MBA755 - Reflections on Module 3 Concepts

a) How could you use a Renewal Options diagram to better support the mission of your present organization? A renewal options diagram will diagnosis any particular areas that the organization is struggling or is in need of renewal. A diagram can help point out specific areas that the company can start to focus on. This type of diagram is also used as a visual aid and can assist in gaining support of the key individuals within the organization. It is one thing to just talk about what can happen or what is happening, but it is something completely different to actually see what the company is going through. This type of diagram also fosters creativity and can help all members of an organization think about alternatives to renewal and the diagram can assist in documenting the possibilities.

b) When thinking about your own organization, which renewal choices seem to the most relevant? I have been with my organization a little over a year and have noticed that since we are a private company, hardly any information is shared. We do certain benchmarking analysis at the distribution level, but this hardly tells us anything when we do not have COGS, profit margins, or sales levels to compare the data too. I think there are so many opportunities for the company to undergo, but the first step is to get new leaders in the top positions of the organization. I have been reading a lot lately about renewal in organizations and one thing that is common in almost all of these organizations is that the leaders have changed. Being a private company, I don't think it should be any different. The owner's are related and have been working with the same strategy for quite a while - they grow through mergers and acquistions. They continue to purchase mroe and mroe companies and do not think about what they are going to do with them once they acquire them. This has led to very segmented parts of the company and many employees do not know what is going on. The health care market is so large and it is not going away anytime soon, so to say the least the organization picked the right market to go after - it now needs a strategy to keep its position. With this said I think it is wise to approach a renewal phase with an enhancment and reframing strategy. It is taking what it has built the organization upon and expanding it.

c) What factors define a realistic renewal choice for you? A realistic renewal choice depends on the organization and what it is willing or not willing to take a risk in. In addition, it depends on the the type of market it is in and what it can do to make the strategy options work. For example, if I was a leader at Dunkin Donuts - I probably would not choose a strategy of selling automobiles. Ok so this is a stretch - but there are certain strategies that are better fitting for different organizations. Also, an organization's resources need to be examined. What kind of finances does it have to back a renewal? Where are its strenghts and where are its weaknesses. I think a good brainstorming session is necessary prior to making any renewal strategy.

d) What could be the best way or ways to communicate renewal options to organizational leaders so that they are really heard? The worst way to communicate a renewal strategy is without proof or some sort of evidence that demonstrates why change is necessary. Data and facts will be necessary to make the top executives believe that a change is necessary. It is also a good idea to provide information about the competition and what they are doing. Once executives understand where the company is and where it is headed will make for easier decision making, especially if all of the facts are presented. It is also a good idea to gain the support of other key indivduals within the company. Get all the right people involved or individuals that can help make the change happen.

e) What practical uses do you see for situational analysis in your life? I could see using these types of analysis to determine all possible solutions for a situation. It is hard to see other angles of a situation when you are most likely in one quadrant of the whole-brain business model. For example, a very structured individual may lack the creativity that it takes to make the right decision. These types of models foster creativity and will help find more than just one answer to a problem.