1.5 - About University

Think outside thebox.Think of yourorganization fromthe point of view ofothersLet yourstrategy evolve.Have everyone inyour organizationthink strategically.Align systems tosupport yourstrategy.❑ In what ways will your organization havea competitive edge with its product(s)/service(s)?We know that this phrase has been badlyoverworked. Nonetheless, managers are oftenso caught up in the demands of their rolesand profession, and so immersed in a givenway of thinking, that they know little outsidetheir organizations and their work.❑ Seek many opinions and perspectives.❑ Read and consult with people outside yourindustry, organization, and area ofexpertise.[☛ 6.7 Creativity and Innovation]❑ Talk to and understand the perspectives ofyour customers, suppliers, employees, andother stakeholders.❑ Learn about competitors, their directions,and their core competencies.[☛ 5.7 Stakeholder Groups]❑ Senior management needs to elucidate astrategic framework that gives othersample opportunity for strategicimprovising.❑ Don’t isolate strategic thinking to seniormanagers or to a strategic planning group.❑ Have all business and staff units clarifytheir strategies.❑ Model strategic thinking and challengeothers to think strategically.[☛ 10.7 Getting Participation]❑ Your organizational systems are perfectlyaligned to achieve your current results. Inmany ways, the hardest part of strategyimplementation is re-jigging your systemsto support the new strategy.[☛ 5.6 Aligning Systems]Copyright McGraw-Hill 2000. Original purchasers of this book are permitted to photocopy or customize this worksheet by downloading it fromwww.books.mcgraw-hill.com/training/download. The document can then be opened, edited, and printed using Microsoft Word or other word processingsoftware.R ELATED LEADERSHIP TOOLS1.6 Boards of Play 2.3 Directional Statements 2.6 Clarifying Purpose1.10 The GAS Model 2.4 Visioning 3.2 Sigmoid Curve2.1 Systems Thinking 2.5 ValuesF OR FURTHER READINGBoyett, Joseph H., and Jimmie T. Boyett. The Guru Guide: The Best Ideas of the Top Management Thinkers. John Wiley &Sons, 1998.Hamel, Gary, and C. K. Prahalad. Competing for the Future. Harvard Business School Press, 1996.SECTION 3 TOOLS FOR STRATEGIC THINKING 71