Week 3

1.      Why is strategy making like a science and why is it also like an art or craft?

Strategy is like science as we need to analyze data and make logical decision on our finding properly. We also must follow a set of formulaic and analytic tools while implementing and formulating plan.

Strategy can also be like an art as it involves group discussion which can lead to conflicts. Strategy also requires ingenuity and creativity, strategy is also a unpredictable process . It is also explotary and emergent in nature 

2. In your own words and using referenced quotes describe the difference between intended strategy and emergent strategy

In most simplest term intended strategies are those which are deliberate and emergent are those strategies which are made up along the way.

The basis of differences between intended and emergent are

Planned/Incrementally

Intended strategies are planned ahead in advance, all necessary SWOT and PESTEL analysis are conducted even before the strategies are implemented. For example Samsung deciding to enter smart phone market is a planned strategy as did a lot of strategic analysis before entering the market.

Emergent strategies are not planned but those planned that goes incrementally along with time. Most of those planned are not done on purpose instead it is done as things comes along. For example Google inc only intended to become a search engine giant but slowly they entered youtube and android market. 

Figuring it out/ Finding it out

While formulating a intended strategies one has to figure out all the necessary details that is needed currently and for future. For example Apple Inc determined that in future , customers will need a sophisticated phone capable of photo , music , internet etc.  The then came up with their Iphone smart phone which changed the way of how phone works forever.

Emergent strategies is more of finding out as it happens in nature. They create plan and change strategies along the way when they find out something big is about to happen in the market. For example Google which started as a search engine, as they went along the acquired youtube for even bigger reach.

Formal Structure/ Informal Structure

Intended strategies is a formal process it will consists of all the necessary mission statement, vision ,goals etc during analyzing stage. All analysis is done formally by methods such as SWOT and PESTEL.

Emergent are not done on purpose but made up along the way hence it will lack proper formal structure like intended strategies.

3. Choose two of the 10 schools of strategy thought and describe them in your own words. Try and provide a real world example for each e.g. an organization or a situation.

(a) Design school of strategy thought is the traditional method of strategy which is has virtues of formal planning. It analyze its own and its rival capabilities and weakness through PESTEL and SWOT analysis and will come up with a strategy to compete in the market. For example when other car companies were spending a lot in warehousing storing supplies for assembling cars, Toyota came up with Just In Time strategy where parts came just in time when it was needed to be used. This not only saved Toyota in warehouse cost but it created overall efficiency in quality and management as well which produced quality cars in its time.

(b) Power school of strategy thought is the strategy that is made up with comes with power games within and outside the organization. Inside the organization a powerful CEO can use his influence to direct the direction of strategy.  Outside its internal environment a power organization can even influence the government to set up favorable environment to implement its strategy. For example Nepal Telecom Corporation has been using its governmental influence to prevent private ISP to use its ADSL technology.

(c) Cultural School of strategy though is the strategy that is made through organization and social cultural. The culture of a organization can shape the way its decisions are made. For example Apple Inc has a history of innovation culture inside its organization. All of its strategy and product are very innovation in nature.    

4. Write about your experience with today’s case study. What answers did you give to the questions? 

Google intended as a search engine 

In today’s class case study we studied about Google Inc and its strategic management process. On the basis of my individual and group assessment, we came to conclude that Google Inc is using deliberate emergent style of strategic management. We mentioned the example in class explaining that originally Larry Page and Sergey Brin started it as a search engine company. That was intended strategy, Google had a good strategic plan which excelled them to be a leading search engine. Along the way they also incorporated Youtube and made Android as a emergent strategy 

Google emergent as android

References


 
Manas Chakravarty. 2005. The BThe 10 schools of strategic planningng and Strategic Management . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/sep/01strategy.htm/. [Accessed 05 December 12].

Mintzberg and Waters (1985) . 2012. STRATEGIES, DELIBERATE AND EMERGENTng and Strategic Management . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.innovaders.com/strategy/general.htm. [Accessed 05 December 12].