Individual: Innovation, Competitive Strategies & Implementing Strategy

Purpose of Assignment

Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 Individual Assignments are integrated to generate a Strategic Management Plan. This is part will address the final strategic opportunities to consider, and then assess how best to manage and monitor the implementation of the student’s own strategic plan for their organization.

Assignment Steps

Write an approximately 1,000-1,200 word report on the organization you selected in Week 1, building upon the assessments and proposals from the Individual Assignments of Weeks 1, 2 & 3, and address the following:

• Innovative Strategies
• Discuss the possible future opportunities for innovation in your industry & firm. How would your propose for your firm to capitalize on this innovation opportunity?
• Apply the Blue Ocean Strategy to identify and assess which strategic “ocean” your firm is currently in, and how your proposed strategic plan may impact this.

• Competitive Strategy
• Identify your organization’s most significant rivals, and building upon their competitive response profile, assess the likely competitive response of each key rival to your proposed strategic plan.
• Discuss what competitive strategies you would propose to counter these competitive responses.

• Strategy Implementation
• Apply the 7-S Model to identify and assess your organization’s current strategic configuration. Discuss any changes you would propose to this alignment that are needed to help implement your strategic plan.
• Apply Kotter’s 8-Step Change Management framework to identify and assess how best to lead the implementation of your proposed strategic plan (and the strategic changes inherent in it).

• Evaluation and Control
• Discuss the key measurements/metrics that are needed to help ensure the successful implementation of your plan.
• Discuss Key Success Factors in your proposed strategic plan (i.e. what small number of key items or leverage points should your board or senior leadership team monitor closely in order to ensure that your proposed strategic plan is successfully implemented).

Cite at least 3 scholarly references, including at least one from the UOPX Library.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.