This Assignment Is For Aroka This Is A Continuation Of The Previous W
This assignment is for Aroka! This is a continuation of the previous weeks assignments so please make sure that it stays consistent. You do not need a cover page.
Learning Activity #1:
The best strategies often fail not because they weren't good strategies, but because they weren't implemented properly. One of the most important aspects of implementing a good strategy is ensuring that the organization is designed in a way that will properly support the plan. In Week # 4 you identified a generic strategic direction for a selected organization: in Week # 5 you narrowed down that strategic direction and identified possible alternative strategies and then narrowed those alternatives down to ONE specific strategy to implement for either Southwest Airline or Subway.
Using that specific strategy, identify what type of organizational design would best support that strategy. Provide a high-level overview of the organizational design be sure to fully explain the design and why it was selected to support the strategic direction and, more importantly, the specific strategy to be implemented. Offer supporting rationale for your explanation and be sure to reference your statements using proper APA formatting.
Learning Activity #2:
Vince Lombardi was quoted as saying "The best game plan in the world never blocked or tackled anybody"; strategists often believe their work is done once they've identified the right strategy to be implemented, but in reality, the strategy implementation phase is often far more difficult than the strategy formulation phase.
In addition to organization design, there are several other factors that can cause a good strategy to fail: management, operations, marketing, finance, R&D, and MIS issues. Review your response to Learning Activity # 1 and determine which ONE of these additional factors could cause that specific strategy to fail. Clearly identify the factor, explain why it could cause the strategy to fail. As always, please support and justify your answer using APA formatted references.
Paper For Above instruction
Strategic implementation is a critical phase in the strategic management process that determines whether a chosen strategy will succeed or fail within an organization. An essential component of successful
implementation is designing the organization in a way that aligns with the strategic objectives. In this paper, I will focus on a specific strategy for Subway, which is to expand its healthier menu options to capture a broader health-conscious customer base. I will analyze the organizational design best suited to support this strategy and explore a significant factor that could hinder its success.
Organizational Design Supporting Subway’s Strategy
To effectively support Subway’s strategy of expanding its healthier menu options, a divisional organizational structure would be most appropriate. This design segments the organization based on product lines or geographical regions, facilitating focused management and innovation among different divisions. In Subway’s case, establishing a dedicated health-focused product division would allow specialized teams to develop, promote, and refine healthier foods tailored to specific customer preferences and regional tastes.
This divisional approach enables Subway to create a more agile and responsive environment where the health-centric initiative is prioritized, ensuring that marketing, R&D, and supply chain functions work cohesively towards this goal. The division would operate semi-autonomously, with its own management team responsible for executing the strategy, while remaining aligned with Subway’s overall corporate objectives.
The rationale for selecting a divisional structure stems from its capacity to enhance focus, accountability, and responsiveness. It allows for dedicated resources, faster decision-making, and targeted innovation, all crucial for successfully expanding and marketing healthier menu options. Furthermore, this design supports the strategic emphasis on health-conscious offerings by providing clear accountability pathways and tailored strategies within each division, thereby improving execution capability (Daft, 2018).
Additional Factor That Could Cause Strategy Failure: Management
While the organizational structure provides the backbone for strategy implementation, management quality is a pivotal factor that can make or break this effort. In particular, leadership’s commitment to the strategy and their ability to manage change are critical. Poor management could derail the initiative due to misalignment in vision, ineffective communication, or resistance to change within the organization.
For instance, if senior management fails to adequately support or promote the health-driven initiative, middle managers and frontline employees might lack motivation or clarity, leading to inconsistent
implementation across franchises. Resistance from management teams accustomed to traditional menus could also hinder the integration of healthier options. Effective leadership is essential to motivate employees, allocate resources effectively, and foster a culture receptive to change (Kotter, 2012).
Inadequate management practices could lead to strategic drift, where the initiative’s purpose becomes diluted or misaligned with daily operations, ultimately causing the strategy to fail. Therefore, continuous leadership development, clear communication, and fostering a shared vision are necessary to mitigate this risk and ensure the strategy’s success (Hitt, Ireland, & Hoskisson, 2017).
Conclusion
In conclusion, aligning organizational design with strategic goals is vital for effective implementation. A divisional structure focused on health-conscious product lines best supports Subway’s strategy to promote healthier menu options. However, even the best organizational design can fall short if management does not fully support and lead the initiative. Strong leadership commitment, effective communication, and change management are crucial in overcoming potential pitfalls and ensuring strategic success.
References
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Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2017).
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Management
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