Provides a discussion response to the postings below (2)

Reagan Loria

Apr 9, 2023 at 6:25 PM

Class,

I chose to review ôrategy execution in public sectors: empirical evidence from Belgium(Sasidhar, 2020) for this discussion. This article tackles the issue of strategy implementation, particularly within the public sector, which as the article points out, is lacking in research compared to the private sector. While strategy implementation is a difficult task, 82 percent of strategy failures are preventable (Forbes Insights, 2009).

The article points out several factors that lead to successful strategy implementation. The first is leadership to provide vision and direction. Second is strategy planning to incorporate flexibility and measurability. The article emphasizes the importance of measurability within the public sector, ost public organizations fail to fully execute their strategic plans because they do not measure the extent to which strategic goals have been achieved, and thus, do not know, which areas need improvement,(Sasidhar, 2020).

I found that the articleàpoint on leadership tied in well with the text on corporate culture (Thompson et al., 2021, pg. 348). After all, an executive in a company is the leader of the culture. Whatever ethics and role the leader models surely has an impact on the employees, and thus, the corporate culture. Beyond modeling the behavior a leader may want emulated, rewarding positive behaviors and actions while not tolerating negatives helps create this culture to allow for strategy implementation (Thompson et al., 2021, pg. 350).

Using Belgium data, the authors developed the MERIL-DE model (measure, evaluate, report, improve, learn – driving and engagement) which breaks down these functions of leadership and strategy planning for successful strategy implementation. (is research indicates that public sector organizations must build the capacity of continuous learning and institutionalize organizational learning to expand capacity for creating the right future,(Sasidhar, 2020).

In conclusion, this article suggested public sector companies learn from the private sector in strategy implementation, particularly its measurement and benchmarking strategies, though it admits that public and private sectors do not have the best working relationship (Sasidhar, 2020).

Reagan

References

Forbes Insights (2009), (e powerful convergence of strategy, leadership, and communications, FD corporate communications available at: http://www.forbes.com/forbesinsights/FDStrategy/in… (accessed June 2009).

Sasidhar, R. B., Seong-Young, K., & Xiong, J. (2020). Strategy execution in public sectors: empirical evidence from Belgium.The Journal of Business Strategy, 41(6), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBS-01-2019-0025

Thompson, A., Peteraf, M., Gamble, J., & Strickland, A. (2021). Ise Crafting & executing strategy: The Quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (23rd ed.). McGraw-Hill. pp. C-173 to C-171

Evyllana Harden

Apr 10, 2023 at 9:25 PM

Hello Class,

Wishing everyone a happy graduation! ??

Week 6 Discussion – Organisational Politics: The Missing Discipline of Management?

Political behaviors within organizations can have such an impact that a leaderàability to navigate the political mine field enables the survival of change implementation. In a study of surveyed results conducted on senior leadership driving change implementation, 95% of the leaders expressed that their ability to manage the political dimension of change efforts were central to their job functions. Additionally, understanding the motives of stakeholders and decision makers was viewed as highly valuable in the ability to maneuver initiatives and influence decisions. However, in nearly half the cases, formal optional power overtook logical reasoning or argument. It makes sense that if the organizationàbest interest is outshined by departmental units or individuals operating within their own interests and political maneuvering (Thompson et al., 2021, p. 364), leaders may need to equip themselves with the ability to defend organizational goals and progress by learning powers of influence or building allies (Butcher & Clarke, 1999). Additionally, traits of transparent and honest communication were shown to provide deceitful counterparts the upper hand in manipulating outcomes. Proper training supports the ability for leaders to maintain ethical behaviors while influencing outcomes. This is important for positive leaders working to improve organizations set the cultural tone by leading by example within ethical standards while driving changes to culture (Thompson et al., 2021, p. 354).

I agree with this article whole heartedly. Currently, I am redesigning policy governance for a global organization of 250k employees. I work with the top 3 tiers of leadership, all of which have varying motives. Understanding the motives in the room is critical for me to be able to present communications in a digestible way and impact change. Last Friday I took on a dispute between 4 top executives that had been on-going for 8 months prior to my arrival. Understanding each argument enabled me to resolve the dispute in one conversation and save the deadlines on several projects. The outcome of one critical conversation can impact deadlines by months and sometimes even years when dealing with large, complex organizations. I have experienced this firsthand. Words are keys and can open all the right doors if utilized properly and shut you out otherwise. Personally, I believe it is important to maneuver individual to work within the best interest of each other and the organization. Politics may often have a negative connotation but does not have to be corrupt.

In a study of employee perception of politics within the organization, some viewed them to be destructive, manipulative, central to decision-making, a necessary evil or strategically useful (Landells & Simon, 2017). Although ideas and perceptions vary on organizational politics, in the end influence is simply a tool to be wielded. A knife may be used to hurt or eat your food and the intent lies behind the user. I believe politics in and of themselves are amoral, but how they are utilized makes all the difference. I also believe the perception of their used much depends on those perceiving it and its impact on them. Those that do not perceive the changes caused by political agendas to be in their behavior will, at best, resist the change, at worst, resort to deviant behaviors to avoid the, survive them, or advance within the environment (Crawford et al., 2019).

References

Butcher, D., & Clarke, M. (1999). Organisational politics: the missing discipline of management? Industrial and Commercial Training, 31(1), 9-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197859910253100

Crawford, W., Lamarre, E., Kacmar, K., & Harris, K. (2019). Organizational Politics and Deviance: Exploring the Role of Political Skill. Human Performance, 32(2), 92-106.

Landells, E., & Albrecht, S. (2017). The Positives and Negatives of Organizational Politics. Journal of Business and Psychology, 32(1), 41-58.

Thompson, A., Peteraf, M., Gamble, J., & Strickland, A. (2021). Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases (23rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781264250165