Essays on Strategic Thinking

Strengths of Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake 4

Weaknesses of Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake 6 Opportunities which Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake can Exploit 7 Threats to which Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake is Exposed 7 3.0 Strategy Proposed 8 4.0 Critical Evaluation of the Problems Identified 8

Using Six Hats Thinking Approach for Problem Solving 9

Blue Hat 9 White Hat 9 Red Hat 10 Black Hat 10 Yellow Hat 10 Green Hat 11 Application of Mintzberg’s Theory at Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake 11 Interpersonal use of Managerial Skills 11 Informational Role of Managers to Solve Problems 12 Decisional Role of Managers for Dealing with the Issue 13 5.0 Conclusion 13

References 14

Strategic Management Analysis of Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake in China ...

INTRODUCTION

Tourism and hospitality have formed one of the world's fast growing industry and expanding at a rapid pace. It is an appealing industry that positively contributed to economic growth of developing and developed countries. The hospitality industry remains the intensive key resource of tourism, hotel such as Waldorf Astoria Beijing takes up the corporate responsibility to balance the social, economic and sustainability needs of their business as well as the communities. This hotel has been awarded Traveler's Choice Awards: - Trip Advisor in 2013 (Waldorf Astoria 2016). If these hospitality industries do not support tourism then a negative impact ...

Introduction

Organizations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, need to plan strategically so as to fulfill their mandate, achieve their mission, and create public value. Furthermore, strategic planning helps the leaders and managers of these organizations to be effective strategists so that they can satisfy their constituents or stakeholders. According to Bryson (2011), managers and leaders of these entities must exercise discretion when executing their duties, develop effective strategies to help them navigate the changing and the charged environment and must have a coherent and justified backing for their decisions. Effectively, they can only achieve such through strategic planning. The essence of ...

Martin Health System is a healthcare center founded by three medical practitioners, namely Van William Burns, Walter F. Davey, and Julian D. Parker in 1939, in Stuart, Florida. It was originally based on the principle that all patients should have access to medical care and treatment irrespective of their racial or financial background. Originally, it consisted of a facility that had twenty-three bed, ten workers, and three physicians, which has now expanded into one MediCenter, three hospitals, a free-standing Emergency Center, as well as, many outpatient clinics. It is a non-profit community based healthcare organization that provides preventive and ...

Introduction

Technology has been helping out people for many years now. Technological advancement enabled people to communicate better and faster over the Internet. With the use of Internet, people can gain more knowledge across different disciplines and one of which is the emergence of technology-based health care. Thus, the current trend in health care using the available technology makes it faster for medical practitioners to provide services and even gain more knowledge about new diseases as well as how it can be addressed and prevented in the future. This study will present the current health care trends that can affect ...

Program:

Specialization: Human Resources

Part 1: Professional Goals

Professional Introduction My professional goal incorporates the attainment of a strategic position on the basis of my knowledge, skills and abilities. I intend to become a strategic expert by encompassing the senior human resources leadership rank. I also want to utilize my technical and conceptual skills in order to direct, inspire and lead others by means of my representation as a human resources scholar. I possess adequate academic knowledge about Human Resource Management because I have completed my graduate and post-graduate education with the specialization in Human Resources Management. My bachelors degree account for the technical ...

There exists a clear distinction between change management and change leadership. Change management is the set of processes, tools, and methods to transform current status of an organization into a better position for the betterment of employees, stakeholders, and organization as a whole. Change leadership is the robust and fast form of change management. It involves a vision leading towards radical changes in the progress of organization. Change leaders propose efficient utilization of available resources till the end and become an engine to lead fast change. Change management may involve improvement on small scales, but change leaders carry vision ...

Strategic thinking is a key goal needed for exceeding leadership. The process of strategic thinking is to analyze what a business needs and how to improve the business. The plan could consist of attracting more customers, increasing profit, and decrease loss prevention. A good strategic thinker will involve every aspect of the issue and puts a goal-oriented plan into motion. The main words for a great strategic thinker are the how and when. How will this plan help the business and when can we see an increase in business from this plan? These two questions need to be answered ...

1 What is your vision for a new and improved healthcare environment and what needs to change for your vision to become a reality? As a healthcare professional my vision has always been to provide safe, effective and affordable health care services to the community. A number of players contribute to the health care system: the service providers, payers, suppliers of medicines and other inputs. Thus, the biggest challenge is to collaborate the different actions of the stakeholders in the healthcare system and to effectively execute once vision. It is not possible for a single dedicated person to achieve ...

Strategic thinking is essential for managers to face the future which is unpredictable. For instance, strategic thinking helps a manager to take appropriate decisions with regard to how, where and when to aim at a customer group that would help him to mobilize the resources and set appropriate objectives. Organizations face problems when they fail to distinguish between operational efficiency and strategy since both are entirely different (Porter, 1996). Operational effectiveness is only about doing things better than others. On the other hand, strategy is about choosing diverse ways to deliver values and services to customers. As part of ...

Introduction

The Ulrich's three-legged stool model is a model that was created about ten years ago by Dave Ulrich to assist in the reconstruction of Human Resource (HR) function into a “three-legged stool”. This model has three primary constituent elements which include the business partners, shared services, and centres of excellence. The ideas contained in the Ulrich model came at a time when the HR was overwhelmed to define roles for itself, and it is for this reason that its thinking escalated to higher levels (Heneman and Milanowski, 2011). In practice, there is always an overlap that may exist across ...

In our world today, almost everything is in competitive zone. Most of the companies are struggling to build a sustainable and profit making customers relationship; This makes segmentation an important key to the effective client since it helps to optimize the investments in product development, market communications, and channel management. Retailers all over the world are begging to transform their relationships with their clients through providing Omni-channel shopping experience that enables the customers to leave the markets or shops satisfied. According to Tommy Hilfiger, Omni-channel approach allows customers to make their choices and purchases whatever they want. These clients ...

Pamela M. Waymack in her article describes characteristics of a great leader in the healthcare industry. She defines three major features that distinguish great leaders: strategic thinking, consensus building and impeccable execution (Waymack, 2008). Strategic thinking. Here the author focuses on examining every decision for “its strategic implications”, meaning that every decision should be questioned in terms of its needs for the company, the benefits and its needs for the market. Great leader also should know when to say no to some initiatives, even though they seem “on trend” for continuous success of the company (Waymack, 2008). Consensus building. ...

Leadership is the act of guiding and leading an organization or a group of people. It also refers to the ability to undertake and implement a successful function. Leadership usually involves a number of activities. A good leader should establish a clear vision and share it with other team members so that they get to follow voluntarily. To add on, he or she must provide the requisite information, understanding and methodologies to achieve the vision. Leaders must balance and coordinate conflicts of interests among members and stakeholders. In times of crises, they are required to rise to the occasion ...

Internet Marketing

Digital marketing is defined as a broad term that refers to the various promotional techniques that are used to reach the customers through electronic media .

Digital marketing has the following benefits: - Can be used anytime (24 x 7) and anywhere Digital marketing can be done anytime and anywhere through digital devices the are connected to the internet. The customers can shop on the website using the internet at anytime and anywhere. The convenience of anytime shopping and selling is one of the main benefits of digital marketing. - Quick transactions

The digital marketing involves quick transactions with the customers that save time and costs.

- Easy information

The information is easily available through the digital marketing channels such as social media, websites and email.

- Ability to ...

Incentives are meant to motive an individual to carry out an activity more effectively. There two types of incentives, positive incentives and negative incentives. Positive incentives such as promotion, recognition, and praise satisfy an individual’s psychological requirements and thus able to result in motivation. Therefore, individuals who strictly value positive assurance of satisfaction can easily be motivated by incentives. Conversely, poor performing individuals are likely not to be motivated by incentives. They usually receive negative incentives. Negative incentives are meant for the correction of an individual’s mistakes to obtain effective results. Such incentives include demotion, penalties and ...

Introduction

Healthcare management has evolved with time given the changing market dynamics as well as the evolution in management science. The management has changed from strategic planning to strategic management that has a holistic view of organizational planning and management. In that respect, the following discussion seeks to demonstrate the strategic management process’ nature, its application, benefits and effects on healthcare organizations. To achieve the objective, the discussion begins with identification of the major components of the process noting their significance. Then, there is an explanation of the effect that an organization’s mission and values have on the process. That ...

Microsoft has propelled a marketing websites enhanced for fresh Windows Vista operating system, which was discharged in the United States retailing stores yesterday. It's a strange site. The scenes, plays & feedback concentrate on how complicated an individual’s surviving has got to be. (billso.com, 2007) By implication, Windows representatives prevail the character trust in a less stressful life. The main supplier of desktop computer applications is Microsoft. Few of the Microsoft's competitive based benefits completely depend upon the ubiquity of the organization's products and services. Each business utilizes MS software. Usually the colleges in the United States create a level based accomplishment on ...

There is always change taking place within the society and in every organization or firm in business. Dexter Dunphy (2011) calls this “a perfect storm of change” (p.6), which is said to be a “global situation of unprecedented urgency” (p.4). This becomes a crisis to the society, not unless the firm acts on its impulse, to take effective action that would successfully solve the issue being confronted. This leads to actions of sustainability for sustainability. It is these sustainable models and framework that will answer to the call of the changing environment, to prevent crisis from taking place in societies within the ...

The process of generating an action plan based on my values, awareness, goal-setting, reflection, and plan for my individual development in the context of my education, career, self- improvement, or relationship stimulates me. I have always been a creative and resilient individual that stays with a plan of action until I achieve my desired objective. My ability to tolerate stress normally makes me very resourceful in solving both challenging and new problems, but I am easily bored by the routine. The process of creating my personal development plan (PDP) started with numerous individual evaluations that helped me recognize who I am ...

The process of generating an action plan based on my values, awareness, goal-setting, reflection, and plan for my individual development in the context of my education, career, self- improvement, or relationship stimulates me. I have always been a creative and resilient individual that stays with a plan of action until I achieve my desired objective. My ability to tolerate stress normally makes me very resourceful in solving both challenging and new problems, but I am easily bored by the routine. The process of creating my personal development plan (PDP) started with numerous individual evaluations that helped me recognize who I am ...

Reflections on Cliffton’s Strengths Finder Assessment

According to the Clifton strengths finders, my signature themes are wooed under the influencing domain, relator and adaptability under the relationship-building domain and strategic and context under the strategic thinking domain (Rath & Conchie, 2008). My strengths are in relationship building and strategic thinking while my weakness is in executing. I have been able to employ my strengths in enhancing the four basic themes of trust, compassion, stability and hope that all followers need (Rath & Conchie, 2008). As a leader with strong relationship building skills, I am able to create teams that can work together successfully. Leaders with relationship building skills ...

Ethics are the values, principles, and beliefs that describe the right and wrong behavior and leadership can defined as the process of inspiring people to achieve goals. Therefore, the ethical leadership can be defined as the process of influencing employees, colleagues, or others through their values, beliefs, and principles that are termed as the right behavior . The organization may face challenges due to ethical issues in budgeting process. Budgeting can be defined as the process in which the company allocates financial resources to different department of the company. Decisions are usually made are based on values and priorities ...

Introduction

Mattel Toy Company was established in 1945 by Elliot Handler and Harold Matson and had its headquarters in El Segundo, California. Mattel Company is a distinguished global leader in the manufacture, design, and marketing of a variety of toy products. The Toy Company’s products are organized into three distinct business groups. Namely: the Mattel boys and girls brands, the Fisher- price brands and the American girl brands. The Mattel boys and girls brand comprises of Barbie dolls and accessories, Polly pocket, Batman, Superman and the hot wheels. In addition, the Fisher-price brand also consists of the little people, power wheels ...

Abstract

In the current world, globalization has led to improved and advanced levels of technology with the aim of diversification and expansion of markets around the world. Business organizations have resulted into new strategies that allow efficient market operations. For instance, implementation of E-business practice in an organization has resulted in a significant effect on performance and production capacity. As a result of internationalization, many business organizations have opted high technology business strategy in improving sales, management, and financial services among others.

Introduction

E-business strategy is an important aspect of a business entity as it has myriad advantages over the traditional business operation strategy. ...

In recent times, the term ‘Work Environment’ has gained tremendous importance where employee job satisfaction is concerned. Version 2 of the PCMM or People Capability Maturity Model says that the purpose of Work Environment is to establish and maintain physical working conditions and to provide resources that allow individuals and workgroups to perform their tasks efficiently without unnecessary distractions . While this definition encompasses the literary meaning of the term Work Environment, it does not entirely cover the psychological and emotional affect that the environment has on an employee. Since most people spend the majority of their waking hours at ...

Discussion Board 2: Strategic Thinking

When I worked for the HSBC there were several strategic issues that I had to address. I might soon find myself working in such a place and I need to apply strategic thinking to ensure I face a smooth start to my career.

Mission

My mission is to excel in a fulfilling business career where I will exercise a high level of professionalism for individual and corporate growth.

Vision

My vision is to become a highly effective business executive within the first six years of my career. The strategic issues I faced at HSBC were:- - What were the most appropriate ways and methods ...

Barry Nalebuff and Avinash Dixit wrote a very accessible and engaging work on Game Theory, which they support as a “Guide to success in business and life“. Game theory is the psychology and mathematics of social interactions in strategic situations. Drawing from their experience and professionalism, these authors sought to ensure that their audiences learn the concepts of their book. Avinash Dixit, an economics professor at Princeton University where he offered his popular freshman course in game theory for many years, and Nalebuff a professor of management and economics at Yale School of management both practiced their preaching. While Dixit is well ...

PTSD War Veterans and Their Families

PTSD War Veterans and Their Families

Introduction

On January 2nd, 2013, an elderly war veteran in Las Vegas was charged with two murders after he allegedly killed two women with more than 20 blows to their heads with a hammer. His ex-wife reported that he had alcohol and drug abuse issues, and during their marriage, he would often beat her or attempt suicide. According to his medical diagnosis, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This type of scenario is common among war veterans with PTSD because they will more likely engage in domestic violence than war veterans ...

Question 1

Strategic thinking is referred to as an art because it does not involve outmode standards in its implementation and practice in executing business plans and strategies aimed at achieving tremendous business results. Strategic thinking is an art because it is something routine for a business leader but differs from one individual to another since a strategic thought working well for one manager will not guarantee success for another. Though Freeman presented a five step model for getting strategic thinking work, strategic thinking is unlike science which will base its decisions on research finding and analysis. However, as an art strategic thinking ...

- In order to identify the solution to this scenario, various issues must be explored and discussed. A systems perspective is required - this requires the ability to see the big picture, and creation of values through an understanding of the role the thinker plays in the process (Liedtka 1998, p. 31).Ethical: Ethical issues are the most important, as it is absolutely vital above all else to maintain proper business ethics. To do otherwise would be to disenfranchise others for one’s own sake, and to lose credibility in the marketplace. In this particular scenario, the main ethical ...

Often described by the media and some political pundits as an unnecessary war, the Vietnam War is one of the historical events that have received both criticism and admiration with an equal measure. Nevertheless, there are many political and military lessons to be learnt. One of the most important lessons learned from the Vietnam War is that we should always have an end goal. The reason why the war was unnecessarily prolonged for such a long duration is because there was no exit strategy. According to Hunt Jr. (2004), the US military went to the Republic of Vietnam with ...

The Ideas and Beliefs of Recent times

Organizational Leadership: the Ideas and Beliefs of Recent times According to general view, leadership is the behavior or trait of a leader who leads a people, a group of people or even an organization. On the other hand, some people think that leadership is the best and only way to improve their social, professional and personal life . 1 Different archetypes of leadership

There are five archetypes of leadership . They are-

- Aversive Leadership- The major type of leader impact followed by most of the leaders is through making use of unsympathetic and apathetic means such as abuse, scolding, and coercion. Aversive leadership mostly gives emphasis on their subordinates’ ...

There is a considerable need for strategic thinking in Saudi Arabia as regards leverage of the country’s oil advantage as well as minimizing its long term reliance on oil. In particular, the country’s oil makes up 45% of gross domestic product. The country has oil reserves of 260 million barrels. 75% of the country’s revenue is derived from its oil industry. There are weaknesses and strengths that have direct impact on how the country increases per capita income. Better performance can only be actualized through strategic thinking.

Vision

Mission The country’s mission is to nurture and ...

There is a significant need for strategic thinking in the company where I work. In particular, the company currently reported a net profit margin of 5%. However, the company made a loss of 2% during the first three quarters of the current accounting period. The company is doing extremely well but there are three competitors who provide goods and services at lower prices. It has weaknesses and strengths that have direct impact on its profitability in the industry. Better performance can only be actualized through strategic thinking.

Vision

The company’s vision is to always employ its experience and competency in coming up ...

Critical Thinking and Conflict Resolution

The importance of Strategic Thinking in the workplace is well documented and evidences of it helping an organization to grow and remain competitive and profitable are innumerable. The place where the strategic thinking can help most is in conflict resolution. Conflict between coworkers, between the management and employees and even between partners in a business are very common in our world. There are enormous social and economic costs associated with non resolution or ignoring of a conflict. A very recent event of friction had developed in our company between two employees, A and B, in our company. Both the individuals ...

My professional career has the most immediate need of strategic thinking. As any other individual, I have strengths and weaknesses that directly influence my effectiveness at work. I was not very effective in my previous workplace (Arab National Bank in K.S.A), and believe that this can be improved through strategic thinking.

Vision

My vision is to be very effective professionally and enjoy the vast benefits throughout my career, such as getting better companies, winning important clients, earning the respect of my bosses and colleagues, and climbing the corporate ladder.

Mission

My mission is to develop my career and be very effective ...

Advertising

Advertising is a public relations’ function through which practitioners place information, commercial messages in media, for reaching their audience. The company that places the message (or the public relations agency that places the information for its client) purchases advertising space and time in specific types of media, identified as relevant for the targeted audience, meaning that the targeted audience is exposed to the specific media in which the messages are placed. Hence, this is a controlled manner for distributing a message to the audience, as the sponsor directly inserts the add in the chosen media.

The movie “Thank You for Smoking” includes ...

Success is the ability to obtain a desired object. It can also refer to the ability to accomplish what is intended or attempted. “Success is measured in terms of performance and compared with an individual’s desires” (Andersen 2). To determine success, there must be set targets or goals before a task is undertaken. On completion, the performance achieved is compared to the goals and success is determined. Managers are obligated to supervise, lead, motivate and mentor others in an organization. The ability of a manager to perform all these tasks effectively makes a big difference as far as success is concerned. However, ...

Abstract

The paper intends to present a detailed evaluation of traditional strategic thinking models and extended strategic thinking models. The paper also presents a comparative analysis of both models and further discusses how Fluor is using strategic thinking models and developing strategic advantages over its competitors. Strategic or competitive advantages help Fluor in differentiating its products and services from the competitors in same industry. The paper will provide detailed description of use of extended strategic thinking models to fully utilize resources and assets.

Fluor Conventional Strategic Planning and Strategic Intent Thinking

Thesis Statement: this paper discusses analyzing limitations associated with traditional strategic thinking models and also provides detailed comparison and ...

Abstract

This paper intends to focus on analyzing Fluor strategic planning and strategic intent thinking. A detailed comparison and evaluation of conventional strategic planning and strategic intent thinking is being conducted in the paper. The paper further discusses how Fluor is using strategic planning and strategic thinking to achieve growth and profitability. Strategic planning and strategic thinking both are important for any organization. The paper will provide detailed description of use of strategic planning and strategic thinking to achieve maximum growth.

Fluor Conventional Strategic Planning and Strategic Intent Thinking

Thesis Statement: the paper is intended to present a comprehensive comparison and evaluation of strategic planning and strategic intent thinking. ...

Strategic thought is vital to the success or failure of a business. Different practices work better for different entities - whether it is the individual worker, a manager, the firm as a whole, or a state entity. The ability to make strategic decisions between entities is just as important, as geopolitical and interfirm strategies must be in sync in order to create harmonious business and political practice. In this assessment, we will examine the different ways in which groups require their own strategy relative to their context or size.

The most important thing to consider is the concept of strategic management, which involves ...

Abstract

The main idea of the current paper is not to reject reasons why Bin Laden arranged the attacks but to describe what drove him to carry out and plan the events leading to 9/11. In other words, his motives and political situation in the Middle East are analyzed in the framework of strategic thinking and long-term implications on jihad and radical Muslim movement in general. The structure of the paper consists of outlining and description of each of the reasons Bin Laden had suggested himself and their fitting into general strategy of jihad. Then strategy of jihad and meaning ...