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Strategy, Structure & Culture

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As we now know, Organizational Excellence is measured by success. The key to achieving excellence is knowing the science behind effectively managing the 3 main organizational aspects: structures and systems, cultures and relationships, and strategies. It is critical that all 3 aspects align to enhance the success of one another, but when it comes to prioritizing these aspects in order to achieve excellence, an organization should…
…begin by developing a clear-cut STRATEGY for accomplishing its mission. Strategy is the most important aspect of the organization because it lays out how the organization needs to change over time in order to achieve its long-term objectives. In What Is Strategy?, Michael Porter explains that in today’s dynamic economy, positioning itself within a market is no longer sufficient in order to sustain competition. Instead, competitive advantage is achieved by using three key principles of strategic positioning, “Defining and communicating the company’s unique position, making trade-offs, and forging fit among activities.” (Porter)
The goal of a unique positioning strategy depends on the organization’s ability to utilize distinct activities, specific talents, exclusive resources, etc. in such a way that will set it apart from the competition. Southwest Airlines’ strategy was to establish a unique position by offering low-cost fares and convenient service. Competitors could not match this activity-value combination thereby creating Southwest’s competitive advantage in the airline industry.
“Strategy is about choices and about what not to do.“ (Porter) This implies that a company should know its limits and that it should know that certain sacrifices cannot be made without putting other activities behind. The concept of choice, or trade-off is necessary to ensure competition and prevent one company from dominating within a market. Continental

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