What is your assessment of the strategic Manager’s role in strategy implementation?

business question

(Given this material, what is your assessment of the strategic Manager’s role in strategy implementation?)

Strategic planning in-and-of-itself can be considered a mitigation tool, as its goal is to enhance a company’s ability to avoid and prevent problems. Our text talks about three key areas for strategic managers to watch out for to minimize strategy formulation risks. First discussed is the importance of not letting the strategic planning process negatively impact the ongoing operational functions of the business. Secondly, there must be caution against having the strategic manager become too involved in the day-to-day implementation of the strategy, as this can affect his ability to keep the plan on task. Finally, it is important to manage expectation levels as the plan unfolds (Rothaermel, 2021).

While strategic plans are critical for providing a road map for a company, it is important that while the destination may not change, the manner in which you arrive can change and most likely will change along the way. A good strategic plan will have processes in place to reduce the impact of internal and external forces, but it must remain flexible to endure the changes that will be experienced along the way. Evaluation, control, and adjustment are imperatives. Firms must be flexible enough to make the changes needed to succeed.

Managers should not lose sight of what their role is in strategy implementation. They are directors, not doers in this regard. It is about conveying and getting buy-in to the vision, mission, objectives, and strategy, and choosing the right people and empowering them to get the job done. Getting too involved in implementation might cause a manager to lose focus (Rothaermel, 2021). The 5-steps to alignment I alluded to earlier has relevance here. According to Rothaermel (2021), strategy implementation is a complex process with critical timelines and assessments. All the more reason strategic managers should avoid physical involvement in the implementation. Their job is to oversee the process, making certain the right people are in place to manage the physical aspects.

It is not enough to have people with the right skills, aptitudes and abilities. They must be involved in the process of developing strategy if they are going to implement it. In addition, they must be able to relate to the organization’s philosophy, mission and vision, since everything the organization does strategically should be aligned with these (Rothaermel, 2021). The strategic manager is responsible for making certain he is well linked to the overall strategy from an alignment perspective, and that he is appropriately staffed. From this point, he directs, measures performance, rewards as appropriate, and adjusts; making certain he stays on track to achieve his objectives, which are directly linked to the overall objectives of the organization (Rothaermel, 2021).

Frequent policy changes can be problematic. The emphasis here is on “frequent”. Although changes will occur that necessitate change, it is always best to try and get things as right as possible on the first attempt.

Keep in mind that structure follows strategy and determines the lines of communication and how interactions occur and develop. Inter-organizational competition is normal and expected; however intra-organizational competition can be and usually is problematic. In team environments, competition should be discouraged, as by definition, when the team wins everyone wins (Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn, 2005). Competition in sales environments, while not uncommon, can be eliminated by assigning territories, quotas, and bonuses based on quota attainment. Having the right personalities in sales is important, as these people are typically driven by money and affiliation.

References

Rothaermel, F. T. (2021). Strategic management: Concepts (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Schmermerhorn, J. R. Jr., Hunt, J. G., & Osborn, R. N. (2005). Organizational Behavior. New Jersey: Wiley

Requirements: As required

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