Strategy, organization & transformation

Strategy, organization & transformation

Formulating, planning and executing the major business and organizational transformations that drive company value and competitiveness.

YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in this pathway focus on designing and implementing business and organizational strategy either from within a company or via roles in general or specialized consulting firms.

There are diverse job opportunities to consider—from strategic market analysis and forging the overall vision and strategy for a company or business unit to diving into managing the transformation projects that bring a new strategy into reality.

We continually talk to company recruiters and conduct analytics on the job market, to offer our students an updated view of the landscape in the career pathway of Strategy, Organization & Transformation. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we’ve identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Business Strategy and Transformation

Roles in this career area involve formulating, planning and implementing business strategy via transformation and integration projects. This could apply to any function or area of a company’s value chain from market entry and exit decisions, to product and service portfolio strategy, to operations strategy and optimization. Professionals in this area work in corporate strategy departments, corporate innovation units, venture-building units and as consultants in management consulting firms and firms specialized in strategy consulting and industry analysis.

Organization Strategy and Transformation

Professionals in this area focus on every company’s most strategic asset—people.  It’s about developing and managing the implementation of strategies for hiring, engaging, training and developing talent. It’s also about designing organizational structures, building an organizational culture, and implementing employee-centric systems and initiatives that drive well-being, engagement and performance.  Roles in this area are in talent departments, HR departments, learning & development units and corporate universities. Professionals in this area also work in the talent and organization groups within management consulting firms and firms specialized in talent and organizational consulting and training.

Strategy Formulation:

What is Strategy Formulation?

Strategy formulation is the process of defining an organization’s goals and creating a plan to achieve them. It’s like a roadmap that guides the organization towards its desired future.

Why is it Important?

• Focus: A well-formulated strategy helps everyone in the organization understand the direction and purpose of their work.
• Adaptability: It allows organizations to respond effectively to changes in the market or industry.
• Decision-Making: It provides a framework for making decisions aligned with the overall goals.
• Resource Allocation: It helps prioritize resources (like money, people, and time) to achieve the most important objectives.

Key Steps in Strategy Formulation

1. Vision and Mission: Defining the long-term vision for the organization and its core purpose.
2. SWOT Analysis: Identifying the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
3. Goal Setting: Setting clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
4. Strategy Development: Creating specific strategies and action plans to achieve the goals.
5. Implementation: Putting the strategies into action and monitoring progress.

Strategy Implementation:

Strategy Implementation: Turning Plans into Action

Strategy implementation is the process of taking a strategic plan and putting it into action. It’s the bridge between the “what” of strategy formulation and the “how” of achieving desired outcomes.

Key Steps in Strategy Implementation

1. Define Clear Goals: Break down broad strategic goals into specific, measurable objectives.
2. Develop an Action Plan: Create a step-by-step roadmap with timelines, responsibilities, and resource allocation.
3. Communicate Effectively: Ensure everyone understands the strategy, their role, and how their work contributes to the overall goals.
4. Allocate Resources: Assign necessary resources (budget, people, technology) to support implementation efforts.
5. Monitor Progress: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and make adjustments as needed.
6. Adapt and Learn: Be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and learn from both successes and failures.

Why Strategy Implementation Matters

Execution is Key: Even the best-laid plans can fail without effective implementation.

Aligns the Organization: Ensures everyone is working towards the same goals.

Drives Results: Translates strategic thinking into tangible outcomes.

Remember: Successful strategy implementation requires strong leadership, clear communication, and a focus on execution.

Strategy Evaluation:

What is Strategy Evaluation?

Strategy evaluation is the process of assessing how well your organization’s strategic plan is working. It’s about looking at your goals, the actions you’re taking to achieve them, and whether those actions are actually moving you in the right direction.

Why is it Important?

• Adaptability: A changing business landscape means you need to be able to adjust your strategy. Regular evaluation helps you identify when you need to pivot.
• Focus: It keeps you on track. You might realize you’re spending too much energy on areas that aren’t delivering the best results.
• Accountability: It provides a way to measure progress and hold yourself and your team accountable for achieving your goals.

Key Steps in Strategy Evaluation

1. Review Your Objectives: Are your goals still relevant and aligned with your overall vision?
2. Assess Performance: How are you doing against your key performance indicators (KPIs)?
3. Analyze the Environment: Have internal or external factors changed that might impact your strategy?
4. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Where are you excelling, and where do you need to improve?
5. Make Adjustments: Based on your evaluation, decide what changes need to be made to your strategy.