Analyzing Strategic Administration

Strategic Planning for the Administrator, Second Edition

Chapter 14

Analyzing Strategic Administration

SUMMARY

Chapter 14 discusses the methodology of setting up a proper Strategic Administrative Plan.

The plan should help develop the ability to differentiate, speculate, and integrate when evaluating complex business issues. How do we use strategic thinking to answer the questions that can stimulate the real-world experience as we face organizational leaders when trying to determine how best to run their organizations. One thing that was made clear is that it is necessary that all items must clarify your understanding of the process. It would be necessary to study the facts, options and implications surrounding the problem. This may mean reading and thoroughly comprehending the product and how this will service the internal and external customer while meeting the organizations mission, goal and vision. It may even be necessary to actual like the external customer in the situation. What issue has previous organizations had not addressing these key issues or problems? How would the problems be avoided and what was the back up plan.

1. Develop the Administrative plan.

2. Set the objectives to cover short term and long term goals.

3. Re-evaluate current Strategic Administrative Plan.

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DISCUSSION

The three key terms used in this chapter:

1. Differentiate: Effective strategic administration requires that many different elements of a situation be evaluated at once. When analyzing an Strategic Adminisrative Plan it is important to isolated critical facts, evaluated whether assumptions are useful or faulty, and distinguish between good bad information. Differentiating between the factors that are influencing the situation presented by a case is necessary for making a good analysis. Strategic administration also involves understanding that problems are often complex and multilayered. Ask whether the plan deals with operational, business-level, or corporate issues. Do the problems stem from weakness in the internal value chain or threats in the external environment? Find or accept the least controversial answer to get to the heart of the problem.

2. Speculate: Strategic administrators need to be able to use their imagination to envision and experience a solution that might not readily be apparent. Have the ability to imagine different scenarios or contemplate the outcome of a decision can aid the analysis. Administrators also have to deal with uncertainty since most decisions are made without complete knowledge of the circumstances. Plan materials often seem to be missing data or the information provided is contradictory. The ability to speculate about the unknown or the consequences of an action can be helpful.

3. Integrate: Strategy involves looking at the big picture and having an organization wide perspective. While Strategic Administrative Plan materials will cover various topics that may apply to different parts of an organization, all of this information must be integrated into one set of recommendations that will affect the whole organization. The strategic administrator must be able to comprehend how all the factors that influence the organization affect other parts. By taking this approach a holistic perspective of the integration will show the impact of the various decisions and environmental influences on all parts of the organization is needed. The plan should show the clarity of a business plan is must be carefully planned out to include month-by-month projections, a well-written resume, if there

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