Agility and Speed
Summary
The strategy refers to setting clear goals and objectives for particular periods. The company will be able to streamline its operations towards achieving these objectives thus not losing focus. The concept of product differentiation can be applied in terms of producing unique products as compared to those provided by the competitors. Through this, companies will be able to secure market for their products because no other competitors are providing the same services
The use of the proactive element by continuously reviewing and improving the standard of quality of services to customers surpasses the customers’ expectations.
Application
By applying the concept of reconfiguration to the British Airways company as an example, the company will improve its products; thus better quality products and services. Through the strategy of image differentiation, the company looks at ways of creating a unique image as compared to others. This can be best achieved through being sensitive to all the stakeholders, needs and through corporal responsibility.
In the case of co-operation, the company can look for ways of working together with the other companies. This will result in cutting costs unlike in the case where the company walks alone in carrying out all the operations.
Through the concept of replication, the company will be able to minimize the cost of production because little or no finance will be channeled towards research and development.
Living systems
Summary
The method that can be used to sustain competitive advantage is through diversification. The company provides different types of services thus ensuring continued income even when some particular lines of operations are not favorable.
Through the complex adaptive system, the ways are adopted that cannot be easily copied. This will prevent the competitors from copying ways of operation from the company thus securing the uniqueness of the company.
By maximizing efficiency with minimum excess capacity, the company can utilize all the available resources thus ensuring that there are no idle resources but all are utilized for the benefit of the company.
Through mergers and acquisitions, the company can expand its operations and also increase its financial capacity thus being in a position to enjoy economies of scale.
Application
By refreshing the corporate gene, the British Airways Company comes up with new ways of doing things, thus being in the capacity to remain relevant in the dynamic world.
Through extensive consultation and brainstorming by all the management staff, the company is in a position to generate new ideas for doing things, and out of these, they are in a position to choose the best strategies to implement which will thus most benefit the organization.
By coming up with a variety of options for carrying out its activities, the company will always have another plan or the other option if the first chosen failed to produce the desired results which can thus be implemented.
Storytelling
Summary
How the staff of an organization can learn to perform Dr. Dee Andrews, Storytelling as an Instructional Method their duties effectively include; scenario-based learning whereby they are given a scenario that resembles what they are expected to encounter. The other one is through problem-based learning where they get new ways of doing things as they encounter the various problems. The other one is through a narrative where they are narrated on what they will encounter and how to deal with each situation. Case-based learning involves giving the learners a case where they are expected to deduce the problem and the solution to it. All these ways are important to the organization as they will ensure maximum utilization of the staff thus maximum productivity.
The ways of letting the staff know what they are expected to do include:
Describing or demonstrating the strategy. The stakeholders are let know what the organization is putting into effect and how it operates. This will enable them to clearly understand what they are expected to do.
Application
Using the British Airways Company which recommends that its staff members should be provided with different occasions for practice using the strategy. As it said practice makes perfect, the staff through this will be able to perform their duties to perfection or rather to the required standards.
The stakeholders should also be provided with informative feedback as to the creativity or originality of the strategy or outcome. This will go a long way in giving the morale to the performers and where they can improve; they will be able to gauge themselves.
Establishing an expectancy of success enables individuals to always remain positive even at the moments when they are facing challenges.
Feedback for successful performance should also be given.
References
Amy Howlett, Tony Lawrence, Dayo Omolokun,Agility and speed-delivering sustainable Competitive Advantage.
Eric D. Beinhocker (2006). The origin of Wealth, Havard Business School Press Dr. Dee Andrews, Storytelling as an Instructional Method.