
Strategic audit

Make the right decisions in terms of development and investment
For more than 30 years, our specialized team has been supporting companies in their strategic audits to analyze and diagnose the overall internal and external situation of a company, and to inform decision-making on future changes, investments or developments.
The key success factors of a strategic audit
In order to achieve long-term sustainable development, companies must formulate correct strategies with clear roadmaps. At the heart of a strategic audit, is the ability to adjust to the complexity of internal and external environments to identify core challenges and opportunities. This requires careful consideration with several key success factors:
Effective auditing is a multifaceted process that requires a deep understanding of both internal and external dynamic environments impacting an organization. Utilizing various tools and frameworks (such as PESTEL) can enhance diagnostic capabilities, enabling the crafting of visionary and well-informed strategies adaptable to modern business complexities.
Tailoring the approach and prioritizing areas with a direct impact on the organization’s success is also crucial.
What are the essential factors that would contribute to the success of the project? What is the most suitable framework to use to assess the landscape while considering the business needs?
The buy-in and support of all related stakeholders is a key element in the success of a strategic audit. This means establishing a clear understanding of the organization’s strategy, objectives, and key performance indicators with all persons involved.
Engage in meaningful and positive dialogue with internal teams through audits can actively involve them to prioritise pain points and address genuine concerns
Collaborating with stakeholders fosters a deep understanding of business objectives, enables swift, well-informed decision-making and fosters open communication, enhancing relevance and overall effectiveness.
Who are the crucial stakeholders in the project? What roles do they play and what are their stakes? How to shape conversations in a positive and productive manner? How to create value for all stakeholders in the process?
To fully understand the company’s strengths and pain points, it is necessary to be able to compare its assets and way of working to the market’s best-in-class and the expectations of its customers. Consequently, a detailed analysis of market drivers and barriers makes it possible to identify the ideal situation, and to conduct a gap analysis, the basis for development and investment decisions.
Who are the best-in-class players in the targeted markets? How will each market evolve? What should we strengthen as a priority?
How we support you in assessing a strategic audit
A strategic audit focuses on understanding and evaluating products and services, development areas, customers and markets, competitors, internal teams and skills, organization, processes, methods and technologies. The company’s activities are often segmented into Strategic Business Areas (SBAs), which are positioned on a strengths-attractions matrix: what are the company’s strengths compared to its competitors on this SBA? What is the attractiveness, or appeal, of the market for this SBA? Another widely used tool during a strategic audit is the famous SWOT (Strenghts Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) matrix, which allows the company to base its strategy on tangible contextual elements.
We believe that the quality of a strategic audit is based on two main elements:
- the ability to investigate the company’s markets in detail
- the quality of the exchanges with internal teams, which is a guarantee of transparency and collaboration.
Two elements that are mastered by Alcimed’s explorers, who know their clients’ business, speak the same language, and are specialized by industry.
Thanks to its industry expertise, Alcimed also works in the field of venture capital and carries out Strategic Due Diligence and Vendor Due Diligence.
Examples of recent strategic audits carried out for our clients
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Founded in 1993, Alcimed is an innovation and new business consulting firm, specializing in innovation driven sectors: life sciences (healthcare, biotech, agrifood), energy, environment, mobility, chemicals, materials, cosmetics, aeronautics, space and defence.
Our purpose? Helping both private and public decision-makers explore and develop their uncharted territories: new technologies, new offers, new geographies, possible futures, and new ways to innovate.
Located across eight offices around the world (France, Europe, Singapore and the United States), our team is made up of 220 highly-qualified, multicultural and passionate explorers, with a blended science/technology and business culture.
Our dream? To build a team of 1,000 explorers, to design tomorrow’s world hand in hand with our clients.
A strategic audit, or strategic diagnosis, focuses on understanding and evaluating products and services, development areas, customers and markets, competitors, internal teams and skills, organization, processes, methods and technologies of a company.
The main steps of a strategic audit involve :
- Engaging stakeholders to align business objectives and to define scope and decision-making criteria.
- Assessing internal and external environments for viability using tools like SWOT analysis
- Actively engaging internal teams in frequent, through meaningful conversations to gather insights and ensure cooperation.