the1 believes that strategy creates opportunity in the sense that it's important to start with strategy and let this be the framework for identifying opportunities.
After some broad objectives have been agreed with the client, the1 moves onto the tactical level of what types of businesses would achieve those objectives. We often use a matrix to organize this part of the process. The two axes are often functional specialism/geography, but they can also be vertical market/geography or vertical market/functional specialism. Business model is also included as a third dimension. In the case of the human capital sector, this would be temporary recruitment, permanent recruitment or consulting/RPO.
This not only captures what we have agreed with our client for the search but it also captures the priorities between the different categories agreed, which invariably evolve during the process.
Without such an approach, we believe it isn't possible to go into the market and search for opportunities with clear vision.
We are then in a position to populate the relevant matrix cells with live opportunities.
This is but one of the many techniques the1 uses to change M&A from a professional that is all too often based on networking rather than strategy.