Strategy Implementation

About this course: Even a thoroughly developed business strategy may fail if you don't pay enough attention to its implementation. This rings particularly true with strategies based on innovation or implemented in complex or fast-changing environments. In the 20th century successful implementation leveraged stability and typically proceeded through hierarchy and control. Today the key is to stay vibrant and able to quickly respond to trends in competition and technology while not losing sight of the strategic objective. In this course we'll build a toolbox of techniques to execute today's business strategies to help them succeed. After completing this course, you'll be able to: - Create objectives and goals to guide strategy implementation - Identify organizational structures that fit particular strategies - Understand how to leverage company culture in implementation - Describe how to communicate the strategy so that the organization "gets" it - Detect and mitigate risks to implementation

Created by:  Copenhagen Business School

• Taught by:  Nicolai Pogrebnyakov, Associate Professor

  Department of International Economics and Management

Basic Info Course 3 of 4 in the Strategic Management and Innovation Specialization Commitment 2-4 hours per week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Copenhagen Business School Centrally located in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen Business School (CBS) is one of the largest business schools in Europe with close to 23,000 students. CBS offers world-class research-based degree programs at undergraduate, graduate, and PhD levels as well as executive and other post experience programs.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Course Intro. Translating Strategy Into Goals and Metrics



In this module we set the scene in strategy implementation and take a bird's-eye view of the course. We then dive into formulating actionable goals based on the strategy, good practices in creating metrics and setting objectives, and learn about two specific tools for deriving actionable, measurable goals from a strategy.


5 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Introduction into Strategy Implementation
2. Reading: Samsung and Apple in China, 2013
3. Discussion Prompt: Samsung and Apple in China, 2013
4. Practice Quiz: Introduction
5. Video: Performance Management Systems
6. Video: Balanced Scorecard
7. Video: OKR
8. Video: Objectives and Measures
9. Reading: Metrics at Nonprofits
10. Discussion Prompt: Metrics at Nonprofits
11. Reading: Metrics at Zappos
12. Discussion Prompt: Metrics at Zappos
13. Reading: Module 1 Slides

Graded: Performance Management Systems

WEEK 2


Aligning Strategy and Organizational Structure
The structure of your organization can be a good or poor fit to the strategy you are implementing. In this module we learn which choices of organizational structure are appropriate depending on your strategy.


16 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Video: Module Intro
2. Video: Lesson 1 Intro
3. Video: Mechanistic and Organic Structures
4. Video: Relationship of Structure and Strategy
5. Video: Dimensions of Structure
6. Reading: Virgin vs. Apple
7. Discussion Prompt: Virgin vs. Apple
8. Reading: Structure and Strategy at Toyota
9. Discussion Prompt: Structure and Strategy at Toyota
10. Practice Quiz: Why Structure Matters in Strategy Implementation
11. Video: Lesson 2 Intro
12. Video: Functional Structure
13. Video: Divisional Structure
14. Video: Matrix Structure
15. Video: Network Structure
16. Reading: Flat Structures
17. Discussion Prompt: Flat Structures
18. Practice Quiz: Structuring the Organization
19. Video: Lesson 3 Intro
20. Video: Choosing Business Unit Structure Based on Strategic Objectives
21. Video: Autonomous Units
22. Video: Ambidexterity
23. Reading: Ambidexterity
24. Discussion Prompt: Ambidexterity
25. Video: Detecting and Reacting to Change
26. Reading: Module 2 Slides
27. Video: Module Conclusion

Graded: Structuring Business Units

WEEK 3


Communicating the Strategy within the Organization
Getting communication right is crucial for successful implementation. In this module we find out how to communicate the strategy vertically, and how to facilitate collaboration and upward communication in the organization.


12 videos, 7 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Video: Module Intro
2. Video: Lesson 1 Intro
3. Video: What to Communicate
4. Video: How to Communicate
5. Reading: Stephen Elop's "Burning Platform" Memo
6. Discussion Prompt: Stephen Elop's "Burning Platform" Memo
7. Video: Strategic Consensus
8. Reading: All-Hands Meetings at Zappos
9. Discussion Prompt: All-Hands Meetings at Zappos
10. Practice Quiz: Vertical Communication of Strategy
11. Video: Lesson 2 Intro
12. Video: Horizontal Communication
13. Video: Collaboration and Self-Organizing Teams
14. Reading: Collaboration at Cisco
15. Reading: Collaboration at Pixar
16. Discussion Prompt: Collaboration at Pixar
17. Reading: Self-Organizing Teams
18. Discussion Prompt: Self-Organizing Teams
19. Practice Quiz: Horizontal Communication and Collaboration
20. Video: Lesson 3 Intro
21. Video: Tools for Upward Communication
22. Reading: Collaboration and Upwards Communication at Google
23. Discussion Prompt: Collaboration and Upwards Communication at Google and Cisco
24. Video: Making the Organization Comfortable with Sharing Bad News
25. Video: Organizational Learning
26. Reading: Module 3 Slides

Graded: Communicating Upwards

WEEK 4


Managing Resistance and Other Implementation Risks



Strategy implementation is rarely an exercise in certainty. New strategies may cause concerns or resistance in the organization, or be vulnerable to other risks. In this module we explore ways to manage risks to implementation, including addressing specific causes of resistance to change.


8 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Module Intro
2. Video: Lesson 1 Intro
3. Video: Causes of Resistance
4. Video: Managing Resistance
5. Reading: Challenging Resistance to Change
6. Discussion Prompt: Challenging Resistance to Change
7. Video: Models for Implementing a New Initiative
8. Practice Quiz: Identifying and Managing Resistance to Change
9. Video: Lesson 2 Intro
10. Video: Identifying Risks
11. Video: Planning for Mitigation of Risks
12. Reading: Samsung's New Strategy, 2011
13. Discussion Prompt: Samsung's New Strategy, 2011
14. Reading: Uber in France, Summer 2015
15. Discussion Prompt: Uber in France, Summer 2015
16. Reading: Module 4 Slides

Graded: Managing Other Risks to Implementation

WEEK 5


Leveraging Organizational Culture
Like structure, an organization's culture might be supportive or obstructive in implementation. In this module we define what culture is, learn how it can impact implementation, and explore when and how it can be changed.


9 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Module Intro
2. Video: Lesson 1 Intro
3. Video: What is Organizational Culture?
4. Reading: Culture at Netflix
5. Discussion Prompt: Culture at Netflix
6. Video: Subcultures
7. Video: Strong and Weak Cultures
8. Reading: Culture at Nucor
9. Discussion Prompt: Culture at Nucor
10. Practice Quiz: What is Culture
11. Video: Lesson 2 Intro
12. Video: How Culture is Created and Propagated
13. Video: Adapting Culture to Support Implementation
14. Video: Cultural Values Associated with Creativity and Innovation
15. Reading: Culture at Chipotle
16. Discussion Prompt: Culture at Chipotle
17. Reading: Module 5 Slides

Graded: Culture in Implementation

WEEK 6


Power and Informal Networks. Course Ending



The flatter the organization, the more likely are informal networks and power to matter in implementing a strategy. In this module we explore ways of using power and informal networks in the organization to facilitate strategy implementation. We then conclude the course and review the exam assignment.


12 videos, 7 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Module Intro
2. Video: Lesson 1 Intro
3. Video: Organizational Power and Its Sources
4. Video: Using Power in Implementation. Conflicts
5. Reading: Ben Horowitz on Organizational Politics
6. Discussion Prompt: Ben Horowitz on Organizational Politics
7. Practice Quiz: Power and Organizational Politics
8. Video: Lesson 2 Intro
9. Video: Informal Networks
10. Video: Relevance of Informal Networks for Implementation
11. Reading: Informal Networks
12. Discussion Prompt: Informal Networks
13. Reading: Module 6 Slides
14. Video: Course Ending
15. Reading: Examples for Describe-Substantiate-Recommend
16. Reading: e-Types as an Organization
17. Reading: Strategic Options for e-Types
18. Video: About e-Types
19. Video: e-Types about e-Types
20. Video: About e-Types II
21. Video: e-Types dilemma
22. Reading: Further Reading

Graded: Informal Networks
Graded: Strategy Implementation Plan for e-Types