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In this week's readings, you were introduced to the main concepts of strategic leadership and planning. In this discussion question, you need to review and explain what the major challenges of strategic planning are for large, complex organizations, such as Apple, Wal-Mart, or Southwest Airlines? What do you think can be done to improve the strategic planning processes in your own organization or field?

For assistance with your research, see the library databases under Malcolm Baldrige School of Business.

INCLUDE NAMES AND LINKS OF WEBSITES USED

INCLUDES IN-TEXT CITATIONS

ALSO INCLUDE IN TEXT CITATION THROUGH OUT THE WR-ITE UP for all refences and websites used

Readings and Resources

eBook:

Hill, C., Jones, G., & Schilling, M. (2020). Strategic management theory: An integrated approach (13th ed). Cengage Learning.

Chapter 1 begins with a discussion of the concept of strategy. The strategies an organization pursues have a major impact on its performance relative to its competitors. The firm's top managers have direct responsibility for choosing strategies that will lead to superior performance and provide a competitive advantage.

The chapter equates superior performance with profitability, for profit-seeking enterprises. Sustained competitive advantage occurs when a firm is able to maintain above-average profitability over an extended period of time. Strategic management is just as crucial to nonprofits as it is to profit-seeking businesses. Much of this book is about identifying and describing the strategies that managers can pursue to achieve superior performance and provide their company with a competitive advantage. The book will provide a thorough understanding of the business model's analytical techniques and skills necessary to identify and implement strategies successfully.

• Chapter 1:Strategic Leadership: Managing the Strategy-Making Process for Competitive Advantage.

Publisher PowerPoint:

• Chapter 1 Chapter 1 - Alternative Formats
• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oqi0PQnEzBTIFDDkIBrzIpfP4PsRvb_S?usp=sharing

Articles, Websites, and Videos:In this study, the authors take a look at what types of people use strategy in their thinking. They also analyze what makes someone a good strategic thinker, and why.

• Sahay, A. (2019). Strategic thinking: My encounter. 3D: IBA Journal of Management & Leadership, 10(2), 7.

In this paper, Peter Linkow discusses how strategic thinkers act and when analyzing an organization's future.

• Linkow, P. (1999). What gifted strategic thinkers do. Training & Development, 53(7), 34.

In this video, Dr. Martin gives a high-level overview, explaining strategic thinking.

Watch VideoWhat is Strategic Thinking?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCHxK0VHl3c

Below is a video that describes the difference between strategic planning and strategic thinking.

Watch VideoThe Difference Between Strategic Planning and Strategic Thinking

Duration:1:51 User:Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning -Added:10/17/17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Hndmk18z0

Supplemental Resources:

Here are two good videos to watch on how to develop a PowerPointpresentation.

Watch VideoLife After Death by Powerpoint (Corporate Comedy Video)

Duration:9:29 User:Don McMillan -Added:11/9/09

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbSPPFYxx3o

Watch VideoHow Not to Use PowerPoint

Duration:2:37 User:eHowTech -Added:4/10/09

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ssGw7h96qo

Publisher PowerPoint:

• Chapter 1 Chapter 1 - Alternative Formats
• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oqi0PQnEzBTIFDDkIBrzIpfP4PsRvb_S?usp=sharing

INCLUDE NAMES AND LINKS OF WEBSITES USED

INCLUDES IN-TEXT CITATIONS

ALSO INCLUDE IN TEXT CITATION THROUGH OUT THE WR-ITE UP for all refences and websites used

BELOW IS THE POST I NEED TO REPLY 2!!!

Good morning class, Strategic planning is a critical process for large organizations because it provides long-term direction while also allowing flexibility in a constantly changing environment. Companies such as Apple, Wal-Mart, and Southwest Airlines face significant challenges when balancing innovation, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency on a global scale. One of the major challenges for these organizations is rapidly adapting to change. For example, Apple must continually innovate its product line to remain competitive in the technology sector, while Wal-Mart faces the challenge of balancing cost leadership with the need to incorporate sustainability and digital transformation. Southwest Airlines, on the other hand, has to manage fluctuating fuel costs and operational risks while still providing affordable travel. In each case, the complexity of managing global supply chains, shifting consumer expectations, and technological disruption makes long-term planning difficult (Hill et al., 2014). To improve strategic planning processes, organizations can: 1. Leverage data and analytics to forecast trends and support evidence-based decision-making. 2. Adopt scenario planning, allowing leaders to anticipate multiple possible futures and pre-pare adaptive strategies (Grant, 2016). 3. Promote cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that marketing, operations, finance, and leadership align on organizational goals. 4. Integrate sustainability and social responsibility, which not only improves reputation but also reduces long-term risks (Johnson et al., 2020). In my own field, strategic planning could be improved by incorporating more consistent feedback loops between leadership and frontline staff. By encouraging open communication and regularly reviewing performance metrics, organizations can adjust plans more effectively and remain aligned with both short-term needs and long-term goals. Overall, strategic planning is not about predicting the future with certainty, but about building resilience, adaptability, and vision to thrive in uncertainty.

References: Grant, R. M. (2016). Contemporary strategy analysis: Text and cases edition (9th ed.). Wiley. Hill, C. W. L., Jones, G. R., & Schilling, M. A. (2014). Strategic management: Theory: An integrated approach (11th ed.). Cengage Learning. Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2020). Exploring strategy: Text and cases (12th ed.). Pearson.