Strategy takes place in systems within systems
The following frameworks are ”must” when it comes to corporate strategy and positioning.
1) Systems Overview
Corporate Strategy takes place in connected systems within systems. And every part moves (!)
2) The difference between a traditional hierarchical management vs a system thinking approach
Systems thinking is really helpful to tackle both strategy formulation and implementation. It acknowledges that not only do we need to get many things consistently right to thrive, we are also depended on the loyalty and goodwill of stakeholders like clients, suppliers, employees and regulators. As such-strategy is often (implicitly or explicitly) co-created with the stakeholders we depend on most.
My experience is that while a robust strategy formulation process is a competitive advantage, it needs to be embedded in an understanding that organisational resiliency and the ability to adapt quickly are more important qualities than unwavering target orientation.
The two categories below coexist in various forms of purity and mix. This being said, I lean towards the systems thinking approach.
3) Key market positioning frameworks
Michael Porter has given us to “immortal” positioning frameworks that help pragmatically to define the place and ambition of the firm in the market place. I use the two below again and again.
Five Forces Model: The market place and key actors
Competitive Positioning Matrix: We “can’t be all things to all people”
