Strategic Management Overview

Strategic Management

• The process of top executives making decisions and allocating resources to reach long-term goals.
• Involves formal tools, creativity and long-term goals to guide a company towards success.
• Strategies are often revised in response to changes in the business environment

Types of Strategies

• Intended Strategy: The planned course of action outlined in business plans. Example: FedEx's Hub-and-Spoke Model.
• Emergent Strategy: Unplanned strategies arising from unexpected opportunities or challenges. Example: S. Bloomer Manufacturing's Gun Cleaning Patches.
• Realized Strategy: The actual strategy followed by the company, blending intended and emergent strategies. Example: Avon Products’ perfume sales.

Historical Context

• Early examples of strategic management can be traced back to ancient texts like the Bible and "The Art of War".
• Developed within military contexts and formalized through business school courses and academic journals.

Contemporary Critique

• Some argue strategic management is too costly, time-consuming and complex, hindering implementation
• Others suggest that long-term focus can limit adaptation to rapidly changing environments.
• Ethical implications of certain strategic practices are also a point of concern.

Strategic Management Process

• Analyzing external, competitive, and internal environments
• Developing strategies based on analysis
• Implementing these strategies to achieve organizational goals

Value of Strategic Management

• Offers a structured approach to achieving long-term goals.
• Aligns organizational efforts with its vision.
• Navigates complex and competitive environments.

Limitations of Strategic Management

• No guarantee of success due to the dynamic nature of the business environment.

Strategic Management as a Continuous Process

• Organizations constantly adapt to changes in the business environment.
• Requires ongoing assessment and revisions to maintain competitiveness.
• Organizations learn from past experiences and refine their strategies.

Ethical Considerations in Strategic Management

• Commitment to ethical principles and values.
• Maintains integrity in pursuit of success.
• Builds long-term trust with stakeholders, contributing to a competitive advantage.

Strategic Management in Practice

• Applicable across various types of organizations, industries, and contexts.
• Guides decision-making and strategic direction.
• Helps prepare students for future roles in business.

Assessing Organizational Performance

• Addresses the key questions:
  • Where are we now?
  • Where are we going?
  • How are we going to get there?
• Financial data, historical trends and industry benchmarks are utilized for assessment.
• Other performance measures include quality, productivity, human resource indicators, and customer satisfaction

Vision, Mission, and Goals

• Vision: An aspirational future state for the organization.
• Mission: The organization's purpose for being.
• Goals: Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound objectives (SMART goals) for achieving the vision and mission.
• Alignment of vision, mission, and goals with core values is imperative.

Complexity of Performance Assessment

• Influenced by factors such as market conditions and internal operations.

Performance Measures and Benchmarks

• Performance Measures: Metrics used to assess progress, including profits, stock prices, and sales figures.
• Performance Benchmarks: Comparisons with industry standards or historical performance to evaluate standing.

Balanced Scorecard

• A tool for organizing performance measures.
• Addresses four key perspectives:
  • Financial
  • Customer
  • Internal Business Process
  • Learning and Growth
• Helps organizations avoid relying solely on financial indicators.

Triple Bottom Line

• Measures organizational performance across three dimensions:
  • Social: Impact on society and communities.
  • Environmental: Impact on the environment.
  • Financial: Traditional measures of profitability and financial health.

Explore the key concepts of strategic management, including the different types of strategies such as intended, emergent, and realized strategies. Learn how top executives utilize these strategies to achieve long-term goals while adapting to the changing business environment. Delve into the historical context that shaped strategic management.