fauschanatorblog

Pit-Falls in Implementing Organizational Strategy

2011-04-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

Having high-level strategies is very important to any organization. It is also very important to properly implement and disseminate this strategy throughout the organization. However many executives and organizations can run into many barriers and pit-falls with this implementation of the strategy. Let’s look at a few common pit-falls and some potential solution to properly fight back and overcome these obstacles.

One common pit-fall that leaders can run into when implementing high level strategies is that not all executives or managers agree with the strategy and may actively go about sabotaging the strategy. For what ever reason some executive may feel that the strategy is flawed or that they were not properly consulted concerning the creating of the strategy. It is very important that everyone be on board for these large encompassing strategies. A way to begin to combat this problem is to bring every one of the execs in and ask them to participate. Ask them questions such as “what are our company’s objectives and aspirations?” Or “What are our market threats and opportunities? (Beer & Eisenstat, 2004, pg 1).” With their input one can be sure that these execs are active participants in the company’s strategy. It must also be made clear that it is intended for the strategy to be carried out by them and enforced by them.

How often have rank and file employees made comments such as “Why are we doing this?” Or “Why are opening an office there?” This brings us to our next common obstacle implementing large strategies; Improper or poor communication of these grand strategies. Many companies have overall “Need to Know” policies at work, or a desire to keep strategic information private and away from the media in order to keep secrets to their competitors, or many execs and managers simply may feel their underlings have no desire to know complicated or intricacies of business management. This is a bad path to take. Everyone must be on board for a company wide strategy to take effect. The upper management must use multiple resources to communicate this information to the overall organization. They should use company wide e-mails, have multiple meetings where employees not only hear the “C” level executives speak but also lower level managers and also their direct supervisors. Hearing the strategy from multiple sources will indicate its importance and also increase the likely hood that the information will be understood. The management team should also utilize the HR department so they can devise a proper channel of communication for questions to be asked and answered.

Another obstacle many organizations can run into is management not practicing what they preach. If a strategy is being implemented it is very important that the CEO not just give lip service to the strategy. For instance if the CEO preaches that product quality is a grand strategy moving forward, through designs and materials used line workers and engineers will know very quickly if this strategy is true. Once again the proper solution to this strategy is to follow through with what was said. The CEO should make sure that he or she understands his company’s competitive advantages before implementing a strategy. If the CEO does not properly understand that price advantage is their advantage in the market place then upgrading materials and design processes at the expense of cost and they have to drastically cut back on them later then workers will find themselves not believing in the strategy overall.

Overall it is important for companies to implement overall grand strategies to properly motivate and give their organizations focus. They face many potential pit-falls and obstacles when trying to follow through with strategies. However by following proper procedures and taking proper care the CEO can alleviate and reduce the headache these pit-falls can bring. Through proper communication, getting all executives on board, and honest follow through CEO’s can successfully implement large scale corporate strategy.

Beer, M. & Eisenstat, R. (2004). How to Have an Honest Conversation about Your Business Strategy. Harvard Business Review. pg 1-11.

The Fake Run

2009-06-04T14:22:00.001-07:00

What is the fake run? It when you are crossing the street and so you kind do this fake jog thing so the guy that is slowing down thinks you are going fast but really you are going half as fast as if you just walked with your normal full stride.

Don't do the Fake Run I already know you are slow.

Old Fashioned Hobbies

2009-04-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

Many of us come into work every day and sit in front of the computer. We also go home and maybe play video games or watch a DVD or the DVR. We probably cook our supper in the microwave and read or study about new and modern techniques in our respective career paths. We are a very modern and high technology society. Often times we don’t know what goes into the food we eat or the clothes we wear or the furniture we use.
Today I am going to convince you to start a hobby that is “Old Fashioned.” What is an Old Fashioned hobby? It is a hobby that requires us to study or perform a skill that lets us create a product that we could very easily could buy but in our past our ancestors would have had to build or create the object. In some instances they may be called a Craft Hobby. They are hobbies such as quilting or sewing or woodworking or maybe even coin collecting. There are many hobbies that you could use to bring you closer to history’s past. I am going to speak from mostly a woodworking perspective but you could adapt my opinions to your very own hobby.
One reason to pick up such a hobby is the personal satisfaction of creating something out of raw materials, to take a raw piece of wood and follow a plan or idea to the completion of a piece that can be used practically or as a piece of art can be a very rewarding experience. Along with this is the fact that it can be quick to learn some basic skills that can be used to make some nice pieces but there is always a new skill or technique to learn. You can always be challenging yourself. For instance wood working has woodcarving, carpentry or even furniture and toy making.
Many of these hobbies can be used to save money. Now it may be true that many mass produced furniture or blankets would be cheaper because they are made from cheaper materials and machines. As a woodworker however you can make solid wood pieces and save potentially many hundreds of dollars over store bought handmade solid wood furniture.
Another reason to take up such a hobby is you produce pieces and skills that can be passed on. I have ducks from my grandfather that I can pass on to my children and grandchildren. Many people enjoy hand made goods and appreciate the amount of work and time that goes into them. Not only do you have pieces to pass on but you also have a skill that can be taught or shared with children or even to others in the community if you teach a class or workshop.
Finally many of the tasks used in such pursuits can be very relaxing, watching TV or playing video games or going to the mall can be a very nerve racking or hectic experience the news can always be loud and frustrating. You can use these hobbies to be by yourself or have quiet discussions and conversation with family and friends and really unwind from other stresses in life.
In Today’s fast pace high technology world I think it’s important to remember how we did things in a different era. A hobby is certainly a way to connect you to that era. I encourage you to find a hobby or activity that can help you unwind by connecting with the past.

2009-04-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

A short note to President Obama!

Dear President Obama:

Thank you for helping my neighbors with their mortgage payments. You
know - the ones down the street who in the good times refinanced their house
several times and bought SUV's, ATV's, RV"s, a pool, a big screen, two Wave
Runners and a Harley. But I was wondering, since I am paying my mortgage and
theirs, could you arrange for me to borrow the Harley now and then?

Richard Ford
Queen Creek, AZ

P.S. They also need help with their credit cards, when do you want me
to start making those payments?

P.P.S. I almost forgot - they didn't file their income tax return
this year.

Should I go ahead and file for them or will you be appointing them to
cabinet posts?

Boo 2

2009-03-27T11:57:00.001-07:00

Credit Default Swaps became largely exempt from regulation by the SEC and the CFTC with the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, which was also responsible for the Enron loophole. President Clinton signed the bill into Public Law (106-554) on December 21, 2000.

Boo.

2009-03-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

It is bad to see people walk from the restroom after witnessing them not washing their hand then entering the break room and grabbing ice out of the freezer for their water bottle. -- shiver --

Kiosk Sales People

2009-03-06T06:32:00.000-08:00

Attention kiosk workers, No I don't want to try your lotion, No I don't want to learn about T-mobile, no I don't want slippers that look like gigantic sneakers. Really tone down the aggressiveness, I'm just at the mall to walk around and pick up a few things at real stores.

Why?

2009-03-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Why is it that sometimes you know something is going to happen and be a "I told you so" moment almost everyone around can see it coming you really hope it won't happen but yet it does, and yet some people still act surprised.

Snow

2009-02-27T08:47:00.001-08:00

So I love snow, I like to snowmobile and be outside in the snow, but come on people why does it have to affect traffic so much. If you don't leave two hours early you are DOA on ever getting home.

Plus it drifts so much after you already do your sidewalk and driveway. Guess I need a better tree wall to the side of my yard.

No We don't

2009-02-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

Income Replacement

2009-02-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

So I am a big believer in saving money for retirment, I don't think Scocial Security will be there for me when I am at that age. But I don't really just want to save up my money and hope the investments stay good the whole time I am retired.

I need to find a way for my money to work for me. I need investments that actually make money, for many people this is a business, like a mechanic, or doctor or something, they basically build up a business their whole life, the when they retire they sell it off to a partner over the course of many years. That would be all great and stuff but Don't know if I have any skills or abilities that people would pay for.

Another is owning apartments or something. Those are great but I don't want to have to deal with broken stuff that you have to fix all the time. I think my best bet is Farm land or simmilar.

Who knows, I know the key to saving is more than just money it is income replacement. Savings is subjet to inflation and market pitfalls.

Another one who does not pay taxes

2009-02-05T14:23:00.001-08:00

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/02/05/solis_senate_session_canceled.html

Down goes Dashel

2009-02-03T12:31:00.000-08:00

So far Three of Obama's cabinet picks has severe tax issues. Interesting from a party that claims high taxes as being patriotic.

Please Clean Up After Yourself

2009-01-30T10:33:00.001-08:00

Dude when you use the microwave in the lunchroom it is a space used by everyone so please when your lunch spills or boils over graba paper towel and wipe it out.

Thanks.

History

2009-01-27T05:47:00.000-08:00

A couple days ago I got a 1946 wheat penny as change at a check out counter. That is a pretty old coin. I got a quarter from the 60's a few months ago and was pretty excited about that. Imagine where this penny has been over the coarse of its life. Maybe we should install little memory chips in our money just to record what all happens in its travels. Money is a dieing form a transactions anyway so it probably would become less and less interesting as time goes on. Oh well this penny goes into the collection to be passed on to hopefully many generations of my family to imagine and dream about times past.

Cursive

2009-01-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

It is good to see many schools finial realizing the waste of time cursive is. Don’t get me wrong I think learning to write is very important but just teach one way, I never understood the reason behind it. Before many even get the hang at writing properly one way they all of a sudden teach children an entirely different way. This seems to be a very demoralizing way to teach children. Pick one way and teach it and be done with it.

Predictions

2009-01-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

I predict Obama will end up making the left angrier than the right. Particularly if he wants a second term.

He will have to deal with Iran, and that could in all probability involve bombardment of their nuclear installations. This will Anger the Hippies.

He will also have to deal with Social Security and that will involve a reduction in benefits, or an increase in age, or some sort of privatization of portions of it. This will anger the AARP.

He is also going to have to deal with the Car makers and that will mean dealing with the unions. All car makers are having difficulties right now but the foreign makers who build cars in the US do it with out Union labor. This will be an issue that will need to be addressed. This will anger the unions.

Question

2009-01-20T05:57:00.000-08:00

Why is it not OK for me to Blow Snow onto the street but perfectly OK for the city to blow snow onto my Sidewalk, after I've already cleared it?

I really need to move to the middle of nowhere where a raccoon is all thay stresses me out.

Hope

2009-01-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk about hope and change right now, what seems odd to me is many people I hear talking about hope and change have a very good life right now, I wonder what they want changed in their life?

I am willing to give the new president the benefit of the doubt but I am nervous domestically about taxes and gun control and about his foreign policy changes, I don't think he wants a weak America so I have always supported what a president does in foreign policy I may not always think they are being aggressive enough but the president deserves a united populace in these endevours.

Domestically we drastically need a shift back to encouraging the productive members of society. Working people need to be encouraged to work hard and save for when times are hard.

Many think that Being a Free-marketer or a Capitalist means that one absolutely trusts capitalist, that is not what it means often times the capitalist is corrupt, but if you have a free-market you have a multitude of people to choose services from many of whom have their own interests at heart but if they have compitition they have at least motivation to provide you back with your desired service that is better than their other compitition.

The more we regulate industries the less and less corrupt people we have to choose from.

Trust Capitalism but don't blindly trust the capitalist.

Wasted Post

2009-01-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

No update for a few days, and nothing much to say. Just that its still cold and that seems to make people unable to drive. Weird. Its MN people it gets cold sometimes you don't need to drive 20mph under the posted.

Enjoying Global Warming

2009-01-13T13:17:00.001-08:00

I am really enjoying this global warming we are experiencing right now, My tires may freeze with a flat spot.

Standing up for herself.

2009-01-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

Friday when I picked Ellie upat daycare, One of the other kids walked to the bottom of the stairs and said "Ellie Daddy", then Ellie walked over and started climbing the stairs and the other kid kept yelling Daddy! Daddy!. Ellie Stopped turned around and yelled at the kid No Daddy, No Daddy! With her palm open to him, till he stopped yelling then turned around and kept coming upstairs. It was kinda neat to see her stand up for herself.

Awards Show Presenters

2009-01-12T05:42:00.000-08:00

I don't know if the jokes just aren't funny or if it the presenter's just bad timing but they need to can the jokes and just get on with the show because no one is laughing.

Punish the Successful

2009-01-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

When did we start to value the opinions of those who gained their success through luck, their inherited Genius, or through their smile and cheekbones, as opposed to those who earn their success through sweat of their brow, the strain of their back, or their acquired and learned knowledge?

In fact we are even beginning to distrust these people and seek to punish and redistribute their success.

Patience and hard work are not something to be distrusted, in fact it should be studied and relished.

Instead of listening to those with the most bling, we should be listening to those who seem to want the least.

Ben Button

2009-01-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

Saw this movie recently, Pretty good movie by the way. I liked about all of it but I don't think he would have abandonded his child like he had been abandonded, That part seemed to be totally opposite of every other lesson in the movie.

Also it seemed like his motorcycle changed between scenes, I think it went from a red Indian to a blue BSA. Odd.

Huh?

2009-01-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

What is up with people who walk in parking lots with their heads facing down?

Sometimes I don't know how some people actually make it to old age.

What is up with CSI Miami?

2009-01-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

Does any one else notice that David Caruso always stands sideways when he is talking to people?

That Annoys me. Otherwise its a good show for unintentional commedy.

I find it funny that everyone is an expert at everything.

They all drive H2's around, with sweet data centers inside.

In Miami all criminals masterminds who conduct very creative crimes.

Everyone in the police department is cool, calm, and collected, excet the Dr. Phill looking guy.

First Post

2009-01-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Here is my first post. Not sure where this blogging will go, but we will try to have some meaningful post but probably mostly random thoughts.