|
Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
|
Should Executives Become More Strategic? Some Tips...
Some time ago we had 2 interesting discussions at 12manage " Strategic Planning must be Dynamic" and " Developing an Agile Top Management Team". McKinsey consultants Birshan and Kar argued that top executives should become more strategic.
The beginning of the article rightly states that that even in today's fast-changing competitive environment, companies still have to timely:
- Capture emerging opportunities
- React to unexpected threats
- Make correct and timely decisions
In other words, corporations need strategic agility. To achieve this, the authors suggest to increase the TIME spent on strategy, to involve MORE (top) executives in the strategy process, and also to encourage them to CONSTANTLY DEVELOP their strategic capabilities.
The article gives 3 tips for top executives to 'become more strategic':
- Develop a guiding industry context by studying, understanding and internalizing the economical, psychological and legal developments in your sector by using:
A. Specialized sector-readings,
B. (Custom) executive education and
C. Off-site strategy sessions, etc.
- Become an expert in identifying potential disruptors (technological or other) for example using:
A. Site visits to technology hubs,
B. Periodic technical briefings,
C. Reverse-mentoring relationships with younger colleagues,
D. Talking to clients,
E. Watching new competitors, etc.
- Possess strong communication tools and skills, for example using:
A. Special sessions to share strategic insights and
B. Data that's easy to navigate and use.
⇨ Do you agree that top executives should become more strategic?
Source: Becoming more strategic: Three tips for any executive, Michael Birshan and Jayanti Kar, McKinsey Quarterly, July 2012.
X
Sign up for free
Welcome to the Strategy and Innovation best practices of 12manage.
Here we exchange knowledge and experiences in the field of Strategy and Innovation.
❗Sign up now to gain access to 12manage. Completely free.
X
Continue for free
Please sign up and login to continue reading.
Here we exchange knowledge and experiences in the field of Strategy and Innovation.
❗Sign up now to gain access to 12manage. Completely free.
|
|
|
|
|
Bahri, Germany
|
|
How a Decision Maker can Become More Strategic... Feeling the change... is one of the most important features a manager more specifically a decision maker should have.
But for that he should consider an enterprise more than just a mechanical running system, which has to be constantly optimized...
Oft times changes come from endogenous (Editor: ~originating from within an organism) elements. Which manager has time to go and take the "temperature" at the bottom? It's amazing what employees know about competitors...
|
|
|
Bernard Liebowitz PhD CMC, United States
|
|
3 Suggestions to Help Executives to Become More Strategic Three suggestions in this cause:
- First, create a department devoted to research on disruptive and/or new technology, events, customer needs, etc. Executives don't have the time nor inclination to look beyond what has to be done now.
- Second, use the findings of this group as input for periodic scenario planning sessions for executives and other staff.
- Third: ensure that these sessions include employees from all levels. It goes without saying that the results of the scenario planning sessions be included and reflected in action steps the firm might take.
These suggestions are aimed not only at anticipating CHANGE, but also in influencing the CULTURE of the organization towards being proactively searching the market place for "what's new".
|
|
|
jorge anibal hoyos hoyos Manager, Colombia
|
|
Everybody Must Become More Strategic Not only the executives, but all employees at all levels must work focused in a strategic way, everybody must think of creating value all the time. That is the best way to reach a dominant position in the outside market, allowing growth for the organization.
|
|
|
Alan Kennedy, Canada
|
|
What Does 'Strategic' Mean? That's the Issue I wonder if we have a common understanding of what the question "Should Executives Become More Strategic" even means. That's the whole problem, isn't it?
|
|
|
Dr Gary Jones, Australia
|
|
Using Scenario Planning for Tactics or Strategy The ongoing fortunes of the firm is reliant on the decisions of management - or its tactics - to reach the goals of the firms strategy. The strategy (its plan) does not normally change in the short term. A company is able to prepare its executives for future key events encompassing scenario planning to change its tactics if a particular scenario is triggered.
|
|
|
Andrew Blaine Business Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Continually Form, Review and then Re-form Strategy Essential for Executives My area of expertise is small business. This subject applies more specifically to corporate business, but also has relevance in the small business field - the difference being that the responsibility then falls onto a "generalist's" shoulders.
The need for every business executive to continually form, review and then re-form strategy is essential for the future growth and development of their business. The effect of the strategic plan is, generally, not felt immediately, but, if not nurtured, quickly disappears from the scene leaving a vast unfillable hole of indecision and confusion in management.
|
|
|
John Dube - FCILT,MBA, PGCert-LoSCM (UZ) Management Consultant, Zimbabwe
|
|
Team of Executives Must be Aligned to the Commom Strategic Core of the CEO Times, they are changing. Technological changes now affect every aspect of business operations and demand a robust way of execution.
This will only happen if the team of executives within the system are aligned to the common strategic core of the leader i.e. the CEO. Being more strategic without alignment always results in boardroom squabbles and fighting.
Strategy is nothing without implementation. The important aspect is to identify if the executive is a strategic thinker or strategic planner as they are far apart. Prosperity of the system depends on the CEO identifying and meshing around with the two.
|
|
|
leonard haggai oduori, Kenya
|
|
A Lot of Strategic Work is Dominated by Old Timers The challenge is not every manager is prophetic or has capacity to predict future opportunities and problems. So some top managers need to accept when they are ripe for retirement while others would do well if they listened more to peers and those who hold contrary views. A lot of strategic work is dominated by old timers and people who are uncomfortable with change.
Big organizations operate in environments fraught with risks arising from corruption and manipulation. Even the good intentions of some managers never find reception within organizations because of vested interests.
A thorough evaluation of the values and morals of those at the helm of organizations can open up space for new ideas and positive competition.
|
|
|
S Ganapathy Management Consultant, India
|
|
Involving More People in Strategy In India, especially in rural places, there often are light music performances by a small group of musicians. Anybody in the audience sends the request of their favourite song (only one song) to the m...
|
|
|
Jan Emerton, United Kingdom
|
|
Should Senior Executives Become More Strategic? Looking at the recent spate (Editor ~abundance) of business failures in the UK (Comet, HMV, Blockbuster), it seems clear that the senior management of these companies lost sight of the strategic imper...
|
|
|
Mohammed Al-Kharusi
|
|
Should Senior Executives Be More Strategic The tips offered are very valid and practised in many companies. Strategies should be reviewed annually to see whether the implementation is working or not, or the implementation needs to be fine tune...
|
|
|
Kelepile Dintwe Manager, South Africa
|
|
Office of Strategy Management (OSM) @Bernard Liebowitz PhD CMC: I agree with you. The Office of Strategy Management (OSM), a concept by Kaplan & Norton, can incorporate its role....
|
|
|
Alessandro Gomes
|
|
How to Identify Strategic Thinkers Among Executives @John Dube: I agree with my colleague. There's a way that we can use to identify strategic thinking executives. It's just by observing the attitudes, abilities and technical skills of an executive to ...
|
|
|
Purna Chandra Business Consultant, India
|
|
Strategy is not an End, it is the Means to an End As an executive moves up on the corporate ladder, he has to develop a strategic vision and strategic thinking. The question is, to develop such an orientation, must he have a good exposure of the whol...
|
|
|
Gregory Johnson Coach, United States
|
|
Strategic Thinking and Behavior An interesting topic that I would think is at the top of every executives "must" list.
Everyone in my organization must posses this strategic thinking and behavior. Many of the comments were great. T...
|
|
|
T. Bredewold Netherlands
|
|
Strategic Thinking in the Executive Team Make it simple. Put one off your lower staff in your team, you will be surprised. This way the thinking is less complicated. Now I see a small laugh on your face, but try and then judge. Keep me infor...
|
|
|
Alice Oludhe, Kenya
|
|
Executives Should Be More Strategic Being strategic helps CEOs to steer their organizations to be more innovative. The organization will be able to enjoy first mover advantages. Innovation assists organizations to achieve sustainable co...
|
|
|
Riphagen Financial Consultant, Netherlands
|
|
Strategy is Part of the Culture of an Organisation Strategy is part of the culture of an organisation, so if there is the need for more strategic agility in a fast changing environment, the top executives should start by changing the culture.
Getting...
|
|
|
Kathleen Brush Business Consultant, United States
|
|
Strategic Executices can Share the Burden of Localized Strategies To create plans that can't lose today you must have executives that understand that opportunities and threats (O&Ts) vary by country and/or region and they must stay informed of O&Ts that can affect a...
|
|
|
Denis Hitchens, Australia
|
|
Strategic Planning is for Strategic Moments Steve Jobs, in reply to a question about annual strategic planning, responded that he only created a strategic plan at a strategic moment. (Editor: see Strategic Infliction Point)
He defined that as ...
|
|
|
Madan Gopal Agarwal Business Consultant, India
|
|
Should Executives Become More Strategic? My understanding about 'Top Executives' is they are part of the 'Board of Directors' and about 'Executives' they are members of the 'Senior Management Team'.
Having said that and taking cue from 3 ti...
|
|
|
Leodegardo M. Pruna Professor, Philippines
|
|
Should Executives Be More Strategic? The answer is a big YES. Executives can no longer depend on short term or tactical moves in planning and operating an enterprise. Competition is becoming more tight and if one is thinking tactical, he...
|
|
|
Andrew Blaine Business Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Laying out the Plan and Implementing the Plan @Madan Gopal Agarwal: I feel that this response simply adds to the confusion. In life there will always be degrees or progressions. To separate Executives from Senior Executives is unnecessary and smu...
|
|
|
Jolanta Sz Professor, Poland
|
|
Executives Working on Strategy First of all, I am doubtful about strategy itself. Often executives declare that they are working on, let's say, 1 or 2 years strategy. This, because the longer period is not to be predicted, so think...
|
|
|
Erasmus Agongo Management Consultant, Ghana
|
|
All Employees Should be More Strategic @jorge anibal hoyos hoyos: I agree. It is not only a big YES that senior management should be more strategic, but they should also inculcate strategic thinking and actions in all employees. This makes...
|
|
|
GEOFFREY NYAMBANE, Kenya
|
|
Executives Becoming More Strategic has 2 Aspects Executives becoming more strategic as defined herein is only concentrating on the aspects of planning and reviewing. Being strategic in implementation is epitomised by having the right resources (huma...
|
|
|
Ali M. Al Alawi Student (Other), Sultanate of Oman
|
|
Involve All Management Levels IS the Strategy If we can involve all management levels in strategy planning, that will be the most important strategic move and real strategy, because some management levels will practice the strategy autonomously a...
|
|
|
Istvan Szeman Consultant, Hungary
|
|
Strategy for More than 3 Years? @ Jolanta Sz: Thanks for that comment, I agree to a great extent, with one note, nevertheless.
Strategy is cyclical process, every single cycle being multi-step and multi-player, if done well. Also, ...
|
|
|
Danai Muteyo Financial Consultant, Zimbabwe
|
|
Executives Should Consult their Employees More on Strategy @Bahri: I agree it's a must, strategy is not a prerogative of executives only. I've heard amazing new business strategies from employees at the lower levels of organisations. Executives have to open t...
|
|
|
Hans Christiaan Meinen, Netherlands
|
|
Strategy Don't Produce, People Do Phd Coos van Tuinen lectured: 'Strategy don't produce, but people do'. The soft side (HRM) looks more beneficial for executives than more strategic executives....
|
|
|
Karl Christensen, Mexico
|
|
Executives Should Become More Strategic Absolutely. There are executives that focus on the efficiency of operations. However, when they're having no strategic thinking skills and are not developing a strategy for their companies, they could...
|
|
|
Mackinnon Entrepreneur, United Kingdom
|
|
Should Executives Become More Strategic The adjective 'strategic' is used as though its meaning is abundantly clear when it is not. ALL management executives are involved in strategic thinking and implementation, else they are merely proces...
|
|
|
Francesco Smeragliuolo Analyst, Italy
|
|
Executive Should Become More Strategic @KARL CHRISTENSEN: I totally agree. Sometimes I meet a CEO that has no strategic vision. And some executives are focused on cost cutting to create a positive ROI and to take advantage for themselves a...
|
|
|
LEAH LYNDA I. STA ANA Student (MBA), Philippines
|
|
Involving More People in Strategy Planning I agree to involve a large number of more strategic executives. However it would also be better that intended strategies are communicated first to employees who will be affected in the implementation ...
|
|
|
Andrew Blaine Business Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Strategy and Suggestions Boxes Every one of us makes our own strategy. Career path planning is strategy, tomorrows program is tactics. The power of suggestion boxes is immense, if it is properly used by all levels of a business, pa...
|
|
|
Karl Christensen, Mexico
|
|
Managing Strategic Responsibilities The top management team is responsible for strategy formulation. But many managers and people at different levels are responsible for implementation.
We at Kepner Tregoe offer a seminar called "Mana...
|
|
|
DAVIS JN LOUIS Saint Lucia
|
|
Should Executives Be More Strategic Strategic Planning is the fundamental decision and action that shapes and guide an organization to its goals and strategic direction. Team involvement is critical bearing in mind that the organization...
|
|
|
Leodegardo M. Pruna Professor, Philippines
|
|
Should Executives Be More Strategic? @LEAH LYNDA I. STA ANA: The fact is in an institution the strategic thinkers/planners are normally found at the top of the hierarchy.
The Japanese way of arriving at a decision could be exercised- to...
|
|
|
Peter A.M. Broosus Management Consultant, Germany
|
|
Should Executives Be More Strategic? Strategy making requires a lot of communication and thinking through the vast amount of information to master the meaning and the logic in it. That requires time. In this case "meeting time".
But mee...
|
|
|
Bahri, Germany
|
|
Meetings... the Hidden Strategies.. @Peter A.M. Broosus: Behind the obsolete concept of "the meeting", which is seen from a lot of managers as an exclusive stage... whereupon each of them tries to play his part as individualist and indi...
|
|
|
Istvan Szeman Consultant, Hungary
|
|
Should Executives Be More Strategic? @Peter A.M. Broosus: In agreement, to further analyse what you said:
Quality of people is a combination of skills and motivation. The difficulty with strategic planning is that it is only effective ...
|
|
|
Jolanta Sz Professor, Poland
|
|
Again About the Strategy Although a lot of wise and well founded and reasonable remarks and opinions can be found in this interesting discussion about the present understanding of strategy, I still have a bit uncomfortable fe...
|
|
|
Istvan Szeman Consultant, Hungary
|
|
Strategic Planning may be for Strategic Moments but not only for Top Executives @Denis Hitchens: I certainly would keep in mind whatever Steve Jobs said about strategy, also agree with Denis expanding on the idea.
Just one addition: signals of change are not necessarily visible ...
|
|
|
Leodegardo M. Pruna Professor, Philippines
|
|
Becoming More Strategic The shift from tactical/operational to long-term process-system approach has become a necessity if an enterprise is to survive in a globally competitive field. While before it may be enough to have an...
|
|
|
Bernard Liebowitz PhD CMC, United States
|
|
Strategic Thinking and Planning I think there is a distinction between "strategy" (or "strategic planning") versus "strategic thinking", though they do overlap considerably:
- The first deals with the development of the plan using ...
|
|
|
Alan Kennedy, Canada
|
|
Tip #3 Developing Communication Tools & Skills For me, tip #3 offered by Birshan and Kar, (developing communication tools & skills) is the most important tip to become agile in strategy. I think most folks are pretty good at doing tips 1 & 2.
I k...
|
|
|
Purna Chandra Business Consultant, India
|
|
Strategic Agility is an Outcome of Structural & Cultural Agility While there is enough appreciation of strategic thinking and agility in strategy formulation, the real challenge is to build the structure and Ssystem to support agile working and a culture to sustain...
|
|
|
Gregory Johnson Coach, United States
|
|
Depth of Strategic Participation/Involvement Strategic Planning has historically been an action directed by the Executive Leadership and Board of Directors. Seldom has it been fully implemented and/or monitored in it's full application.
Bringin...
|
|
|
Istvan Szeman Consultant, Hungary
|
|
Tip#3: Communications Tools and Skills @Alan Kennedy: I fully aggree with you here, even though "just" building the execution mechanism for corporate strategy is a challenge in itself.
I also see, however, great divergence in different un...
|
|
|
Andrew Blaine Business Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Old Timers and the RC Factor @Leonard haggai oduori: Hi there Leonard, while I appreciate your viewpoint I would counter with the following:
Dont write off all old timers, they are not all rigid.
As we gradually, but inevitably...
|
|
|
Alan Kennedy, Canada
|
|
Culture is a Product of Strategy @Istvan Szeman: I understand your thinking. We make the case in our book that culture is a product of strategy; dominant strategy in particular. If we are right, then the whole notion that strategy i...
|
|
|
LEAH LYNDA I. STA ANA Student (MBA), Philippines
|
|
Strategy in the Corporate World Everyone in a corporate world whether you are an ordinary employee or you belong to the middle or topmanagement should not work harder, but smarter.
By working smarter, you yourself will be having a ...
|
|
|
Gregory Johnson Coach, United States
|
|
Abilities of Strategic Executives Anyone in the executive/leadership position of any organization large or small should be both a strategic thinker as well as a tactical thinker.
- Strategic thinking is a management "must" in plannin...
|
|
|
Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Should Executives Become More Strategic? A contrary view perhaps, but in the controlling, hierarchical past it was expected that executives were head (strategy & big picture), middle managers were heart (relationship and task glue) and worke...
|
|
|
Dr. Alan Williams Professor, Thailand
|
|
Appoint More Strategic Executives The 3 groupings are nice text book ideas and much of the comment is just nice text book stuff but not reality. I know from experience that the first step is to be much more selective in appointing peo...
|
|
|
Matthias Bittrich Business Consultant, Germany
|
|
Corrections React to unexpected threats" is risk management, but not strategy.
"Make correct and timely decisions" - decisions are always correct, backgrounded by all decisions and experiences the decider has ma...
|
|
|
Alan E Palacios Director, El Salvador
|
|
Strategic Thinking Starts by Educating Executives I concur with the approach suggested. I consider it is essential for executives to spend more time absorbing the environment and transforming the company, for the sake of the company and its people. I...
|
|
|
Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Appoint More Strategic Executives @Dr. Alan Williams: Dear Alan. Sometimes good stuff is found in text books. Theory and practice are not mutually exclusive. In fact this grouping first appeared as far as I know in a book on leadersh...
|
|
|
CLAUDIUS RWODZI HR Consultant, Zimbabwe
|
|
Invest in Strategy and Maximize the Communication Efforts It should be in the organization's culture that strategy drives the direction of the organisation all the time. Environmental changes tend to shatter the equilibrium when it comes to strategy and this...
|
|
|
Matthias Bittrich Business Consultant, Germany
|
|
Quite the Opposite Some of the above arguments sound old fashioned to me.
Dont forget that the younger generations expect a different working environment and other leadership than we were used to.
It does not make any...
|
|
|
souleymane gaye Director, Senegal
|
|
Should Executives Become More Strategic? Yes they should. Both in their thinking about strategy as in its implementation.
Leading a business needs a strategy which is a road map to achieve a goal and for that it is imperative to proceed to ...
|
|
|
Michael VanOverloop Management Consultant, United States
|
|
Why Ask This Question Strategies are goal statements. Strategies are supported by tactics. Each tactic becomes a strategy for another level of tactics. Layer upon layer the direction of an organization is forged....
|
|
|
Sridhar Gopal Management Consultant, India
|
|
Managers and Strategy Managers and strategy are two sides of the same coin in the present-day corporate world. Managers should keep the business on course and when it gets off they have to steer it back on course. For this...
|
|
|
Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Should Executives Become More Strategic? I love the diversity of reactions and opinions triggered by this question! There is definitely a case for going outside of the either/or box and thinking both/and, that is, non-dualistically.
Non-dua...
|
|
|
Mike Cudzich-Madry Professor, United Kingdom
|
|
Executives don't Have the Time or Inclination? So executives don't have the time or inclination don't they?
Then what are they paid such high salaries for?
If they are not worth their 'salt' (salary), sack them and get someone who is!
Every tim...
|
|
|
Matthias Bittrich Business Consultant, Germany
|
|
Non-dualistic Thinking A very good point, Graham.
Every company does itself a great favour to enable its employees to think entrepreneurially. On the other hand, this means a lot of "unbossing". And when we think about how...
|
|
|
Mike Cudzich-Madry Professor, United Kingdom
|
|
Everyone Should Become More Strategic? Should everyone in an organisation should become more strategic?
Agreed, but unless you are prepared to pay them for their extra time and trouble to do this, then what's in it for them? And don't say...
|
|
|
Marcus Vinicius de Miranda Barbosa Business Consultant, Brazil
|
|
Every Employee Should Become More Strategic My opinion is that all of us, independent of the level of our responsabilities, must have strategy in our minds to reach our objectives/goals....
|
|
|
Matthias Bittrich Business Consultant, Germany
|
|
Overpaid Management? @Mike Cudzich-Madry: Professor, why do think Mercedes-Benz fires more than 1000 managers? One must come to the conclusion: They block better thinkers, they hinder progress and so on. The company appar...
|
|
|
Maurice Hogarth Consultant, United Kingdom
|
|
Strategy is Essentially About How To @Alan Kennedy: Agreed. Strategy seems to be used as a synonym for "long term" or "bigger picture" or "broader view" etc.
For me strategy is about "How to".
The use of "strategy" in discussions such ...
|
|
|
Gregory Johnson Coach, United States
|
|
Strategic?????? Whether working to execute a strategic plan of being consciously aware of the synergy required toward strategic agility, I think it is putting the CART before the HORSE in either case.
With my client...
|
|
|
Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
|
|
Making Executives More Strategic with Scenario Thinking From my past life as someone responsible for formulating scenarios for Shell, I can attest that in terms of size of organisation, scenarios were practical at least down to opco (operational company) l...
|
|
|
Dr. Alan Williams Professor, Thailand
|
|
Executives can Become More Strategic by Listening Well Totally agree, here's an example how executives can become more strategic…
A large mixed manufacturing (2 X 12 HR shifts 365 days), and marketing company. Every 60 days the CEO went on a night shift ...
|
|
|
John Henry Project Manager, United States
|
|
'More' Strategic? At certain levels, strategy is ALL the leadership should be doing... If they are doing sales calls, they are salesmen, if they are building products, they are technicians. If they are executive leader...
|
|
|
Maurice Hogarth Consultant, United Kingdom
|
|
Strategy or the Confusion of Referents A wide range of referents for the word 'strategy' and its derivatives are being used, from long-term looking forward to participative style management; so although the answer to the actual original qu...
|
|
|
Dr. Alan Williams Professor, Thailand
|
|
Two Steps in Thinking More Strategic I like this example from Maurice Hogarth "Our aim is to win the war with the minimum amount of casualties; our strategy (how to achieve this) will be to take out the command and control centres of the...
|
|
|
John Henry Project Manager, United States
|
|
Finding the Root Cause in Strategic Thinking It is not possible to strategically solve a problem like (we need to make more profit) unless we know the root cause of the failure to profit from our work.
Identifying an issue with profitability, i...
|
|
|
Dr. Alan Williams Professor, Thailand
|
|
More Strategic Thinking by Managers Well said. I add one more side point. As a CEO I often had half day/full day meetings with compulsory attendance and with a known agenda. As we went about discussing/defining the WHAT I would often de...
|
|
|
Maurice Hogarth Consultant, United Kingdom
|
|
Strategic Two Steps for Root Cause @John Henry: Agreed and also with Alan Williams' steps. (Alan I use the term "folks" so no umbrage can be taken by any non-guys.)
The approaches described are essentially as those promoted by Charles...
|
|
|
John Henry Project Manager, United States
|
|
I Think, Maybe Thinking: Critically So often Maurice Hogarth, we believe that strategy is not my job. Even if that is true, thinking critically, thinking in a searching way, is everyone's job. Good practical, decisions, choices, process...
|
|
|
Dr. Alan Williams Professor, Thailand
|
|
More Strategic Thinking by Managers John Henry wrote "... If critical facts are not given to the strategic decision makers... ". Totally agree, in fact in my CEO roles several times I chastised senior/mid level managers/and supervisors ...
|
|
|
Gregory Johnson Coach, United States
|
|
Strategic --- 'To be or NOT to Be' Strategic planning is a required prescription to both the operation of and success of nearly all organizations. I hear references to strategic plans on numerous interactions with clients and potential...
|
|
|
|
More on Strategy and Innovation
|
|
|
Comments by date▼