Tracking, Customized Retail & Channel Audits, B2B Studies.

Daily FT commends MTI for Strategy & Research

Daily FT, Sri Lanka’s  first and only dedicated business newspaper,  has just completed a major strategy review and strategic directional planning with MTI Consulting
“Within just 2 years, the Daily FT has proved to be the main source of business news for Sri Lanka’s corporate sector, with a growing customer base. When we started 2 years ago, MTI Consulting helped us with our strategic thinking process and provided the much needed strategic clarity at stage. 2 years on and growing very fast, we felt it was prudent to carry out a strategic review of the Daily FT and develop strategic initiatives  that will help us propel even further. The current study and recommendations has once again proved to be very effective” said Sujan Wijewardene, Director of the Wijeya Group that also publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Hi and many other local language publications.

MTI CEO Hilmy Cader at the presentation with the representatives of Daily FT, Wijeya Group, MTI Consulting and MTI Market Research 
Speaking at the final presentation, the CEO of MTI Consulting said “In an industry that is generally not a high user of consulting and market research,  Daily FT’s decision to engage in it have proved is a prudent decision and is paying off. With the post war optimism in the country and changing lifestyles and mind-set, Sri Lankan media organizations need to use more formal research as a means of tracking, understanding and responding to these changes

MTI launches 8S in Korea with Sri Lankan Learning's
International Marketing Consultancy firm MTI (Marketing Technologies International) launched it's 8S Strategic Marketing Model in Seoul this week. The 3-day ConsulTraining workshop was attended by 40 participants from mainland China and Korea and was conducted by the CEO of MTI, Hilmy Cader .

MTI's 8S is a comprehensive strategic business / marketing process model. It covers all aspects of the business / marketing function in a strategic and sequential manner. It also acts as a strategic audit and culminates in the formation of a practical and action oriented marketing plan documented.

It has been globally tested as a result of the of The Fortune 200 Ralston Purina Company spin-off, AgriBrands International adopting it as their global go-to-market model.

Sri Lankan learning's,

In addition to learning's from the USA , Mexico , Europe and the Middle East , MTI has used specific learning's from their Sri Lankan experience where the model has been successfully applied and continues to generate a lot of interest from the Sri Lankan corporate sector. Mr. Asanka De Silva of MTI Sri Lanka was selected to attend the sessions in Korea as team member of MTI's Key Learning's Transfer (KELT) program.

On to Barcelona,

Following from this program, MTI will be conducting a similar workshop in Barcelona , in March and in this instance too they will draw specific learning's from the Sri Lankan market.

Photograph : The Chinese / Korean team that participated in the
ConsulTraining workshop, along with Hilmy Cader , CEO of MTI and Asanka De Silva of MTI Sri Lanka
 

"In a dynamic business environment, a business is forced to change if not fine tune strategy. If so, how can our organizational structures remain unchanged for a long period of time?"

This was the opinion of the 4 Expert Panelists at MTI's recently concluded evening meeting on Re-structure or Perish. The 3rd performance of this highly popular theme meeting attracted almost 100 participants, thus covering a total of over 450 participants over the 3 sessions.

An annual re-structuring process, which reflects the business strategy and as an integral part of the planning process, could help prevent business, collapses.

MTI's Bahrain based MD Hilmy Cader using several local and international examples showed why it is important to re-strategize before re-structuring. He advised business to assume that difficult times are here to stay and that we should build businesses that can withstand these trying time. "You've got to be lean and mean even if the going is good" said the international management / marketing expert.

Sri Lankan Airline's Head of HR Sunil Dissanayake identified some of the obstacles and pitfalls in re-structuring. He illustrated several examples of streamlining processes within companies and the resultant lean and mean structure that can be built. He underscored the importance of senior management commitment throughout the re-structuring process.

Hayleys Consumer and Hayleys Agro Director Rizvi Zaheed shared his experience in building a new hands-on and performance drive culture at the recently re-structured Hayleys Consumer Products. He spoke of the need to re-launch the new company and the importance of team building and team-gelling sessions.

MTI's Sri Lankan MD Lasantha Abeywickrema emphasized the need for post re-structuring staff communication and social responsibility in terms of helping and guiding retrenched employees. "Simple initiatives of helping these retrenched employees to develop resumes, face interviews, get head hunted and considering them for out sourcing helps reducing the pain of restructuring on employees."

MTI Consulting offers their re-structuring solutions in Sri Lanka and globally.

Photo : Seated Left to Right: Mr. Rizvi Zaheed (Director Hayleys Consumer & Hayleys Agro), Mr. Sunil Dissanayake (Head of Human Resources, SriLankan Airlines), Mr. Hilmy Cader ( Bahrain based Managing Director, MTI Consulting), Mr. Lasantha Abeywickrema (Managing Director, MTI Consulting-Sri Lanka)



 

At their recent evening meeting that was attended by over 120 Senior Managers, MTI's Bahrain based CEO Hilmy Cader and MTI's Sri Lanka based MD Lasantha Abeywickrama announced the findings of their global research on strategic planning. This has led to the concept of 9 Sins of Strategic Planning.

According to Hilmy Cader , a significant number of businesses in different parts of the world demonstrate many of the 9 Sins of Strategic Planning.

Hilmy Cader recommends a quick test by checking if your company demonstrates the following:

The 9 sins of strategic planning are:

1. Timing and process dictated by corporate & financial needs
2. Annual ritual & snap shot.
3. Changes during the year and re-active and blinkers on
4. Departments work in Silos, and then the plan is consolidated
5. Focus on objectives and strategies only not on action
6. No change of Structure, Staff and Systems
7. Detailed documentation, extreme number crunching and ceremonial presentations, with no link to action
8. Highly stressful process, with limited open-ended quality thinking time
9. Not linked to the wallet

During the meeting Mr. Hilmy Cader also commented that,

"In a market place characterised by intensive competition, smarter customers, powerful channels, demanding shareholders and a turbulent environment; conventional strategic marketing planning will not work for you. MTI's global consulting experience has proved this beyond doubt.

MTI's 8S model has been researched and developed specifically for strategic business & marketing planning, using global experience in 36 product & service categories.

MTI's 8S is a practical, user friendly and sequential planning model starting with the definition of the Scope of the business and proceeding to Systems and Social Responsibility."

Photo : Mr. Lasantha Abeywickrama explaining MTI's 8S Model
 

Globally acclaimed management and marketing consultant and Bahrain-based CEO of MTI Consulting Hilmy Cader will share his international experience and wisdom at an interactive evening presentation on "Power and Pitfall of Mission and Vision" on Friday 1 st November at 5:30 pm at Hotel Taj Samudra.

Together with his local counterpart Lasantha Abeywickrama , Managing Director of MTI Consulting in Sri Lanka , they will jointly present MTI's experience in Sri Lanka and Globally on developing Mission and Vision.

"The mission and vision are perhaps two of the most under-estimated, under-utilized tools available to today's organizations. No other tool has the ability to translate an organizations purpose for existence into a metaphorical battle cry that can motivate and inspire employees to perform in today's competitive business arena" said Hilmy Cader , who has worked on several international consulting assignments in North America , Europe , Middle East., Asia and Australasia .

Lasantha Abeywickrama said that "At this interactive presentation we will take you through the role of mission & vision in the strategic planning process and enlighten you on a plan of action to link, live, remind & reward employees who live the mission and strive for vision"

This evening meeting is targeted at CEO's, Directors, Heads of Business Units and Senior Managers.

Photo : Hilmy Cader will share his global learnings




 

MTI's 8S Model, already used by clients in over 20 countries, was presented this week at the Harvard Business School in Boston , to Prof. Stephen Greyser who is the Professor of Business Administration / Marketing Emeritus and the author of over 15 books and 300 HBS case studies.

The presentation was made by MTI's CEO Hilmy Cader , who is currently following an executive education program at the Harvard Business School . "MTI plans to conduct a series of world class programs in Sri Lanka, in association with Prof. Youngme Moon and Prof. Frances Frei of the Harvard Business School" said Hilmy Cader arising from his discussions while in Boston

MTI's 8S Model has applications for Business Strategy and Marketing as a comprehensive auditing and planning tool, with a proven track record. The bottom-line link, it's strategic simplicity and it's link to action are some of the distinguishing characteristics of MTI's 8S model, which is delivered via MTI's ConsulTraining workshops. MTI's approach demands a high level of client involvement, self critiquing and challenges conventional wisdom.

Among the Sri Lankan based companies that have used and / or are using MTI's 8S Model are: Ace Cargo, Bank of Ceylon, Delmege, DIMO, Dipped Products, EDB, Hayleys, John Keells, Lanka Thermo , New Zealand Milk, MAS, Sinwa, SriLankan Airlines and Triumph.

Photo : MTI Chief Executive Officer Hilmy Cader (right) with Harvard's Prof. Stephen Greyser, at the HBS Campus in Boston USA.
 

For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan Business, a Sri Lankan company has shared the case study of a highly successful re-structuring assignment.

Hayelys, the diversified blue chip, re-structured the Inland Marketing Operations in Sept. 2001, by MTI Consulting. This turned out to be a very effective and highly profitable exercise for the company.

This case-study was the subject of a sell out evening meeting presentation titled "Re-Structure or Perish - The Hayleys Experience" presented by MTI's Bahrain based CEO and the international business strategy consultant Hilmy Cader , followed by a panel discussion..

Over 250 CEOs, Directors and Senior Managers attended this lively presentation and highly interactive panel discussion, which MTI Consulting hopes to repeat in October.

Photo shows the panel in progress comprising of (from Left to Right) Mr. Mervyn De Silva - Managing Director, Hayleys Industrial Solutions, Mr. Richard Ebell - Group Director - Hayleys Limited, Mr. Hilmy Cader - MTI's Bahrain based CEO, Mr. Lasantha Abeywickrama - Managing Director, MTI Consulting - Sri Lanka & Mr. Rizvi Zaheed - Managing Director, Hayleys Consumer & Hayleys Agro.
 

Strategic Planning - The SriLankan Airlines Experience will be the title of the MTI presentation scheduled for Tuesday 9th March 2004, commencing 5.30 PM at the Hilton Colombo Residence (JAIC)

In 2001, SriLankan Airlines embarked on a strategic planning process, with the longer-term vision of being the Most Preferred Airline in Asia and a more pressing shorter-term goal of making the airline profitable - at a time when the global airline industry faced mounting losses

The plan was developed by a cross-functional team of SriLankan Airlines management - based on MTI's 8S and facilitated by MTI Consulting

The process culminated with the launch of SriLankan's new Mission , Vision and Values - 4200 employees personally taking part in the biggest launch ever in Sri Lanka

Today, SriLankan is a profitable company and continues to win prestigious international awards that testify commercial, communication and service excellence

Presented by MTI's CEO Hilmy Cader and SriLankan's CEO Peter Hill, this presentation will feature how SriLankan Airlines used MTI's Strategic Planning Process. The presentations will be followed by panel discussion comprising Lasantha Abeywickrama , Director / Senior Consultant, MTI Consulting and Ranjeewa Kulatunga, Manager - HRD & T, SriLankan Airlines.

For registrations: Call 2543 700 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Photo : Shows the panel discussion. L to R ; Lasantha Abeywickrama , Director / Senior Consultant, MTI Consulting, MTI's CEO Hilmy Cader, SriLankan's CEO Peter Hill and Ranjeewa Kulatunga, Manager - HRD & T, SriLankan Airlines.

Photo 2: shows part of the Audience



 

The Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association (CHSGA) together with MTI Consulting conducted an evening meeting for its members on "Strategic Planning for the Leisure Industry" based on MTI's internationally acclaimed 8S Model.

The General Secretary CHSGA, Mr. Hemantha Ratnayake said "The leisure Industry is looking ahead and its members are involved in strategic planning for the future. The CHSGA invited MTI Consulting; experts in strategic planning to share their experience with its members." He further stated that they hope to conduct similar seminars in the future for the benefit of their members.

Mr. Roshanga Wickremesinhe Consultant, MTI Consulting Sri Lanka said that "It is encouraging that the leisure industry is focusing on Strategic Planning, and we are confident on the positive impact of strategic planning on the industries effort to be globally competitive."

Photo : Panel discussion on Strategy Planning for the Liesure Industry. L to R Aitken Spence Hotels Amal Nanayakkara, MTI's Roshanga Wickremasinghe and Lasantha Abeywickrama and CHSGA President Palitha Wijemanne.