Describes a project executed by Nykky McCarley during her corporate Commissioning & Validation Engineering Services Manager role. Is a high-level description of writing a business plan to direct decision-making for her organization.

1. Nykky McCarley or:
How I Learned to Stop Worrying &
Love Strategy
Project Description:
Writing a business plan to
direct decision-making for my organization
All Rights Reserved. ©2013

2. Statement of Originality & Confidentiality
This is a project description of work created by Nykky McCarley.
All information is a product to be used to demonstrate my work experience & related
skills.
Please do not copy without permission.
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 2

3. About this project
Shortly after I was promoted to Corporate Commissioning & Validation Engineering Manager, at
Abbott Laboratories, I had a short discussion with a Senior Leader - you know the kind, when you
bump into someone in the hallway on your way to the cafeteria?
Senior Leader to me: “Nykky, congrats on your new role. But you have to redefine your group’s
brand within the company.”
Me, after a couple of beats: “You’re right!” But to myself I said, “HOW, on EARTH, do I do that?”
It took some time before I was able to unpack the concept of “Redefining the Brand”. . . . .
One day, my boss came by with the idea of writing a business plan for her organization. She asked me
to provide an outline on writing one, since she knew I had a management degree and had written a
business plan for one of my classes. I provided her the materials and, being on her staff, became
involved in her project. Working with her inspired me to write a business plan for my own staff. It was
within this activity that my “Eureka” moment came; I saw an opportunity to not only redefine my
organization’s brand but to improve our operations and extend our reach as well. It was a huge effort
but very rewarding, both tangibly and intangibly.
What follows is a high-level account of the framework I put in place to write the plan, with selected
examples.
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 3

4. Nykky McCarley, CQE, CQM/OE, LSSGB, QCxP
Current role: Corporate Commissioning & Validation Engineering Services Manager
Experience in Engineering, Operations & Quality/Validation
BS Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
Master of Engineering Management, Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
Certification, Marketing Strategy for Business Leaders, Cornell University - Ithaca, NY
About me
Work History:
 Current: Corporate Commissioning & Validation Engineering Manager
 Plant Engineering & Validation Manager
 Validation Supervisor
Certifications:
 Operations Manager
 Certified Quality Engineer
 Operations Supervisor
 Certified Quality Manager
 Process Engineer
 Commissioning Process
 Validation Engineer  Abbott Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
 Wellness Coaching
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 4

5. For Starters:
A Primer on Business Plans
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6. Business Plans Contain the
Following Components
Business Discussion
Executive Summary
Business Description
Operations Description
Management & Staff
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 6

7. Business Plans Contain the
Following Components
Research for Riches
Industry Analysis
Target Customers
Competition
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 7

8. Business Plans Contain the
Following Components
Strategy & Tactics
Strategic Analysis
Marketing Plan
Sales Strategies
Community Involvement
Image: Strategy Crossword/iStockPhoto
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 8

9. Business Plans Contain the
Following Components
Growth & Sustainability
Milestones
The Financials
Image: futurestartup.com
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 9

10. Project Description:
Writing a business plan to direct decision-making for my
organization
Desired Outcome:
Higher levels of respect, ability to compete, & demand for
business
Proficiency Demonstrated:
Ability to analyze current business operations & optimize
organizational effectiveness
All Rights Reserved. ©2013

11. Overview -
Applying Business Plan Theory
Business Discussion Step 1: Step 2:
Step 1 Perform Perform
SWOT Market
Research for Riches
Step 2 Analysis Assessment
Strategy & Tactics Step 3: Step 4:
Step 3 Develop Reinvest
Business in
Growth & Sustainability Strategy Resources
Step 4
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 11

12. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:
Perform Perform Develop Reinvest
SWOT Market Business in
Analysis Assessment Strategy Resources
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 12

13. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:
Perform Perform Develop Reinvest
SWOT Market Business in
Analysis Assessment Strategy Resources
Performed market
assessment to develop
most profitable
customers
Identified targets &
developed appropriate
brand propositions for
each
!
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 13

14. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:
Perform Perform Develop Reinvest
SWOT Market Business in
Analysis Assessment Strategy Resources
Designed
Marketing,
Customer
Service, &
Branding
Strategies
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 14

15. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:
Perform Perform Develop Reinvest
SWOT Market Business in
Analysis Assessment Strategy Resources
Reinvested in
Avg
Cer(fica(ons
per
Staff
Member
Over
Time
organization's resources
•Talent Development - Training &
Certifications
•Operational Efficiencies -
Electronic Validation Library,
Quote Tool & Customer
Database
!
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 15

16. Strategic Leadership
through Business Planning
Results Step 1: Step 2:
Perform Perform
• Increased sales ($700M SWOT Market
over 2 years)
Analysis Assessment
• More visibility of group
within the corporation Step 3: Step 4:
• Boosted reputation of group Develop Reinvest
among peers & customers Business in
Strategy Resources
• Higher employee morale
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013 16

17. Wrapping it up:
Wrote a business plan to direct decision-making for
my organization
Obtained higher levels of respect, ability to
compete, & demand for business
Demonstrated ability to analyze current business
operations & optimize organizational effectiveness
Thanks so much for viewing my project!
Any questions/comments, leave them in the comments section, follow me on SlideShare or
connect with me on LinkedIn. I will be sharing a presentation on how to create project
descriptions for work experience in my next post.
NMcCarley, Project Description - Business Plan
Contact info: nmccarley@me.com All Rights Reserved. ©2013