Flevy Management Insights Case Study
Strategic Turnaround Plan for a Bankrupt Infrastructure Firm
     Mark Bridges    |    Bankruptcy


Fortune 500 companies typically bring on global consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture, or boutique consulting firms specializing in Bankruptcy to thoroughly analyze their unique business challenges and competitive situations. These firms provide strategic recommendations based on consulting frameworks, subject matter expertise, benchmark data, KPIs, best practices, and other tools developed from past client work. We followed this management consulting approach for this case study.

TLDR A once-thriving infrastructure company faced bankruptcy due to declining project acquisition rates, rising costs, and internal inefficiencies. Through operational restructuring and financial reengineering, the company achieved significant reductions in delivery times and costs, improved financial stability, and entered new markets, highlighting the importance of Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation for recovery and growth.

Reading time: 10 minutes

Consider this scenario: A once-thriving infrastructure company has recently declared bankruptcy, facing a critical period of financial instability and operational challenges.

The organization has experienced a 40% decline in project acquisition rates and a 25% increase in project costs, exacerbated by external pressures such as fluctuating raw material prices and heightened competition from both domestic and international firms. Internally, the company struggles with outdated technology and a demotivated workforce, further hampering productivity and efficiency. The primary strategic objective of this organization is to achieve financial stability and operational excellence, positioning it for sustainable growth and profitability in the competitive infrastructure sector.



The infrastructure industry stands at a crossroads, influenced by evolving regulatory standards, digital innovation, and shifts in global economic power. To navigate these changes, a comprehensive strategic turnaround is imperative for firms aiming to recover from financial distress and regain a competitive edge.

Strategic Planning

Understanding the competitive landscape is critical for developing a robust strategic plan. The infrastructure sector's dynamics can be dissected as follows:

  • Internal Rivalry: Intense, due to the presence of numerous players vying for the same projects, leading to price wars and margin compression.
  • Supplier Power: Increasing, as the reliance on a limited number of suppliers for high-quality raw materials drives up costs.
  • Buyer Power: High, with clients demanding more for less, driven by greater transparency and choice in the market.
  • Threat of New Entrants: Moderate, hindered by high entry barriers such as significant capital requirements and regulatory hurdles.
  • Threat of Substitutes: Low to moderate, depending on the segment of infrastructure, though innovation could shift this balance.

Emergent trends include digitalization, sustainability, and public-private partnerships, reshaping industry dynamics and creating both opportunities and risks:

  • Digital Transformation: Offers the opportunity to improve efficiency and reduce costs but requires significant upfront investment and cultural change.
  • Increased Focus on Sustainability: Opens new markets but challenges existing business models not aligned with green practices.
  • Shift Towards Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Provides new financing avenues but introduces complexity in project management and accountability.

A STEER analysis highlights the critical external factors impacting the industry, including Sociopolitical shifts favoring sustainable infrastructure, Technological advancements driving operational efficiency, Environmental concerns influencing project viability, Economic fluctuations affecting funding availability, and Regulatory changes shaping market entry and competition dynamics.

For a deeper analysis, take a look at these Strategic Planning best practices:

Strategic Planning: Process, Key Frameworks, and Tools (79-slide PowerPoint deck)
Strategic Planning: Hoshin Kanri (Hoshin Planning) (153-slide PowerPoint deck)
Strategic Planning - Hoshin Policy Deployment (138-slide PowerPoint deck)
Best Practices in Strategic Planning (23-slide PowerPoint deck)
Scenario Planning (23-slide PowerPoint deck)
View additional Bankruptcy best practices

Are you familiar with Flevy? We are you shortcut to immediate value.
Flevy provides business best practices—the same as those produced by top-tier consulting firms and used by Fortune 100 companies. Our best practice business frameworks, financial models, and templates are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with 20+ years of experience.

Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab

Internal Assessment

The organization's core capabilities lie in its extensive experience and a strong track record in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects. However, its current financial distress and operational challenges overshadow these strengths.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths include a seasoned project management team and a solid industry reputation. Opportunities for growth lie in leveraging digital technologies and expanding into emerging markets with high infrastructure demand. Weaknesses are evident in outdated operational processes and a lack of financial liquidity. Threats encompass increasing competitive intensity and potential regulatory changes impacting project profitability.

Gap Analysis

The Gap Analysis reveals significant disparities between the company's current operational capabilities and the industry's best practices, particularly in adopting digital tools and processes that could enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Addressing these gaps will be crucial for the organization's turnaround and future competitiveness.

Strategic Initiatives

  • Operational Restructuring: Streamline operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs, focusing on the adoption of digital technologies. This initiative aims to enhance project delivery times and margins. The value creation comes from operational excellence, expected to lead to reduced expenses and improved profitability. This will require investments in technology and training, along with a restructuring of the workforce.
  • Financial Reengineering: Restructure the company’s debt and secure new financing to ensure liquidity and fund critical investments. The goal is to stabilize the company's financial position, facilitating a return to growth. Value will be created by improving the organization's financial health, enabling investment in growth areas. Resources needed include financial advisory services and new capital infusions from investors or through PPPs.
  • Market Diversification: Identify and enter new geographic and service markets, particularly those with high growth potential and lower competitive intensity. This initiative seeks to reduce reliance on traditional markets and diversify revenue streams. The source of value stems from tapping into new demand areas, expected to drive revenue growth and spread risk. This will necessitate market research, development of new capabilities, and possibly strategic partnerships.

Bankruptcy Implementation KPIs

KPIS are crucial throughout the implementation process. They provide quantifiable checkpoints to validate the alignment of operational activities with our strategic goals, ensuring that execution is not just activity-driven, but results-oriented. Further, these KPIs act as early indicators of progress or deviation, enabling agile decision-making and course correction if needed.


What gets measured gets managed.
     – Peter Drucker

  • Project Margin Improvement: Indicates success in achieving operational efficiencies and cost reductions.
  • Debt-to-Equity Ratio: A critical metric for assessing financial restructuring effectiveness.
  • New Market Entry Success Rate: Measures the effectiveness of the market diversification strategy.

These KPIs provide insights into the strategic initiatives' effectiveness, highlighting areas of success and needing further attention. They serve as a dashboard for the leadership team to monitor progress and make data-driven decisions.

For more KPIs, take a look at the Flevy KPI Library, one of the most comprehensive databases of KPIs available. Having a centralized library of KPIs saves you significant time and effort in researching and developing metrics, allowing you to focus more on analysis, implementation of strategies, and other more value-added activities.

Learn more about Flevy KPI Library KPI Management Performance Management Balanced Scorecard

Stakeholder Management

The success of the strategic initiatives hinges on the active engagement and support of both internal and external stakeholders, including employees, investors, suppliers, clients, and regulatory bodies.

  • Employees: Essential for implementing operational changes and embracing new processes.
  • Investors: Provide the financial backing necessary for restructuring and growth initiatives.
  • Suppliers: Key partners in achieving cost efficiencies and ensuring supply chain resilience.
  • Clients: Central to the company’s market diversification strategy and revenue growth.
  • Regulatory Bodies: Important for navigating the legal and compliance aspects of infrastructure projects and market entry.
Stakeholder GroupsRACI
Employees
Investors
Suppliers
Clients
Regulatory Bodies

We've only identified the primary stakeholder groups above. There are also participants and groups involved for various activities in each of the strategic initiatives.

Learn more about Stakeholder Management Change Management Focus Interviewing Workshops Supplier Management

Bankruptcy Best Practices

To improve the effectiveness of implementation, we can leverage best practice documents in Bankruptcy. These resources below were developed by management consulting firms and Bankruptcy subject matter experts.

Bankruptcy Deliverables

These are a selection of deliverables across all the strategic initiatives.

  • Operational Efficiency Improvement Plan (PPT)
  • Financial Restructuring Framework (Excel)
  • New Market Entry Strategy (PPT)
  • Stakeholder Engagement Roadmap (PPT)

Explore more Bankruptcy deliverables

Operational Restructuring

The team employed the Value Chain Analysis and Resource-Based View (RBV) frameworks to guide the operational restructuring initiative. Value Chain Analysis, developed by Michael Porter, was instrumental in dissecting the company's operations into primary and support activities to identify areas for improvement and cost reduction. This framework proved invaluable for understanding how different tasks contributed to the organization's overall value creation and where inefficiencies lay. The Resource-Based View complemented this by focusing on leveraging the company’s unique resources and capabilities to gain a competitive advantage, particularly in operational excellence and innovation.

Following the insights gained from these frameworks, the organization undertook several steps:

  • Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the company's value chain to pinpoint operational inefficiencies and areas where value could be added or costs reduced.
  • Assessed the organization's core resources and capabilities to determine how they could be better aligned with the strategic goal of operational excellence.
  • Implemented targeted improvements in key areas identified by the Value Chain Analysis, such as procurement, project management processes, and customer service operations.
  • Developed new operational strategies based on the RBV framework to capitalize on the company's unique strengths, such as its experienced project management team and established industry reputation.

The implementation of these frameworks led to significant improvements in operational efficiency and cost management. The company saw a reduction in project delivery times by 15% and a 20% decrease in operational costs within the first year, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Value Chain Analysis and RBV in guiding the operational restructuring process.

Financial Reengineering

To address the financial reengineering initiative, the team utilized the Capital Structure Theory and the Modigliani-Miller Theorem. The Capital Structure Theory helped in understanding the optimal debt-to-equity ratio that balances the benefits of borrowing against the costs of financial distress. The Modigliani-Miller Theorem, on the other hand, provided insights into how market value is not affected by the capital structure under certain market conditions but highlighted the importance of financial flexibility and risk management in the real world. These frameworks were pivotal in restructuring the company's finances to ensure sustainability and growth.

The company took several steps in line with these frameworks:

  • Evaluated the existing capital structure to identify an optimal mix of debt and equity financing that minimizes the cost of capital while ensuring financial stability.
  • Engaged with financial advisors and stakeholders to renegotiate terms of existing debts and explore new financing options, guided by the principles of the Capital Structure Theory.
  • Implemented financial strategies that improved the company's liquidity and financial flexibility, taking into consideration the practical implications of the Modigliani-Miller Theorem.
  • Developed a robust risk management framework to monitor and mitigate financial risks associated with the restructured capital framework.

The application of the Capital Structure Theory and the Modigliani-Miller Theorem to the financial reengineering initiative resulted in a more resilient financial structure. The company successfully reduced its debt-to-equity ratio by 30%, improved its liquidity, and secured new lines of credit, which collectively enhanced its financial stability and positioned it for future growth opportunities.

Market Diversification

For the market diversification initiative, the team deployed the Geographical Diversification Theory and the Core Competence Theory. The Geographical Diversification Theory helped in understanding the benefits and risks associated with entering new markets, including the potential for risk reduction through market spread. The Core Competence Theory, proposed by Prahalad and Hamel, guided the organization in identifying and leveraging its unique strengths and capabilities to enter and compete in new markets effectively. These frameworks were crucial in shaping the company’s approach to diversifying its market presence.

In implementing these frameworks, the organization followed these steps:

  • Analyzed potential new markets using the Geographical Diversification Theory to assess risk, demand, and competitive landscape.
  • Identified the company's core competencies that could provide a competitive edge in new markets, in line with the Core Competence Theory.
  • Developed market entry strategies that leveraged the company’s strengths, such as its project management expertise and reputation for quality.
  • Initiated pilot projects in selected markets to test the strategies and adapt based on performance and feedback.

The strategic application of the Geographical Diversification Theory and the Core Competence Theory enabled the company to successfully enter two new geographic markets, leading to a 10% increase in overall revenue. This outcome validated the effectiveness of these frameworks in guiding the market diversification strategy, allowing the company to spread its operational risks and capitalize on new growth opportunities.

Bankruptcy Case Studies

Here are additional case studies related to Bankruptcy.

Turnaround Strategy for Industrial Manufacturing Firm in Asia

Scenario: An established industrial manufacturing firm in Asia is facing imminent bankruptcy amid aggressive global competition and declining market demand.

Read Full Case Study

Navigating Bankruptcy: Strategic Framework for a Regional Fitness Chain's Survival

Scenario: A regional fitness chain implemented a strategic bankruptcy framework to navigate financial insolvency.

Read Full Case Study

Financial Recovery Strategy for North American IT Services Firm

Scenario: A leading IT services firm in North America, specializing in cloud integration solutions, is on the brink of bankruptcy due to a 30% decrease in market share over the last two years.

Read Full Case Study


Explore additional related case studies

Additional Resources Relevant to Bankruptcy

Here are additional best practices relevant to Bankruptcy from the Flevy Marketplace.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.

Key Findings and Results

Here is a summary of the key results of this case study:

  • Reduced project delivery times by 15% through targeted operational restructuring.
  • Decreased operational costs by 20% within the first year of implementing new operational strategies.
  • Successfully reduced the debt-to-equity ratio by 30%, enhancing financial stability.
  • Secured new lines of credit, improving liquidity and financial flexibility for future investments.
  • Entered two new geographic markets, resulting in a 10% increase in overall revenue.

Evaluating the results of the strategic initiatives reveals a mixed but generally positive outcome. The significant reduction in project delivery times and operational costs demonstrates the effectiveness of the operational restructuring, directly addressing the company's critical challenges of efficiency and cost management. The financial reengineering efforts have notably improved the company's financial health, as evidenced by the reduced debt-to-equity ratio and secured new financing, which are crucial steps towards achieving financial stability. However, the success in market diversification, while promising, indicates a slower pace of growth than might be necessary to fully counterbalance the company's prior decline. The 10% revenue increase from new markets is a positive development but suggests that further efforts are needed to capitalize on these opportunities fully. An alternative strategy could have included a more aggressive approach to digital transformation, leveraging technology not just for operational efficiency but also for creating new revenue streams, such as digital infrastructure services.

Based on these findings, the recommended next steps should focus on consolidating the gains from the initial strategic initiatives while aggressively pursuing growth opportunities. This includes further investment in digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency and develop new services, deepening engagement in the newly entered markets to increase market share, and continuously monitoring financial health to ensure sustained improvement. Additionally, exploring strategic partnerships or acquisitions could accelerate growth in new and existing markets, leveraging synergies to enhance competitive positioning.


 
Mark Bridges, Chicago

Strategy & Operations, Management Consulting

The development of this case study was overseen by Mark Bridges. Mark is a Senior Director of Strategy at Flevy. Prior to Flevy, Mark worked as an Associate at McKinsey & Co. and holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

To cite this article, please use:

Source: Financial Recovery Strategy for North American IT Services Firm, Flevy Management Insights, Mark Bridges, 2024


Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.




Read Customer Testimonials




Additional Flevy Management Insights

Direct-to-Consumer Growth Strategy for Boutique Coffee Brand

Scenario: A boutique coffee brand specializing in direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales faces significant organizational change as it seeks to scale operations nationally.

Read Full Case Study

Balanced Scorecard Implementation for Professional Services Firm

Scenario: A professional services firm specializing in financial advisory has noted misalignment between its strategic objectives and performance management systems.

Read Full Case Study

Sustainable Fishing Strategy for Aquaculture Enterprises in Asia-Pacific

Scenario: A leading aquaculture enterprise in the Asia-Pacific region is at a crucial juncture, needing to navigate through a comprehensive change management process.

Read Full Case Study

Organizational Change Initiative in Luxury Retail

Scenario: A luxury retail firm is grappling with the challenges of digital transformation and the evolving demands of a global customer base.

Read Full Case Study

Cloud-Based Analytics Strategy for Data Processing Firms in Healthcare

Scenario: A leading firm in the data processing industry focusing on healthcare analytics is facing significant challenges due to rapid technological changes and evolving market needs, necessitating a comprehensive change management strategy.

Read Full Case Study

Global Expansion Strategy for SMB Robotics Manufacturer

Scenario: The organization, a small to medium-sized robotics manufacturer, is at a critical juncture requiring effective Change Management to navigate its expansion into global markets.

Read Full Case Study

Digital Transformation Strategy for Independent Bookstore Chain

Scenario: The organization is a well-established Independent Bookstore Chain with a strong community presence but is facing significant strategic challenges due to the digital revolution in the book industry.

Read Full Case Study

Operational Excellence Strategy for Boutique Hotels in Leisure and Hospitality

Scenario: A boutique hotel chain operating in the competitive leisure and hospitality sector is facing challenges in achieving Operational Excellence, hindered by a 20% increase in operational costs and a 15% decrease in guest satisfaction scores.

Read Full Case Study

Global Market Penetration Strategy for Luxury Cosmetics Brand

Scenario: A high-end cosmetics company is facing stagnation in its core markets and sees an urgent need to innovate its service design to stay competitive.

Read Full Case Study

Pricing Strategy Reform for a Rapidly Growing Technology Firm

Scenario: A technology company developing cloud-based solutions has experienced a surge in customer base and revenue over the last year.

Read Full Case Study

Cost Efficiency Improvement in Aerospace Manufacturing

Scenario: The organization in focus operates within the highly competitive aerospace sector, facing the challenge of reducing operating costs to maintain profitability in a market with high regulatory compliance costs and significant capital expenditures.

Read Full Case Study

Supply Chain Optimization Strategy for Health Supplement Wholesaler

Scenario: A leading health and personal care wholesaler specializing in dietary supplements is facing significant challenges in managing its supply chain dynamics, necessitating a comprehensive change management approach.

Read Full Case Study

Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.