In week one we discussed mission statements and vision statements. These are used to develop goals and objectives for the organization. There are other things that also need to be done before goals and objectives are done. Please spend a few moments reviewing what a SWOT or SWOT analysis is.  How can the results of a SWOT analysis be used to develop goals for an organization. What do we mean by environmental scanning for strategic planning?

What is the role of strategic planning in creating value for the organization? Provide an example of how a company uses strategic planning to create value for the organization. What is a competitive strategy?  Choose two or more competitive strategies and compare why each strategy may be appropriate for different companies. For example, one company may use a low-price strategy while another may go for high quality.

Think about the benefits associated with conducting a SWOT Analysis. Choose your own organization or an organization with which you are familiar and reply to this post with an analysis of the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. After posting your SWOTT analysis, take a moment to read and comment on the responses posted by some of your classmates.

What models, tools, and techniques would you use in performing an environmental analysis of an organization?

What are two major environmental changes that you expect to have an impact on your organization over the next 5-10 years?

Why do we want to create measurement devices early in the strategy process? How do metrics allow us to track the strategy process once it is implemented? How is environmental scanning helpful in choosing the appropriate metric guidelines to use?

What do we mean by a sustainability strategy? How do we determine what we want to sustain? Is it profits, competitiveness, the environment or what?

Define risk and how it affects the strategy planning process. In relation to innovation, sustainability, and the global market, how would you decide whether a risk is worth taking the chance on when to create a strategic plan? How do you identify risk?  What measures should you use?

Based upon plan preparation, how would one assess the impacts of organizational strengths and weaknesses related to the development of long-term objectives?

Describe at least four sustainability strategies. Review the Virtual Organization Riordan Manufacturing, which can be accessed through this course’s reading from University of Phoenix student Web site. Which sustainability strategies would be most appropriate for Riordan Manufacturing and why?

Assume that you are a risk adverse manager in an industry experiencing rapid technological innovations. Which of the generic strategies would you be inclined to favor to mitigate risk? Why?

How does your organization select generic and grand strategies?

What steps need to be taken before we implement an organizational strategy?  Why are time frames so important to the implementation of an organizations strategy? What role does the sequence of execution play?

Research a company’s internal dynamics and the influence on business continuity along with cultural and structural leadership considerations incorporated into the implementation of the company’s strategy.  What resources are being used for the company to implement its strategy?

How have the ideas of constant improvement processes such as TQM, Six Sigma, and other improvement processes affected the overall strategy of organizations?

How are the tactical plan and the goals related to long-term objectives (LTO) and Critical Success Factors in your experience?

What are some structural, leadership, and cultural considerations that need to be included in the strategy implementation for the virtual organization, Riordan Manufacturing?