Telecommunications projects

Planned Approach Inc. has prepared feasibility studies and business plans to develop community-based networks (CBNs) in Ontario, private networks for municipalities, and regional networks across Canada. CBNs attempt to connect public and private sector organizations into one network to share bandwidth, improve on their common buying power, and share services at a regional level. Those involved included hospitals, schools, government agencies, Iinternet providers, and private sector companies. The planning work included stakeholder meetings and needs analyses, supplier infrastructure analyses, demand and price analyses, governance models, regulatory framework review, infrastructure strategy, marketing plan, financial plan, human resource plan, public relations and communications exercises.

Planned Approach Inc. was the lead or acted as a significant sub-contractor on each project. An engineering firm specializing in telecommunications projects was brought in as an associate in each project to develop the Technical Plan. In some cases, municipalities want to own the last mile infrastructure to link non-profit sector buildings and realize a payback on their investment. In other cases, municipalities want to upgrade infrastructure so that local residents and/or businesses can have improved access to the Internet and take advantage of new telecommunication economy services. The result was the establishment of several multi-million dollar networks.

PAI also assisted a public utilities commissions in developing a Request for Proposals plan to introduce competitive telecommunications services within its portfolio.

Strategic plans

Planned Approach Inc. has developed strategic plans for communities. Included in this exercise were SWOT analyses, community round tables, public relations efforts, identification of opportunities, economic impact analyses, statistical analyses of past performance, estimates of future performance, and sectoral analyses.

PAI utilizes the Michael Porter strategy models to analyze the competitive environment. Each plan is based on the taking advantage of strengths or minimizing the weaknesses of each individual community. PAI believes that community stakeholders need to understand their plan and feel comfortable in taking the next steps to make it happen. Therefore, a substantial amount of time is spent in developing an action plan that is realistic and achievable.

Economic development projects

Planned Approach Inc. has developed tourism projects, and investment attraction projects. Tourism projects included a re-definition of the project vision, community survey, market research, feasibility study, mapping, identification of financing, and business plan. Investment attractions efforts included an identification of customer needs (land, utilities, human resources, transportation, communications, etc.), identifying the communities’ strengths and weaknesses, analyzing comparative advantages with competing communities, and developing communication and public relations campaigns.

PAI has managed economic development departments at the municipal level on contract to ensure that a proper direction is established and the community is able to realize objectives quickly and establish credibility.

Human resource plans, training plans &
career counselling

Planned Approach Inc. has developed training needs analyses for a large number of clients including forestry companies, power generation companies, and colleges. Dr. Albert was a Training Consultant for five years, developing training plans for more than 200 companies in Northeastern Ontario and was the first Coordinator of a regional training organization responsible for identifying labour market training needs.

PAI also developed a training needs analysis of the mining industry for the development of a mining training center, and provided consulting assistance to displaced workers on career planning. PAI has an extensive background in human resources offers the following services: training needs analyses, organizational development, human resource management consulting including compensation reviews, and human resource planning.