Week 1 - What is Strategy?

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Cambridge Dictionary definition: “a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as war, politics, business, industry or sport, or the skill of planning for such situations”

Wendy Robson (1996) gives the definition: “Strategy is the pattern of resource allocation decisions made throughout an organisation. These encapsulate both desired goals and beliefs about what are acceptable and, most critically, unacceptable means for achieving them”

Chaffey & Woods (2005) gives a good definition: “the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a changing environment to meet the needs of markets and fulfil stakeholder expectations”

From the definitions, the following elements can be highlighted:

• Strategies defines the future direction of the organisation;
• To achieve competitive advantage for the organisation;
• The allocation of resources to achieve advantage;
• Strategies are primarily driven by the needs of the organisation;
• Strategies should be responsive to the dynamic environment in which an organisation operates.
  (Greasley, 2006)

Strategy within Organisations

Strategic Management is concerned with deciding on strategy and planning how that strategy is to put into effect via:

• Strategic Analysis
• Strategic Choice
• Strategic Implementation
  (Campbell & Craig, 2005)

Strategic Managements are situated on the top of the organisation hierarchy, which is shown below:

(Laudon & Laudon, 2007)

• Senior Management = Strategic Level (long-term decisions)
• Middle Management = Tactical Level (medium-term decisions)
• Operational Management = Operational Level (short-term decisions)

(for further reading please visit: Wikipedia Strategic Management)

Example of a Strategy: ‘Business Strategy’

(Geetha Abeysinghe Seminar, 2008)

‘The A-Team’ Strategy…

‘The A-Team’ strategy is outlined in the Team Charter…

One example of strategy is: To become successful knowledgeable organisation

My Strategic Plan…?

I personally have a long-term strategic plan for the MSc…

For this semester i have planned in advance the key strategies to achieve the successfully completion of this module (arguable if its strategic or tactical planning)…

I have devised a large calendar to remind myself of key dates and what objectives must be achieved…!

Currently, it is still ‘work in progress’…

My Strategies

• attend all classes...
• do the assignments…
• do the readings…
• contribute to the organisation…

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Reference(s)
	Book		Bocij, P., Greasley, A. & Hickie, S. (2008) Business Information Systems: Technology, Development and Management for the E-Business. 4th Edition. Financial Times Prentice Hall: United Kingdom (UK), England, Essex, Harlow. [ISBN: 9780273716624]. [Available on: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VLJkgT].
	Book		Buchanan, D. A. & Huczynski, A. (2003) Organizational Behaviour: An Introductory Text. 5th Edition. Financial Times Prentice Hall: United Kingdom (UK), England, Essex, Harlow. [ISBN: 9780273682226]. [Available on: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VLkGwO].
	Book		Campbell, D. J. & Craig, T. (2005) Organisations and the Business Environment. 2nd Edition. Elsevier: Netherlands, North Holland, Amsterdam. [ISBN: 9780750658294]. [Available on: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VHJupz].
	Book		Chaffey, D. & Wood, S. (2004) Business Information Management: Improving Performance Using Information Systems. Financial Times Prentice Hall: United Kingdom (UK), England, Essex, Harlow. [ISBN: 9780273686552]. [Available on: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yZ6vdF].
	Book		Laudon, K. C. & Laudon, J. P. (2007) Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm. 10th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall: United States of America (USA), New Jersey (NJ), Bergen, Upper Saddle River. [ISBN: 9780132415798]. [Available on: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UhgqDH].
	Book		Robson, W. (1997) Strategic Management and Information Systems: An Integrated Approach. 2nd Edition. Pitman: United Kingdom (UK), England, London. [ISBN: 9780273615910]. [Available on: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EZNmvZ].

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Reference (or cite) Article
	Kahlon, R. S. (2009) Week 1 - What is Strategy? [Online]. dkode: United Kingdom, England, London. [Published on: 2009-01-25]. [Article ID: RSK666-0000004]. [Available on: dkode | Ravi - https://ravi.dkode.co/2009/01/week-1-what-is-strategy.html].

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