What is this all about?

The AgriChain Centre conducts independent applied research into business behaviours and processes related to the acquisition and use of knowledge.
The Con-Factor Construct is an outcome of The AgriChain Centre's practical work with industry and our ability to turn experience into conceptual learnings.

The CON-Factor Construct

The CON-Factor Construct is a three dimensional business tool that eliminates the need for complex and cumbersome strategic planning. Strategy is everyone's business. CON-Factor Analysis brings strategic planning from the boardroom to the 'shop floor', with the outcome being a 1 page action plan.
A picture speaks a thousand words. CON-Factor Analysis creates ready to use, easy to understand 1 page visual images that will add value to your business by empowering your team members.

The Consumer

The purpose of achieving organisational excellence is to satisfy the consumer. Period. It is irrelevant how many layers seperate an organisation from its ultimate consumer. Organisational excellence is unattainable unless a customer focus is adopted and consumer needs are understood.

Constraint

All organisations operate under constraints. Constraints vary, but may include distance to market, seasonality, product compatibility, financial scope and others. The key is to identify the constraints relevant to one's particular organisation and the degree of 'stretch' the constraints are able to tolerate before quality is compromised.

Conflict

Conflict needs to be managed. Not all conflict is bad. A degree of organisational conflict is healthy and aids in the development of a more robust organisation. The potential for conflict needs to be understood and the degree and nature of conflcit needs to be measured. There are typically three core sources of conflict :
Timing
Position
Role
These types of conflict need to be tackled differently from each other. The 'one cure for all' approach does not work.

Consistency

Human nature does not cope well with change. We like our bananas, for example, yellow and our cauliflower creamy white. We also like to know that we can purchase product of the same quality every time we visit a store. Retailers do not like surprises either - primarily because the consumer does not like them! A business therefore needs to be built around delivering a consistent product or service in order to achieve operational excellence.

Confidence

Confidence in one's own product and process is an essential ingredient to ensure market place success. Confidence needs to be reality based, though and not be 'blind'. Reality based confidence comes from understanding one's own business thoroughly, how it interacts with its customers and suppliers and through appropriate degrees of third party assurance, e.g.; HACCP based management, food safety practices and accreditations.

Control

There are elements of any business that need to be managed and controlled. The trick is to understand which are the ones requiring 'hands-on' control and which ones can be left to their own devices. The pursuit of operational excellence should not serve as the excuse to exercise control over every minute detail. There are processes or parts thereof when 'going with the flow' will generate better long-term results.

Convergence

Convergence will occur as a result of achieving operational excellence in the areas defined by the preceeding six CON-Factors. It is an outcome, rather than a process. By achieving operational excellence in the areas defined by the six CON-Factors, organisation will either be ready to become effective supply chain leaders / builders or become more flexible in how they fit into a third party chain put together by others.

The CON-Factor Construct

The CON-Factor Construct analyses organisational challenges from six key perspectives. The three dimensional Construct is a business tool that will drive organisations towards operational excellence. It does not matter what type of organsiation you are and it does not matter where in the world you operate. CON-Factor analysis will work for you.CON-Factor Analysis puts strategic planning at your fingertips and produces a meaningful one page roadmap towards better business for immediate use.