Lecture 2 Flashcards
What are the different focuses of environmental scanning?
The focuses include competitive intelligence and business intelligence.
What external factors have the largest implications on the development of an organization and its business?
External factors include
megatrends globally
industry- and sector-specific trends
competitor analysis
technological development
customer and user behavior
competences
macroeconomic and political aspects.
What are the different levels and ways environmental scanning can be conducted?
Environmental scanning can be conducted at
individual
informal
ad hoc
project- or function-level
organized
formal
systematized
strategic levels.
How should organizations act on weak and vague signals?
Organizations should dare to act on weak signals, collectively create meaning (sensemaking), act on weak signals to make them strong, and have a formal process to find and follow weak signals relevant to strategic priorities.
What is an example of a weak signal?
An example is a change in customer buying behavior without a clear reason, which may indicate a shift in market trends or preferences.
What is actionable knowledge in the context of environmental scanning?
Actionable knowledge involves collecting and interpreting strategic information to create valuable insights that fit the strategy, are relevant, reliable, accurate, and promote information sharing.
What is a conceptual framework for environmental scanning?
It involves situational or organizational dimensions, collecting data, analyzing trends, interpreting and internalizing information, and using and spreading data within the organization.
What are the pros of a functional organization?
depth of knowledge, efficient coordination within function, clear chain of command, stability, and long-term view.
What are the cons of functional organization?
slow coordination horizontally, siloed, inflexible, and delegation upwards.
What are the pros of a divisionalized organization?
fast response, environmental fit, and understanding external stakeholders.
What are the cons of a divisionalized organization?
costly, resource duplication, siloed, loss of expertise, and sub-optimizing.
What are the pros of a matrix organization?
effective use of scarce resources, flexible resource usage, and balance between customer orientation and technology push.
What are the cons of a matrix organization?
complex, hard to balance dimensions, and requires advanced leadership skills.
What are the components of an innovative organization?
Components include structure, process, reward systems, and people, but the task is different from operational excellence organizations.
What is the difference between risk and uncertainty?
Risks can be calculated and known, while uncertainty involves unknown factors and outcomes.
How should an organization be designed for innovation?
An innovative organization should be designed to do something for the first time, with a focus on creating and implementing new ideas, and transitioning to enable transformation.
