Thinking StrategicallyIn relation to the importance and effectiveness of environmental scanning, I learnt that management should be able to plan the organizational and operational goals from both internal and external SWOT analysis that arises from strategic thinking. The strategic thoughts can then be followed with long term operational plans. I also learnt that effective environmental scanning will also enable the practical application of tool like Matched Pair Analysis.
(Pearce and Robinson, 2005).As a result of this simulation, I will be able to apply the tools like Matched Pair Analysis. I will be able to carry out an analysis of Strengths matched with Weakness; as well as the Opportunities matched with threats. From a bicycle manufacturing company producing race bikes, there is need to think strategically about strengths that strategy, skill and pacing have over weaknesses like muscles and speed.
Similarly, the company should engage in strategic thinking about threats like too wide turns, misplaced wheels, stunts and crashes have on realizing opportunities of achieving the set finish time objectives in a race. The company also needs to be skillful (Pearce and Robinson, 2005) in strategic energy saving and maneuvers of the difficult terrains if they are thinking of breaking the set record time targets.The successful matched pair strategy managed to give a win of the race and of course a broken finish record time. These results reveal that there are always challenges that are ahead of strategic planners.
The results also show that strategic planner have a challenge of long time focus in order for their analysis to be tested and retested for the targeted success. (Pearce and Robinson, 2005).Ultimately, all strategic planners have a challenge of knowing their competitive challengers in products and services so that they can pursue goal that will place them ahead of the ever growing competition. In that regard, all strategic planners have the challenge of applying tools like Matched Pair Analysis for both short and long term objective planning.
In conclusion, the strategic planers must be effective and be able to prioritizes on objectives and plans by use of a good thought process and deliberation of available objectives. (Pearce and Robinson, 2005). ReferencePearce and Robinson, (2005). Strategic Management (9th Edition).
New York: Mc-Graw-Hill.
