What is strategic management? Case Study
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of the case, students should be able to:
- Understand the general meaning of the concept of strategic management and how it relates to the key elements of an organization
- Understand the external and internal environments that affect an organization's performance, and apply various tools and frameworks to evaluate them.
- Develop skills that are essential for effective strategic management in an organization.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
An organization's goals and objectives are the primary focus of strategic management, which means the planning and implementing of activities that are in line with its internal and external environment. Strategic management entails an all-inclusive analysis of the organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as its mission, vision, and values. These elements aid the organization in identifying its competitive advantage, strategic direction, and performance indicators.
According to Knights and Morgan (1991), strategic management is a domain of managerial practice and academic inquiry that has received considerable attention in recent years. This management system integrates strategic planning and decision-making in the contemporary business environment while running the organization. It is typically formulated or implemented by senior managers who help the business collect, analyze, and organize relevant information to cope with the industry and competitive dynamics.
Strategic management is the process of defining and executing the actions that support the organization's vision and goals. It involves analyzing the internal and external environment, identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and formulating the best course of action to achieve a competitive edge. Strategic management also requires implementing the chosen strategies effectively and efficiently, monitoring and evaluating the results, and making adjustments as needed to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with the organization's purpose.
The process of strategic management consists of three key aspects namely; strategic analysis, strategic formulation, and strategic implementation.
To begin with, strategic analysis, is where the organization collects and analyzes relevant data about its internal and external situation which will help it to recognize its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The second one is the strategic formulation, here the organization develops and chooses the most suitable strategies that align with its vision and mission which will help it address its challenges and control its competitive advantages. Thirdly, in strategic implementation, the organization executes the chosen strategies and evaluates their outcomes which involves allocating resources, assigning responsibilities, communicating expectations, and measuring performance.