Strategic Analysis Introduction

Strategic Analysis

Strategic analysis is a critical component of the strategic planning process.  An integral part of a company’s evaluation and control program, it provides managers with a comprehensive assessment of the organization’s capabilities and market factors; revealing growth opportunities and vulnerabilities.  Armed with this information, managers can more effectively choose from among today’s strategic alternatives to create the greatest future reward potential.

Strategic analysis combines in-depth information from a number of internal and external sources to create a picture of the subject company’s current health and future viability.  A multi-phased approach to data acquisition and analysis includes:

  • Strategic Posture and Performance Analysis
  • Internal Capabilities Assessment
  • External Environment Assessment
  • Analysis of Strategic Factors
  • Strategic Alternatives and Recommended Actions

Execution of these iterative processes takes place throughout the year with a frequency dictated by the pace of both internal and external environmental change.

Posts in this category are dedicated to discussing the leading practices of companies that successfully execute strategic analysis processes to support the ongoing strategic planning process.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding strategic analysis can be found in the StrategyDriven whitepaper series Strategic Planning. Whitepapers are available to Registered Members and registration is FREE! If you have not already registered, please do so and join the conversation.

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StrategyDriven Podcast Episode 20 - Identify the Hidden Drivers, part 1 of 3

Strategic Analysis, StrategyDriven Podcast

StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve better results. These podcasts elaborate on the best practice and warning flag posts on the StrategyDriven website.

Episode 20 - Identify the Hidden Drivers, part 1 of 3 elaborates on Strategic Analysis Best Practice 3 - Identify the Hidden Drivers and Strategic Analysis Best Practice 3 - Identify the Hidden Drivers (Continued). This discussion…

  • identifies what hidden performance drivers are
  • examines the often unintended impact of hidden drivers on an organization
  • explores examples of documented hidden drivers

Final Request…

The strength of our community grows with the additional insights brought by our expanding member base. Please consider voting for us on Podcast Alley by clicking here. Casting your vote for the StrategyDriven Podcast improves our ranking and helps us attract new listeners which, in turn, helps us grow our community.

Thank you again for listening to the StrategyDriven Podcast !


Nathan A. Ives is a Strategy & Operations Manager at Deloitte Consulting LLP, a StrategyDriven contributor, and co-Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over fifteen years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at numerous Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.

Lucas D. Ives is a training consultant at Verizon Wireless, a StrategyDriven contributor, and guest co-Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. A dynamic facilitator, he excels at creating and delivering captivating training focused on the business professional. To read Lucas’s complete biography, click here.

 
icon for podpress  SD020 - Identify the Hidden Drivers, part 1 of 3 [25:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (136)

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StrategyDriven Podcast Episode 19 - Validate the Extremes

Strategic Analysis, StrategyDriven Podcast

StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve better results. These podcasts elaborate on the best practice and warning flag posts on the StrategyDriven website.

Episode 19 - Validate the Extremes elaborates on Strategic Analysis Best Practice 8 - Validate the Extremes. This discussion…

  • examines why and under what circumstances models generate less than accurate results
  • provides an example illustrating the kind of model output which could lead decision-makers to take inappropriate action
  • recommends questions analysts should ask to prevent being misled by erroneous model output

Final Request…

The strength in our community grows with the additional insights brought by our expanding member base. Please consider voting for us on Podcast Alley by clicking here. Casting your vote for the StrategyDriven Podcast improves our ranking and helps us attract new listeners which, in turn, helps us grow our community.

Thank you again for listening to the StrategyDriven Podcast !


Nathan A. Ives is a Strategy & Operations Manager at Deloitte Consulting LLP, a StrategyDriven contributor, and co-Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over fifteen years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at numerous Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.

Karen K. Juliano is StrategyDriven ’s Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications and Marketing. Prior to joining the StrategyDriven team, she helped produce weekly programming for a Public Access Television station and served as a production assistant in the public affairs office at United States Naval Base, Philadelphia. To read Karen’s complete biography, click here.

 
icon for podpress  SD019 - Validate the Extremes [15:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (430)

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Strategic Analysis Best Practice 8 - Validate the Extremes

Strategic Analysis

Performance studies of today’s intricate, technology-driven organizations and the fast paced business environments in which they operate yield unprecedented amounts of data. Analysts often employ complex algorithms and visual models to synthesize and process this data into meaningful information organization leaders use to formulate their company’s direction.

Mathematical modeling, however, can sometimes provide analysts with misleading information. Because they seek to characterize performance while accounting for a broad range of unique circumstances, models and other forms of statistical analysis often assume a normal results distribution and subsequently rely on average values. This reliance on averages, in turn, may mute an impactful occurrence at the extreme of the performance range. Thus, it becomes important for analysts to validate performance extremes.

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StrategyDriven Podcast Episode 18 - Diverse Models

Strategic Analysis, StrategyDriven Podcast

StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve better results. These podcasts elaborate on the best practice and warning flag posts on the StrategyDriven website.

Episode 18 - Diverse Models elaborates on Strategic Analysis Best Practice 7 - Diverse Models. This discussion…

  • identifies why a diverse set of models should be employed during performance of a strategic analysis
  • describes the steps used to select the appropriate models for an evaluation
  • explores the risks of using models and what to do if a situation arises where an appropriate model is not available to support the evaluation

Final Request…

The strength in our community grows with the additional insights brought by our expanding member base. Please consider voting for us on Podcast Alley by clicking here. Casting your vote for the StrategyDriven Podcast improves our ranking and helps us attract new listeners which, in turn, helps us grow our community.

Thank you again for listening to the StrategyDriven Podcast !


Howard T. Dickens Jr. is Vice President of P Enterprises and co-Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. A dynamic public speaker, facilitator, and training consultant, he has shared his insights with hundreds of executives and managers at all organizational levels; helping them develop motivational leadership behaviors, cultural competence, and the ability to manage workplace conflict. To read Howard’s complete biography, click here.

Nathan A. Ives is a Strategy & Operations Manager at Deloitte Consulting LLP, a StrategyDriven contributor, and co-Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over fifteen years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at numerous Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.

 
icon for podpress  SD018 - Diverse Models [29:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (644)

Popularity: 85% [?]

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