Page 74 - PRAGMATIC STRATEGY

Objectives

On completion of this chapter you should be able

to:

• Assess the advantages and weaknesses of formal strategic

planning.

• Understand incrementalism, emergent strategies and strategic

drift.

• Understand the influences of cultural and political processes on

strategic development.

2.1 Introduction

Not all strategies are planned and implemented under a formal

structure or process rather many are developed or evolve as time goes

on. ln many organisations, strategic decisions are made on an "as-

needed" basis and not under a formal structure or part of a formal

strategy. Whilst both a formal and informal decision making process

will work for an organisation, one of the ways must be better and will

produce the best results to gain the organisation a competitive

advantage.

The decision-making process may be seen in terms of a

‘prescriptive/normative’ process of ‘what ought to happen’ (based on