Running head: Evidence Based Medicine

Evidence Based Medicine

Name
Course
Institutional Affiliation
Date

Evidence Based Medicine

Strategic management and its relevance to an organization

Strategic management entails identifying and describing the strategies managers can
carry in order to achieve maximum performance and have competitive advantage over their
opponents. Competitive advantage is achieved when an organizations profitability is higher than
the expected profits for all companies in the industry. This is not a clean and linear process. Ii is a
messy process that requires dedication and hard work from people in an organization so as to
move forward in the future. Strategic management represents a focus of compelling future
visions for the organization. Strategic planning goes beyond the development of a strategic plan.
The plan, in most times incorporates strategic preplanning and planning processes. According to
the Bryson (2011), strategic planning is a deployment and an execution of a strategic plan after
measuring and evaluating the outcomes. Deployment entails completing the plan and then
communicating it to the company employees. Implementing and execution involves planning for
resources, putting the plan into action and managing the actions planned for. Evaluation and
measurement involves assessing the organizations changes as a result of implementing the
necessary actions as well as using the updated information planning matrix (Combs, 2009).
Strategic management is a continuous process, which control and evaluates the industries
and businesses an organization is involved (Smith, 2013). It helps in evaluating the competition,
the set goals and strategies required to meet all existing and future competitors, and then
reevaluating the set strategies on a regular basis to find out how the decisions are implemented
and whether they are successful or not. It also offers a wider perspective to the employees of an
institution on how to understand how their job fits into the organizations objectives and how to
relate with other members from the same organization (Bryson, 2011). Employees become more

Evidence Based Medicine

committed, trustworthy and more satisfied since they can easily co-relate well with the
organizations tasks. The employees understand the reactions brought about by the
environmental changes within the organization and the most efficient response to follow (Combs,
2009).
The major role of strategic management is the need to incorporate the various areas of the
organization that are completely functional in order to ensure the functional areas work hand in
hand to achieve the organizations objectives (Bryson, 2011). Developing an efficient strategic
plan increases the chances of the organization being in the right place in the near future. This is
achieved by collection of all the processes and activities utilized within the organization with the
aim of aligning the actions and resources with the vision, mission and strategy of the
organization. Strategic management, when applied correctly can transform the vision of an
organization into performance and ensure the plan to grow and evolve with time.
Proper planning entails several key aspects; strategic management combines four key
steps, which include environmental scanning, strategy implementation, formulation, and strategy
evaluation (Mello, 2011). Environmental scanning is the process of collecting, examining and
providing data for the purpose of strategy. An organizations environment consists of both
internal and external factors (Smith, 2013). This is critical since it helps determine and forecast
factors of development, which help influence an organizations success. It helps managers decide
an organizations future. Internal scanning identifies the opportunities and threats existing in an
organization. These include employee relations, management interaction with the employees, and
access to resources, organizational structure and brand awareness. As businesses become
competitive with rapid changes in the external environment, information obtained becomes

Evidence Based Medicine

crucial to determine the long term plans of the organization (Mello, 2011). Examining the
external factors of the organizational environment requires an analysis of the competitive
structure as well as the main rivals of the organization. An assessment of the nature, dynamics
and stage of the industry is also critical (Combs, 2009).
The major role of strategic management is the need to incorporate the various areas of the
organization that are completely functional in order to ensure the functional areas work hand in
hand to achieve the organizations objectives (Bryson, 2011). Developing an efficient strategic
plan increases the chances of the organization being in the right place in the near future. This is
achieved by collection of all the processes and activities utilized within the organization with the
aim of aligning the actions and resources with the vision, mission and strategy of the
organization. Strategic management, when applied correctly can transform the vision of an
organization into performance and ensure the plan to grow and evolve with time.
Strategy formulation is another critical aspect in strategy management. It entails choosing
of appropriate actions for achieving an organizations strategies thus attaining the organizations
vision and mission. Setting organizational objectives is necessary in terms of deploying resources
necessary for achieving the vision of the organization. It becomes easy for the management to
make decisions when the objectives are clearly stated (Smith, 2013). Evaluating the
organizations environment and economics is essential. Reviewing the quantitative and
qualitative ensures that factors such as competitive market success are discovered and the
management can easily identify their weaknesses and strengths as well as compare the strengths
and weaknesses of their competitors (Mello, 2011). An organization can keep track of their
competitors moves by identifying the weaknesses and opportunities in order to discover the

Evidence Based Medicine

probable strategies to use. Performance analysis helps to estimate the future conditions to
implement in order to avoid current disasters.
Strategy implementation, according to Bryson (2011) is the translation of the chosen
strategies within an organization into actions so as to achieve the desired objectives and goals. It
allocates the organizational structure special values of developing roles and tasks to the
employees and defines the parameters the roles play in order to achieve maximum efficiency,
customer satisfaction and quality. An organizational control system is necessary here because it
equips the managers with required motivation incentives for the employees and also provides a
feedback channel that can help in determining the organizations performance (Smith, 2013). An
excellent strategy works when properly implemented and is essential when ensuring there is
sufficient stability between the organizational dimension and the process of resource allocation
(Bryson, 2011).
Strategy evaluation ensures the organizational strategy is well implemented to meet the
objectives of the organization (Combs, 2009). Organizations need to employ people who are
highly motivated and have high training skills, which will help companies have competitive
advantages over their competitors. Fixing performance benchmarks by strategists ensures issues
relating to performance are catered for. Performance indicators identify the requirements needed
to determine the quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria (Bryson, 2013). The criteria used
can determine the profit margins of an organization as well as the cost required for production
and the employee turnover.
In conclusion, strategic management is vital when analyzing an organization and coming
up with ways of addressing decisions that will help reduce problems arising. Managers face

Evidence Based Medicine

complexities within the organizations internal and external surroundings as well as the
implementation of the strategic plan. It becomes critical for the organization to critical adopt
ways that will ensure the success of the organization. Strategic management involves a series of
steps that incorporate evaluation, performing analysis and ensuring organizations have focus. It
also involves top management within an organization. The benefits associated with proper
strategies are widespread and range from financial profits, eliminating poor employer-employee
relationships and ensuring long term success for the organization. Fixing performance
benchmarks by strategists ensures issues relating to performance are catered for. Performance
indicators identify the requirements needed to determine the quantitative and qualitative
evaluation criteria (Bryson, 2013). The criteria used can determine the profit margins of an
organization as well as the cost required for production and the employee turnover.

Evidence Based Medicine

7
Reference

Bryson, J. M. (2011). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to
strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement (Vol. 1). New Jersey: John
Wiley & Sons.
Combs, G., M. (2009). Religious Discrimination and the Racial Harassment: What Ever
Happened to the MarShawn DeMur? Retrieved August 29, 2015 from
http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/business/GB520/GB520_1505D/GB520_Unit03_Case_Study.
pdf.
Mello, J. A. (2011). Strategic Human Resource Management, (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: SouthWestern Cengage Learning.
Smith, R. D. (2013). Strategic planning for public relations. London: Routledge.