...Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) also called the decision stage is a strategic-formulation tool that uses inputs from Stage 1/ Input Stage to objectively evaluate feasible alternative strategies identified in Stage 2/Matching Stage. Stage 1 summarizes the basic input information needed to formulate strategies while Stage 2 or Matching Stage focuses upon generating feasible alternative strategies by aligning key external and internal factors. A QSPM reveals the relative attractiveness of alternative strategies and thus provides objective basis for selecting specific strategies. In order to understand the benefits and limitations of the QSPM tool, it is important to understand the essential attributes needed for a QSPM analysis to be effective and also the steps needed to develop a QSPM analysis. This essential attributes in a QSPM analysis include the development of External Factor Evaluation Matrix (EFE) and Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix (IFE) followed by a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, BCG (The Boston Consulting Group) and finally QSPM. Attributes of QSPM External Factor Evaluation Matrix (EFE): EFE is a strategic tool used to evaluate the external environment of the firm which includes the economic, social, technological, government, political, legal and competitive information. External factors are obtained after an in-depth analysis of the external environment. External factors can be divided into two categories opportunities...
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...Running head: EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ENVIRONEMNT External and Internal Environment Analysis Bharti Gupta University of Phoenix External and Internal Environment Analysis: Mayo Clinic The purpose of this paper is to analyze the External and Internal environmental factors of Mayo Clinic (MC). Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life (Mayo Clinic, 2011). Various types of external and internal factors affect the smooth flow of business at Mayo Clinic. External environment analysis is important in determining the strategy that should be adopted by a business and internal environment analysis is critical to identify the core competences of the business. External Environment External environment (EE) can be broadly classified into three types: Remote, Industry and Operating. Remote environment (sometimes called as macro environment) consists of the forces at work in the general business environment which will shape the industries and markets in which an organization competes (Stonehouse, Campbell, Prudie & Hamill, 2008). Industry environment (sometimes called as micro environment) is the competitive environment facing a business. It consists of the industries and markets in which the organization conducts its business competes (Stonehouse, Campbell, Prudie & Hamill, 2008). Operating environment also called the competitive or task environment comprises factors in the competitive situation...
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...prolonged period of time. Competitive disadvantage Underperformance relative to other competitors in the same industry or the industry average. Competitive Parity Performance of two or more firms at the same level. The firm that possesses competitive advantage provides superior value to customers at a competitive price or acceptable value at a lower price. What is strategy? Strategy describes the goal – directed actions a firm intends to take in its quest to gain and sustain competitive advantage. Strategy is about creating superior value, while containing the cost to create it. Strategy is not a zero-sum game. It is not always the case that one party wins while all others lose. Win- win scenarios: when competitors cooperate, occasionally, with one another to achieve strategic objectives, we call this co-opetition. Strategic positioning is staking out a unique position in an industry that allows the firm to provide value to customers, while controlling costs. Strategy as a Theory of How to Compete. It provides managers with a roadmap to navigate the competitive territory. A firm´s strategy can be seen as its managers’ theory about how to gain and sustain competitive advantage. (A theory answers the questions, what causes what and why?) These theories have to reflect reality. The strategic management process, therefore, is a never-ending cycle of analysis, formulation, implementation and feedback. * It is the managers´ theories about how to gain and sustain competitive...
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...72169616: strategic management: internal and external factors that characterize a strategic decision Introduction: Strategic Management Process is the process which involves the process of planning, implementing and taking corrective action against the various business processes of the organization which include the strategic implications on corporate level, divisional level, strategic business unit (SBU) level and marketing level. The foremost requirement while understanding and developing this process is to carry out environmental scanning to study the external and internal factors that affect the decision in the development of the strategies and the tactics. Environmental scanning implies the process of examining the open system (external environment) and closed system (internal environment), monitoring the results and distributing it to the key managers at the right time and the right place with the required information. For a sound strategic decision to be formalized by the marketers it is very important for the firms to scrutinize their business processes by analyzing the internal and the external environment that it constitutes. Purpose of Marketing Environment Analysis: • Understanding the opportunities and threats is possible by environmental study • Strategic responses to the environment is spotted by the analysis • Examining the environmental factors provide insights into the future perspective of the strategies harnessed. • The favorable...
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...According to Bratton and Gold (2012), human resource management is a strategic approach to managing employment relations which focuses on leveraging individual's abilities and commitment which is critical to accomplishing sustainable competitive advantage. This is achieved through a distinctive set of integrated employment policies, programmes and practices embedded in an organisational and societal context. Activities which are performed by HRM are mainly strategic planning, staffing, recruitment and selection, performance management, training, compensation, labour relations, workforce planning and talent management (Bratton & Gold 2012). Human resource management (HRM) is decisions made about the relationship between people and the organisation. These decisions are influenced by internal and external factors. Internal factors can be classified by organisation, job and individual which relates to the analysis of strengths and weaknesses in an organisation. External factors consist of political, economic, social and technological reflects on how the organisation evaluates its opportunities and threats. The aim of this report is to evaluate the importance of human resource management in terms of workforce planning, strategic planning, managing talent and recruitment and selection. Strategic Planning The activities mentioned above support the managing of organisation. An area of expertise is strategic human resource management (SHRM) which relates HR strategies with...
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...FIRST PAGES Part One Overview of Strategic Management The first chapter of this book introduces strategic management, the set of decisions and actions that result in the design and activation of strategies to achieve the objectives of an organization. The chapter provides an overview of the nature, benefits, and terminology of and the need for strategic management. Subsequent chapters provide greater detail. The first major section of Chapter 1, “The Nature and Value of Strategic Management,” emphasizes the practical value and benefits of strategic management for a firm. It also distinguishes between a firm’s strategic decisions and its other planning tasks. The section stresses the key point that strategic management activities are undertaken at three levels: corporate, business, and functional. The distinctive characteristics of strategic decision making at each of these levels affect the impact of activities at these levels on company operations. Other topics dealt with in this section are the value of formality in strategic management and the alignment of strategy makers in strategy formulation and implementation. The section concludes with a review of the planning research on business, which demonstrates that the use of strategic management processes yields financial and behavioral benefits that justify their costs. The second major section of Chapter 1 presents a model of the strategic management process. The model, which will serve as an outline for...
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...Essentials of Strategic Management Authors: David Hunger & Thomas. L. Wheelen Book Review by Asik Kathwala © www.hrfolks.com All Rights Reserved 1 The Essentials of Strategic Management “The Essentials of Strategic Management” provides us with a short, concise explanation of the most important concepts and techniques in strategic management. It is a rigorous explanation of many topics and concerns in strategic management. These concepts are clearly explained by citing various examples. Precisely the book deals with the following. • A strategic decision-making model based on the underlying process of environmental scanning, strategy formation, strategy implementation and evaluation and control. • Michael Porter’s approach to industry analysis and competitive strategy • Functional analysis and functional strategies. R & D and R & D strategies which emphasize the importance of technology to strategy and product-market decisions. • Executive leadership and succession, reengineering, total quality management, MBO and action planning. • Social responsibility in terms of its importance to strategic decision making. © www.hrfolks.com All Rights Reserved 2 Basics concepts of strategic management The study of strategic management Strategic management is the set of managerial decision and action that determines the long-run performance of a corporation. It includes environmental scanning (both external and internal), strategy formulation (strategic or long range planning), strategy...
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...Chapter 8 Strategic Planning and Ten–Ten Planning To be strategic is to have plans of action that provide directions for operating in an uncertain world. In this section, our focus is on developing strategic plans to compete in a world characterized by monopolistic competition. Notice that the emphasis is on plans of action and not on a single plan. There is no single plan or single planning approach that can deal with the complexity of contemporary markets. What is needed is a continuous process for churning out new plans, for differentiated products and services, in order to compete in a dynamic environment. This chapter presents a brief overview of the various approaches to strategic planning and provides an overview of the planning literature. There is a lot of material to slog through, but each approach to planning has something to offer. This overview will set the stage for presenting the Ten–Ten planning process in the next chapter. The next chapter will integrate the various planning approaches and present a simplified, yet robust approach to planning called the Ten–Ten planning process. The key benefit of the Ten–Ten planning process is that it can be used for developing business plans in a very short time span. 8.1 Planning Concepts There are two generic planning strategies that a business can pursue.Michael Porter originally identified three generic strategies. He noted that a business can also focus on a market that is not very competitive. Most people consider...
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...Merc. IMM INTERNATIONAL MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT “Is there an optimal strategic approach in gaining superior financial performance in a hypercompetitive environment?” Topic no. 2 Authors: Kristofer Edholm Alexandra Johansen Advisor: Magdalena Dobrajska Date of Hand-in: 19/12 – 2012 “IS THERE AN OPTIMAL STRATEGIC APPROACH IN GAINING SUPERIOR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN A HYPERCOMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT?” ABSTRACT Hypercompetition has made competition more aggressive, and effective strategies have become vital in order for companies to remain competitive in the vigorous marketplace. The paper will study the two most commonly used theories within strategic planning, the Industrial Analysis and the Resource-Based View, to see which is more effective in order to increase financial performance in a hypercompetitive environment. The paper will first look at the overall effect of hypercompetition on the marketplace. Secondly, the Industrial Analysis effect on financial performance in hypercompetition will be examined, and thirdly, the effect the Resource-Based View has on financial performance considering hypercompetitive challenges. Finally, the paper ends by concluding that a strategy based on RBV will have greater effect on financial performance in a hypercompetitive environment, which suggests that managers' should spend more resources concerning companies' internal environment than the external in order to increase their return on investments. 2 INTRODUCTION ...
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...any strategy are the actions and moves in the marketplace that a company makes to strengthen its competitive position and gain a competitive advantage over rivals ¡ A creative distinctive strategy that sets a company apart from rivals and yields a competitive advantage is a company’s most reliable ticket to above average profitability ¡ Competing with a competitive advantage is more profitable than competing with no advantage ¡ Competing with a competitive disadvantage nearly always results in below-average profitability Strategic Management Session 1: Introduction to the study of Strategic Management Why Do Strategies Evolve? ¡ A company’s strategy is a work in progress ¡ Changes may be necessary to react to ¡ Shifting market conditions ¡ Technological breakthroughs ¡ Fresh moves of competitors ¡ Evolving customer preferences ¡ Emerging market opportunities ¡ New ideas to improve strategy ¡ Crisis situations 3 Big Strategic Questions 1. What’s the company’s present situation? 2. Where does the company need to go from here? ¡ Business(es) to be in and market positions to stake out ¡ Buyer needs and groups to serve ¡ Direction to head 3. How should it get there? ¡ A company’s answer to “how will we get there?” is its strategy 1 13/11/13 Goals of “Strategy” ¡ Consists of competitive moves and business approaches used by managers to run the company ¡ Management’s “action plan” to ¡ Grow the business ¡ Attract and please customers...
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...1.0 Introduction The company chosen for this assignment is XYTech Sdn. Bhd. which is based in Prai Industrial Park, Penang, Malaysia. XYTech started its operation in 1988 with a goal of continuous innovation and commitment to provide worldwide automation solution to its customer. XYTech designs, develops, and manufactures industrial automation equipment for customers from various industries including Automotive, Medical, Electronic,Air-conditioning and Semiconductor. Expertise includes High vacuum applications, Leak detection technologies, Assembly automation and Test systems. XYTech also builds Precision material handling and Secondary processing equipment used in the Semiconductor industry. XYTech provides its customers complete integrated engineering solutions from conceptual design to operational equipment; as well as after sales support. The company mission is to produce highly dependable and reliable machineries with effective cost and superior support and services to their customers. In the automation industry, competition is aggressive and dynamic where competitor will compete to gain the orders. Slack, Chambers and Johnston (2010) states that, there are five elements which are quality, speed, cost, flexibility and dependability are essential in operation objectives. XYTech has to fulfill all the elements in their operation objectives in which their customer expects besides meeting their machineries specification and requirements. As automation competitor competes with...
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...are underway to earn more profit and to have more customer base island wide. To that the management have to have proper effective strategies. In Sri Lanka upper markets are mainly accounted in the order of priority, quality, range of products, price, location, environment, parking and customer service etc. To achieve these objectives, the management should have proper knowledge about the Strategic HRM. This case is a small attempt to analyze the island’s largest private employer brought into light a few concrete conclusions about the company regarding its strategic human resource management. QUESTION 01 What do you mean by “competitive Advantage” explain as to hoe you formulate HR Strategies enabling to get such advantages in the competition in the super market business? Competitive advantage is an advantage that a firm has over its competitors, allowing it to generate greater sales or margins and/or retain more customers than its competition. Competitive advantages give a company an edge over its rivals and an ability to generate greater value for the firm and its shareholders. The more sustainable the competitive advantage, the more difficult it is for competitors to neutralize the advantage. There are 2 main types of competitive advantage. Those are: comparativeadvantage and differential advantage....
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...1.0 Introduction The company chosen for this assignment is XYTech Sdn. Bhd. which is based in Prai Industrial Park, Penang, Malaysia. XYTech started its operation in 1988 with a goal of continuous innovation and commitment to provide worldwide automation solution to its customer. XYTech designs, develops, and manufactures industrial automation equipment for customers from various industries including Automotive, Medical, Electronic,Air-conditioning and Semiconductor. Expertise includes High vacuum applications, Leak detection technologies, Assembly automation and Test systems. XYTech also builds Precision material handling and Secondary processing equipment used in the Semiconductor industry. XYTech provides its customers complete integrated engineering solutions from conceptual design to operational equipment; as well as after sales support. The company mission is to produce highly dependable and reliable machineries with effective cost and superior support and services to their customers. In the automation industry, competition is aggressive and dynamic where competitor will compete to gain the orders. Slack, Chambers and Johnston (2010) states that, there are five elements which are quality, speed, cost, flexibility and dependability are essential in operation objectives. XYTech has to fulfill all the elements in their operation objectives in which their customer expects besides meeting their machineries specification and requirements. As automation competitor competes with...
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...Executive – serves as the head and has the knowledge about the nature of the company. Responsibilities of the Chief Executive 1. Elaborate the major policies of the firm. 2. Define the objectives of the firm. 3. Develop strategies and the long-range plan for achieving these objectives. 4. Must develop an organization which most efficiently carries out the company’s strategic plan. 5. Must develop the operating policies which ease the burden of decision-making to carry out the plan. 6. Be involved in controlling the operations of the firm and in problem solving. Definitions 1. Major Policies Major policies (or “company” policies) deal with the firm’s fundamental nature, its identity, and the direction in which it is expected to move. They provide a framework within which the objectives can be established. 2. Objectives The firm’s objectives or goals (these are two terms used interchangeably) specify, usually in quantitative terms (e.g., dollars, percentages, or time periods), where the firm is expected to be at some time in the future. 3. Strategy Business strategy is the approach developed to achieve the objectives which have been defined. The development of the strategy is a critical part of long-range planning. A firm’s strategy (its strategic plan) defines in detail how the firm is to get from where it is now to where the...
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...Governance Inhibitors and Its Success in Korea Enterprises Chi-Hoon Lee, Jung-Hoon Lee, Jong-Sung Park, Kap-Young Jeong Graduate School of Information, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea chihoon@yonsei.ac.kr, jhoonlee@yonsei.ac.kr, bizajou@yonsei.ac.kr, jeongky@yonsei.ac.kr Abstract In recent years, the emergence of the term IT Governance (ITG) has pointed to the increasing importance for business of effecting an alignment between its strategic direction and IT units. Many leading organizations have turned to ITG to pursue gains in efficiency, accountability, and regulatory and other forms of compliance, without, however, being able to implement coherent IT schemes on account of a number of challenging issues. Despite the growing interest of academics and practitioners in this area (as attested in recent publications), few studies have characterized the practical inhibitors frustrating the implementation of effective ITG. This paper, therefore, aims to examine empirically how inhibiting features associated with ITG affect the success of IT activities. Through a literature review, we identify 5 factors that work to restrain ITG implementation. Further, this work presents survey data gathered from 96 leading companies in Korea reporting the status of ITG practices according to a specific instrument of its own design. 1. Introduction According to recent research carried out by Gartner, the emphasis in IT organization within companies has now shifted from...
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