1: Introducing Strategy
Learning Outcomes (1) 
Understand the characteristics of strategic 
decisions and what is meant by strategy 
and strategic management, distinguishing 
them from operational management 
Understand how strategic priorities vary by 
level: corporate, business, and operational 
Understand the basic vocabulary of 
strategy 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-2
Learning Outcomes (2) 
Understand the three key elements of the 
Exploring Corporate Strategy strategic 
management model 
Understand the kinds of people involved in 
strategy – managers, in-house specialists 
and strategy consultants – and the work 
they do 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-3
What is Strategy? 
Strategy is the direction and scope of an 
organisation over the long term, which 
achieves advantage in a changing 
environment through its configuration of 
resources and competences with the aim 
of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-4
Characteristics of 
Strategic Decisions 
Long-term direction 
Scope of an organisation’s activities 
Competitive advantage 
Strategic fit with business environment 
Organisation resources and competences 
Values and expectations of power players 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-5
Implications of Strategic Decisions 
Complexity 
Uncertainty 
Operational 
decisions 
Integration 
Relationships and 
networks 
Change 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-6
Levels of Strategy 
Corporate-level 
strategy 
Business-level 
strategy 
Operational strategy 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-7
What is a Strategic Business Unit? 
A strategic business unit (SBU) is a 
part of an organisation for which 
there is a distinct external market for 
goods or services that is different 
from another SBU. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-8
Vocabulary of Strategy 
Mission 
Vision 
Goal 
Objective 
Strategic capability 
Strategies 
Business model 
Control 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-9
Vocabulary of Strategy: Nokia 
Vision/Mission 
Connecting is about helping people feel close 
to what matters. Wherever, whenever, Nokia 
believes in communicating, sharing, and in 
the awesome potential in connecting the 2 
billion who do with the 4 billion who don’t. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-10
Vocabulary of Strategy: 
Kingston University 
Mission 
To promote participation in higher 
education, which it regards as a 
democratic entitlement; to strive for 
excellence in learning, teaching, and 
research; to realise the creative 
potential and fire the imagination of all 
its members; and to equip its students 
to make effective contributions to 
society and the economy. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-11
What is Strategic Management? 
Strategic management includes 
understanding the strategic position 
of a organisation, making strategic 
choices for the future, and managing 
strategy in action. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-12
Exhibit 1.3 The Exploring 
Corporate Strategy Model 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-13
What is 
Strategic Position? 
Strategic position is concerned with the 
impact on strategy of the external 
environment, an organisation’s strategic 
capability and the expectations and 
influence of stakeholders. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-14
Strategic Position 
Environment 
The 
Strategic 
Position 
Capability Purpose 
Culture 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-15
What are Strategic Choices? 
Strategic choices involve 
understanding the underlying bases 
for future strategy at both the 
business unit and corporate levels 
and the options for developing 
strategy in terms of both the 
directions and methods of 
development. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-16
Strategic Choices 
Business-level 
Strategic 
Choices 
Corporate-level 
Innovation 
International 
Evaluation 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-17
What is Strategy in Action? 
Strategy in action is 
concerned with ensuring 
that strategies are 
working in practice. 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-18
Strategy in Action 
Processes 
Structuring Resourcing 
Strategy 
in Action 
Changing 
Practice 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-19
Research Approaches 
to Strategy 
Content Process 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-20
Perspectives on Strategy 
Complexity Theory 
Discourse 
Strategy-as-Practice 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-21
Strategy Lenses 
Strategy as design 
Strategy as experience 
Strategy as ideas 
Strategy as discourse 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-22
Exhibit 1.i Design Lens 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-23
Exhibit 1.ii Experience Lens 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-24
Exhibit I.iv Idea Lens 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-25
Exhibit I.v Discourse Lens 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-26
Case Example: Electrolux 
 Review the strategic choices 
Electrolux has? 
Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-27

Chapter01

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Learning Outcomes (1) Understand the characteristics of strategic decisions and what is meant by strategy and strategic management, distinguishing them from operational management Understand how strategic priorities vary by level: corporate, business, and operational Understand the basic vocabulary of strategy Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-2
  • 3.
    Learning Outcomes (2) Understand the three key elements of the Exploring Corporate Strategy strategic management model Understand the kinds of people involved in strategy – managers, in-house specialists and strategy consultants – and the work they do Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-3
  • 4.
    What is Strategy? Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-4
  • 5.
    Characteristics of StrategicDecisions Long-term direction Scope of an organisation’s activities Competitive advantage Strategic fit with business environment Organisation resources and competences Values and expectations of power players Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-5
  • 6.
    Implications of StrategicDecisions Complexity Uncertainty Operational decisions Integration Relationships and networks Change Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-6
  • 7.
    Levels of Strategy Corporate-level strategy Business-level strategy Operational strategy Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-7
  • 8.
    What is aStrategic Business Unit? A strategic business unit (SBU) is a part of an organisation for which there is a distinct external market for goods or services that is different from another SBU. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-8
  • 9.
    Vocabulary of Strategy Mission Vision Goal Objective Strategic capability Strategies Business model Control Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-9
  • 10.
    Vocabulary of Strategy:Nokia Vision/Mission Connecting is about helping people feel close to what matters. Wherever, whenever, Nokia believes in communicating, sharing, and in the awesome potential in connecting the 2 billion who do with the 4 billion who don’t. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-10
  • 11.
    Vocabulary of Strategy: Kingston University Mission To promote participation in higher education, which it regards as a democratic entitlement; to strive for excellence in learning, teaching, and research; to realise the creative potential and fire the imagination of all its members; and to equip its students to make effective contributions to society and the economy. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-11
  • 12.
    What is StrategicManagement? Strategic management includes understanding the strategic position of a organisation, making strategic choices for the future, and managing strategy in action. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-12
  • 13.
    Exhibit 1.3 TheExploring Corporate Strategy Model Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-13
  • 14.
    What is StrategicPosition? Strategic position is concerned with the impact on strategy of the external environment, an organisation’s strategic capability and the expectations and influence of stakeholders. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-14
  • 15.
    Strategic Position Environment The Strategic Position Capability Purpose Culture Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-15
  • 16.
    What are StrategicChoices? Strategic choices involve understanding the underlying bases for future strategy at both the business unit and corporate levels and the options for developing strategy in terms of both the directions and methods of development. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-16
  • 17.
    Strategic Choices Business-level Strategic Choices Corporate-level Innovation International Evaluation Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-17
  • 18.
    What is Strategyin Action? Strategy in action is concerned with ensuring that strategies are working in practice. Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-18
  • 19.
    Strategy in Action Processes Structuring Resourcing Strategy in Action Changing Practice Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-19
  • 20.
    Research Approaches toStrategy Content Process Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-20
  • 21.
    Perspectives on Strategy Complexity Theory Discourse Strategy-as-Practice Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-21
  • 22.
    Strategy Lenses Strategyas design Strategy as experience Strategy as ideas Strategy as discourse Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-22
  • 23.
    Exhibit 1.i DesignLens Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-23
  • 24.
    Exhibit 1.ii ExperienceLens Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-24
  • 25.
    Exhibit I.iv IdeaLens Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-25
  • 26.
    Exhibit I.v DiscourseLens Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-26
  • 27.
    Case Example: Electrolux  Review the strategic choices Electrolux has? Exploring Corporate Strategy 8e, © Pearson Education 2008 1-27