Fostering Strategic Thinking Michigan

How can we create a strategic thinking organization in which everyone understands the strategic position (the all-out pursuit of cost leadership or differentiation) and how to contribute towards it? Those at the top must lead by example by demonstrating strategic thinking skills and creating opportunities for others to get involved and learn through experience.

Local Companies

OZ Management Services, Inc.
616.682.0369
8303 Baileau Oaks, NE
Ada, MI
A & M Sales Management Consulting
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By Susan Cramm, CIO.com,

How can we create a strategic thinking organization in which everyone understands the strategic position (the all-out pursuit of cost leadership or differentiation) and how to contribute towards it?

Those at the top must lead by example by demonstrating strategic thinking skills and creating opportunities for others to get involved and learn through experience. Relevant skills include visioning, creating new opportunities by reframing challenges or ideas, and translating concepts so they can be heard by others. A collaborative, ongoing strategy making and objectives setting/monitoring process, one that starts at the top and cascades down, can go a long way in creating an organization where everyone understands the strategy position and how they can support it.

My CIO asked me to take on strategic planning with our business unit managers but they do not take me seriously in this role. Several have declined my planning meetings. How can I talk to my CIO about laying the groundwork with his peers so that I am able to move this process forward?

Assuming you are in a staff role, it sounds like your CIO is trying to get you to do the work that he and the rest of his line IT leaders should be doing. Instead of focusing externally to the business partners, focus internally and facilitate agreement with the CIO and other IT leaders regarding how strategy should be made and their involvement in the process. Part of this process will call for business partners to make strategy with the IT leaders they already know and trust, due to past, productive working relationships.

It's impossible for anybody, including the CIO, to confer this credibility to you. Be cautioned that if your IT organization has trouble delivering tactically, business partners will be reluctant to participate in strategy making. If this is the case, drop the word, "strategy," and get the CIO and IT leaders engaged to define the issues and get busy building credibility by addressing business partner concerns.

Susan Cramm is founder and president of Valuedance, an executive coaching firm in San Clemente, Calif. You can e-mail feedback to susan@valuedance.com.

Copyright © 2007 IDG. All rights reserved.

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OZ Management Services, Inc.

Business & Marketing Consulting New Product & Market Develop

616.682.0369
8303 Baileau Oaks, NE
Ada, MI
www.bjtmgt.com

Unlike most of today’s business advisors, we have managed companies and understand the real day-to-day problems of operating a business. We understand the pressures to grow and diversify, reduce costs and improve cash flow. We know the frustration of those endless projects that attack the wrong problems and yield no positive results.

Throughout our corporate careers, we have contributed to the growth and profitability of national and international industry leaders with diverse business models including manufacturing, traditional retail, e-commerce, direct marketing, service and non-profit organizations. The principals of BJT have managed in a variety of ownership structures: public, private and employee-owned.

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We provide a broad array of business services that will lead to enhanced growth and stability for your business. Our focus is primarily in nine areas: (Click on the titles)

Strategic planning

Marketing, merchandising strategies

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Cost management programs

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Management services

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In each of these areas, we will work with you to analyze your current business environment, the issues you face, determine the actions necessary, implement the plans and measure the results. At BJT, we will take an active, “hands-on” role in every stage of the project. Unlike most management services groups, we believe that delivering the plan is only the first step of our commitment to you.


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