WEEK 3

Week 3

Answer 1

Intended strategy

Intended strategy is a set of intentional acts that is contemplated and planned to accomplish a goal. It is planned and deliberate therefore also known as deliberate strategy. The basic concept of this strategy is it is preplanned in nature and given as proper shape after a lot of brainstorming. It also formalizes the positioning of the firm in the market and by positioning it is meant how a firm would relate with the external environment and what would be its reaction in case of a change in the parameters of such environment. (K. Dave, 2011)

Emergent strategy

Emergent strategy means a set of certain consistent actions that form an unintended pattern which was not initially planned or intended in the planning phase. For example, although unintended, adopting an emergent strategy might help a business adapt more flexibly to the practicalities of changing market condition. The strategy responds to market and external environmental forces rather than prescribe a long term plan. (K. Dave, 2011)

Answer 2

Strategy is like a science because

a.       As a single person it needs analyzing and making logical recommendation.

b.      It’s a rational set of rule or formulaic application of analytical tools.

c.       It is formulated first and then implemented into action.

Strategy is also like an art or craft.

a.       Like an art and or craft, it is very creative and unpredictable process.

b.      It’s a group activity so for final conclusion it needs a group discussion, brainstorming, conflict, political and compromise.

c.       Strategy is more over like emerging and exploratory. (http://www.nexusmc.com/strategic-planning-art-craft-or-science ) (Nexus Management Consulting, 2013)

Answer 3

Entrepreneurial school of strategy thought

In this school, the strategy formation process is focused on the single leader (usually the CEO) and is built on a vision. Proponents of this school saw personalized leadership, based on strategic vision, as the key to organizational success - not only in starting up and building new organizations, but also in "turning around" faltering organizations. Some contributions of entrepreneurial school of strategy thought are as follow

a.       In the entrepreneurial mode, strategy making is dominated by the active search for new opportunities.

b.      In the entrepreneurial organization, power is centralized in the hands of the CEO.

c.       Strategy making in the entrepreneurial mode is characterized by dramatic leaps forward in the face of uncertainty.

d.        Growth is the dominant goal of the entrepreneurial organization.

e.       Strategy exists in the mind of the leader as a perspective, a vision of the organization’s future.

f.       The process of strategy formation is semiconscious at best, rooted in the experience and intuition of the leader.

g.       The leader promotes the vision under close personal control in order to be able to reformulate specific aspects if necessary.

h.      The strategic vision is thus malleable, and so the entrepreneurial strategy tends to be deliberate and emergent.

i.        The organization is likewise malleable, a simple structure responsive to the leader’s directives.

One of the examples of entrepreneurial school of strategy is Islingtion College in Nepal. The founder of college had a specific vision for different and unique course for student in Nepal. As a process he moved forward with his clear vision and interlinked the college between London and Nepal. Now the student studying here in Nepal can have international education with international degree. (Mintzberg, 2013)

                                                      

Learning school of strategy thought

It’s a process in which changes in knowledge take place inside an individual.  This school sees strategy formation as an emergent process. The management pays close attention over time to what does work, and what doesn’t work. They incorporate these lessons learned into their overall plan of action. The world is too complex to allow strategies to be developed all at once. Hence strategies must emerge in small step, as an organization adapts or learn.

Some contribution of learning theory

a.       Simple methods enable to explain complex phenomena.

b.      Encourages decentralization vs. centralization (no need to have omnipotent leader.

c.       Helps us to see strategy as a learning process (individual and collective).

d.      Helps organization create, and come up with novel and interesting strategies( Hond

e.       Larger practice in professional organization.

f.       Offer a solution to deal with complexity and unpredictability in strategy formation.

g.       More people can learn the just the leader.

h.      Strong in complex condition with continuous change.

One of the examples of learning school of strategy thought is social network site in internet. We can simply see that according to consumers’ view and the external market the site are updating and upgrading their featuring continuously. As technology have short life cycle of time in market they need to upgrade their product continuously.(MPaulette,2008)

Answer 4

Answer a                      

The Google strategy is base on more emergent because

a.       They understand the market requirement and makes suitable strategy for customer.

b.      They develop search engine and promote campaign in such a way that everyone in world can easily access to information that require.

c.       After develop with search engine they collaborate with you tube which was one of the finest way for online advertising network

d.      Due to tough competition, the competitor produce apps and social network for getting information but at the same time Google introduce Android(smart phone operating system) with free operating system and it was platform for encourage people to explore other Google user services, including email and search.

e.       The Google introduce Google Instant, an enhancement that display search result before users finish typing a query. These were a perfect strategy for Google to increase the user in market.

Answer b

The advantages of being experimental for Google are

a.       It is a right way to find out the suitable product for people in market.

b.      It helps to find out the trend for market.

c.       Increase creativity of workers.

d.      Helps to find good workplace for organization.

e.       Helps to know the strategy of competitors.

Answer c

The disadvantages of being experimental are

a.       Not every product will lead company to success.

b.      The companies have to invest high amount for experience so it's an expensive method.

c.        The time is wasted for unproductive project.

d.       Sometimes the project may not be suitable for market.

e.       Competitor may be aware about the company's strategy and vision. 

Answer d

I think the strategy of Google is emergent and experimental which is very good for IT world. Even though Google have a very tough competition with other organization but they are able make unique strategy for satisfying their customer needs. The Google experiment different product like test self driven cars, wind project and android. They provide free operating system called android and develop own library for online applications where their competitor charge certain amount for operating system. The customer requirement and demand are changing day by day and for enough supply Google can’t rely on single preplanned strategy. So, emergent strategy is very suitable for Google.

Reference

1.      K. Dave, (2011), Mastering Strategic Management, (online) http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/3085?e=ketchen_1.0-ch01_s02  (Accessed on March 15,2013)

2.      M Paulette, (2008) The Learning School Strategy Formation as an Emergent Process, (online) http://www.slideshare.net/joshai/Chapter-7-800807 (Accessed on March 17, 2013)

3.      Mintzberg, (2013) Mintzberg’s Ten Schools of Thought about Strategy Formation( http://opentuition.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/group-documents/23/1271485643-MINTZBERGTENSCHOOLOFTHOUGHTFORSTRATEGYFORMATION.pdf) (Accessed on March 15, 2013)

4.      Nexus Management Conslting, (2013) Strategy Planning: Art, Craft or Science? Online http://www.nexusmc.com/strategic-planning-art-craft-or-science (Accesed on March 16,2013)