3. if not what is getting in the way?

references:
1. Papolovaz Z & Gazova A (2016) THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC ANALYSIS, 
available at:
 https://opentextbc.ac/usinessopentax/chapter/understanding-the-business-environment/
2. Morrison M (2012) STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AND PLANNING
available at:
https://corporatefinanceinstitude.com/resources/knowledge/strategiy/strategic-analysis
 

Strategic analysis is essential when a company has a vision and mission for themselves. It is a process that focuses on researching an organization’s business environment within which it operates and it also formulates the decision making process and allows work in the organization to go smoothly (Bhat, 2020). 
Evaluation of strategic fitness

It refers to analyzing the strategic plan and assessing how much an organization has done towards achieving their goals through their strategy. An internal strategy tool that should be used as part of a broader strategic analysis for organizations when making a decision about the strategy that would be followed (Mert, 2016).

References
Bhat, A. (2020). Marketing Research. What is strategic analysis.
Mert, I. S. (2016). evaluation of strategic fitness. Journal of academic research, 197-208.
Vo, E. (2018). Strategic planning process. What is strategic planning.

According to Quick M. B. A (2001), strategic planning is the vital tool for a business as it provides companies with measurable objectives that aid in daily decision-making. This planning process helps prevent companies from aimlessly performing business tasks without set priorities or a real purpose. There are several key components that make up the strategic planning process, including common phases like strategic analysis and strategy formulation, along with implementation and monitoring. Strategic planning it when an organization formulate a plan for the smoother operating of the company and help to achieve the goals and objectives set by the organization. Evolution of strategic fitness it when an organization check the strategy adopted in response to the environment requirements, resources are suited to the markets strategy, capabilities and structure (Boulton, Dr. W. R. 2001).  

2. Strategic analysis is a process that is a process that involves researching on organization business environment within which it operates (Roth, 2015). Strategic analysis is essential if a company has a goal and a mission for themselves. There are two types of strategic analysis:

Internal strategic analysis- This analysis is when organizations look within the organization and identify the positive and negative points. Internal analysis starts from evaluating the performance of the organization. This includes evaluating the potential of an organization. SWOT analysis is one of the techniques for internal strategic analysis.

External strategic analysis: When the organization needs to know about external factors that can be a hindrance in their growth. The organization needs to know how the market functions and consumers react or behave to certain products or services. PESTLE analysis is one of the most widely used external macro-environmental scanning component of external analysis.  

 

3.  (Zhou, 2018) Strategic fit evaluates the current performance of an organization/industry. This is necessary to evaluate how the organization is capable to achieve it’s external demands. The matching takes through strategy has the actual resources and capabilities to execute and support the strategy. Strategic fit can be used actively to evaluate the current strategic situation of a company as well as opportunities. A unique combination of resources and competitive advantage which the company can profit from. However, it is important to differentiate between resources and capabilities. Resources relate to the inputs to production owned by the company where as capabilities describe the accumulation of learning the company possesses.

 

Roth, A. (2015). In Achieving strategic agility through economies of Knowledge. (pp. 30-36).

Skinner, W. (2016). In Manufacturing-missing link in corporate strategy. (pp. 136-145).

Zhou, K. Z. (2018). Technological capability, strategic flexibility, and product innovation. Strategic Management journal, 547-561.

Strategic analysis according to (Mehta, 2017)May be looked upon as the starting point of strategic management process, it is a technique used to assist companies to identify their SWOT analysis which will help to attack business competition and the project planning. It is Vital for an organization to analyze organizational goals and objectives, analyze the external environment, assess the internal environment and assess a firms intellectual assets.

Evaluating strategic fitness
Refers to analyzing the strategic plan and organizational goals which have to be evaluated whether they are fit enough for the company to achieve external demands (YP, 2015). The company has to have enough resources and capabilities.

Amoako Gyampah, K. (2017). In K. Amoako Gyampah, Manufacturing strategy.

Mehta, S. (2017). Handbook of strategic management.

YP, G. (2015). Exploring linkages between manufaturing strategy, business strategy and organisational strategy. In Production and operations management (pp. 243-264).

Furthermore, this planning process provides better understanding of internal and external environmental factor that may have impact on the company. The internal environmental factors  are analyzed using the company's SWOT  analysis. SWOT analysis give a better understand of the weaknesses and threats of the company such limitations that currently exist as well as that may exist in the near future.  Internal factors give clarity about competitors, employees opinions, partner/client's likes & dislikes and financial constraints. However,  the external environmental factors are analyzed using PESTLE variables to provide an insight of opportunities and threats such as customer preferences , economic fluctuation and customer preferences.

1.      Corporate level- focuses on high level strategic decisions which help the      sustain it profitability.
 2.      Business level- focus on a market position to help a company gain a competitive advantage in the industry.
 3.      Functional level- this planning level focus on activities that occurs within different functions with the aim of improving efficiency.  
 
Furthermore, Bhadi (2020), elaborate planning process provides better understanding of internal and external environmental factor that may have impact on the company. The internal environmental factors are analyzed using the company's SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis give a better understand of the weaknesses and threats of the company such limitations that currently exist as well as that may exist in the near future.  Internal factors give clarity about competitors, employees opinions, partner/client's likes & dislikes and financial constraints. However, the external environmental factors are analyzed using PESTLE variables to provide an insight of opportunities and threats such as customer preferences, economic fluctuation and customer preferences.
 
 According to Shannon sage (2019) after putting a plan is in place, the next step is to evaluate the variable aspect to guide  in process, re-look if your plan connect vision with vision, if your plan is realistic,, balanced, complete and is the document clear. 
 References 
 1. Priyanki Baruah (2019) Strategy Analysis, https:// planningtank.com/market-research/strategies,analysis.
 2. Shannon sage (2020) Strategy, Planning; Process Evaluating your Strategy Plan, https;//onstrategyhy.com/resources/evaluating,your;strategy.plan.
3. Adi Bhadi (2020)Strategic analysis-Available from:http://www.questionpro.com/blog/strategic-analysis

According to Quick M. B. A (2001), strategic planning is the vital tool for a business as it provides companies with measurable objectives that aid in daily decision-making. This planning process helps prevent companies from aimlessly performing business tasks without set priorities or a real purpose. There are several key components that make up the strategic planning process, including common phases like strategic analysis and strategy formulation, along with implementation and monitoring. Strategic planning it when an organization formulate a plan for the smoother operating of the company and help to achieve the goals and objectives set by the organization. Evolution of strategic fitness it when an organization check the strategy adopted in response to the environment requirements, resources are suited to the markets strategy, structure, and capabilities (Boulton, Dr. W. R. 2001).

References  

Boulton, Dr. W. R. (2001). Understanding the strategic analysis model. www.auburn.edu/-boultwr/index.html[ Accessed in 2012]

Middleton, J. (2003). The ultimate strategy library. the 50 most influential strategic ideas of all time. Oxford: Capstone.

Quick, M. B. A. (2007). Porters five forces. www.quickmba.com/strategy/porter.shtm [Accessed 12 February 2008]

Strategic planning is operationalised systematic process in which an organisation formulate to analyse its strategic goals (George,2017). Strategic planning can also be known as an objective, logical systematic way in which the decision makers make major decisions in an organisation. (David et.al, 2009). Strategic planning has a good effect, a positive performance across certain industries where management make decisions in response to changing environmental conditions to enhance performance (Anderson, 2000). Stating further that strategic planning may be popular because it seems to work in certain circumstances where its helps decision makers to have a clear understanding of what the organisation should be doing how and why, in other words strategic planning may give a way of knowing how to help decision makers make decision in some circumstances (Bryson et.al, 2009). Strategic planning analyses elements such as organisation mandate, mission, vision and values should be analysed, organisation analyses internal and external environment identification of issues is based on the analyses and formulation of goals, strategies and plans on how to address the issues (Monster et.al, 2019).

Proper linkage is the key between manufacturing operations and strategy to sustain competitive advantage, for the organisation to cope with global competition and rapid change in environment they must formulate strategic plan that are consistent with their manufacturing strategies and capabilities these rapid change in markets and technology can increase uncertainty and complexity will create a new competitive environment (Rahman and Rahman, 2019). Strategic fit plays a very important role in the structuring and planning of strategic operations, new products are being introduced if the organisation is strategic fit and improve productive capacity, strategic fit enables the organisation to respond to the rapid change, strategic fic enables the organisation to meet or matches or meet market requirements and the operational capabilities (Hashen and Almaan, 2019). Strategic fit can be aligned with one hand to another hand of the organisation internal and external organisational resources, external fit refers to business strategy and operational strategy – the alignment between the two and internal fit refers to company practices, policies and duties (George, 2017). Explaining further in order for an organisation to maximize it competitive advantage it must first look and match it resources and it internal capabilities with elements of change in the external environment (Alshebli, 2016). Strategic fitness objective is to promote within the organisation and other organisation, it also aims at stirring the organisation into achieving stability and developing in an ongoing manner (Hashen and Al maan, 2019). Also strategic fit is the match between similar variables, strategic fit is defined as an internal alignment or internal consistency, strategic fit plays an important role in building and developing strategic management theories (Aila, et.al, 2015).

1.Ojera, P., Ochieng, I. and Aila, F. 2015. Literature review on strategic fit and performance of public universities in Western Kenya. International journal of scientific research and innovative technology, 2(6). Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ijsrit.com/uploaded_all_files/1445502161_z1.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwilu77AqYbrAhVyqnEKHebnAiYQFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw0VLB1daWcH7eUQ4v7bTuOR [Accessed 07 August 2020]

2. Anderson, J. 2000. Strategic planning, autonomous action and corporate performance. Long range planning, 33(2): 184-200. Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://scholar.google.co.za/scholar_url?url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024630100000285&hl=en&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm2ZLYS9k7_uCFg7m-4s9o-uej8dFQ&nossl=1&oi=scholarr&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjbq8Kap4brAhVBt3EKHSrbCnQQgAN6BAgJEAI&usg=AOvVaw2MFU-yXRFMoBPVqa6zuRST [Accessed 06 August 2020]. 

3. George, B. 2017. Does strategic planning works in public organisation: Insight from flemish municipalities. Public money and management, 37(7): 527-530. Available at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2017.1372116&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwio-5XhpYbrAhXFUMAKHaYeAngQFjABegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw3Z02dV3ycvJVcijaA1FYB5 [Accessed 07 August]. 

4. Bryson, M., Crosby, B. and Bryson, J. 2009 Understanding strategic planning and the formulation and implementation of strategic plans as a way of knowing: The contribution of actor – network theory. International public management journal, 12(2): 172-207 Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10967490902873473&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwid0oD8pIbrAhUMXsAKHWRRAnkQFjABegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw0ReI5W8GjsqD9Cfn40z3cG [Accessed 07 August 2020] 

5. David, M., David, F and David, F. 2009. The quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) applied to a retail computer store. The coastal business journal, 8(1). Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.strategyclub.com/CBJ%20Article.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjm4s6Jo4brAhVks3EKHcOfClgQFjABegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw1vwpQfGuoyACP8jhnyzYCV [Accessed 08 August 2020]. 

6. Alshebli, A. 2016. Improving capabilities and strategic fit in governmental agencies: The case of Abu Dhabi government infrastructure sector  Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/42606595.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiYu9KVnIbrAhXWUhUIHQcuC4YQFjAAegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw2LtsoKCFoKTEy3WLhmRuKO [Accessed 08 August 2020].

7. Nashen, T. and Al maani, A. 2019. The impact of strategic fit on marketing performance of the industrial corporation in Jordan. International journal of business and management, 14(2). Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330669835_The_Impact_of_Strategic_Fit_on_the_Marketing_Performance_of_the_Industrial_Corporations_in_Jordan&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiQyeGbn4brAhUTilwKHeFxAH8QFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3mPZ_VISYjrWnH44QtYhm2 [Accessed 07 August 2020]. 

8. Monster, J., George, B. and Walker, R. 2019. Does strategic planning improve organisational performance? Ameta Analysis. Public administration review. Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/puar.13104&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjJosyhoIbrAhXGX8AKHZcCAxMQFjABegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw1ZxMcO-MFerSvIB2SUuvol [Accessed 06 August 2020]. 

9. Rahman, H. and Rahman, A. 2019. Strategic fit: Model development and fitness analysis of manufacturing unit. Production and manufacturing research. 7(1): 44-66. Available at: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331458395_Strategic_fit_model_development_and_fitness_analysis_of_a_manufacturing_unit&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjntvnAoYbrAhXloXEKHXp8DJIQFjACegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw2lRS3MA2JIfcZrNYVu0KqK [Accessed 08 August 2020]. 

:[Accessed 10 August 2020]

 Wright, T. (2019). Strategy Evaluation. Available from: https://www.executestrategy.net/blog/strategy-evaluation [Accessed10 August 2020]

Downey (2007) define Strategic Analysis as the process of conducting a study on the business environment within which a company operates and on the organisation itself, in order to formulate strategy.

Strategic Planning 

According to Jim and Patty(1999) strategic planning focuses on establishing your organizational direction,setting priorities and recovering obstacles and opportunities that may limit or enable you to carry out your mission. An effective strategic planning process provides a structure to make decisions on how to allocate organizational resources, examine challenges and take advantage of opportunities that arise along the way.

Ellen,Nada andTrish(2011) define strategic fit as correspond firm's strategy, formation capabilities and resources with it's external context to positively impact performance

The process of strategy evaluation is often overlooked in the overall strategic management process. After the blast of activity in the initial planning stages, followed by the reality check of executing your strategy alongside business-as-usual, strategy evaluation is often neglected. When this occurs, strategies quickly become outdated and out-of-sync with the changing face of the organization.The strategy evaluation process involves analyzing your strategic plan and assessing how well you've done against achieving the goals in your strategy. A strategy evaluation is an internal analysis tool and should be used as part of a broader strategic analysis for the organization when making decisions about your strategy

Reference list.

1. J. Downey 2007 Strategic Analysis tools, Gateway series, defining and concept 34(6): Available at: 

[ Accessed at 8 August 2020]

2. J.Rouse and P.Rouse 1999 Enterprise Foundation, Effective Strategic Planning. What is strategic Planning, 20(7): Available at:

[ Accessed at 8 August 2020]

Zahav and Hazzan (2017) Stated that Strategic analysis is the process of conducting research on the business environment within which an organization operates and on the organization itself, in order to formulate strategy however Worrall (1998) believes that it is a theoretically informed understanding of the environment in which an organization is operating, together with an understanding of the organization’s interaction with its environment in order to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness by increasing the organization’s capacity to deploy and redeploy its resources intelligently. Definitions of strategic analysis often differ, but the following attributes are common:

Identification and evaluation of data relevant to strategy formulation.

Definition of the external and internal environment to be analyzed.

A range of analytical methods that can be employed in the analysis. Examples of analytical methods used in strategic analysis include:

SWOT analysis

PEST analysis
Porter’s five forces analysis

Four corner’s analysis

Value chain analysis
Early warning scans

Wargaming (Downey, 2012).

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is the art of creating specific business strategies, implementing them, and evaluating the results of executing the plan regard to a company’s overall long-term goals or desires. It is a concept that focuses on integrating various departments such as marketing and human resources within a company to accomplish its strategic goals. The term strategic planning is essentially synonymous with strategic management (Neis, Pereira and Maccari 2017). Strategy Formulation, Strategy Implementation, Strategy Evaluation. 

 

Strategic Fitness 

strategic management is essential for long-term business success. It involves defining a business strategy with clear objectives, creating clear plans as to how these objectives will be achieved, aligning business activities to support the objectives, and allocating the resources needed to achieve the objectives however Strategic Fitness is defined as the capability of the mind to generate insights and set the direction that leads to advantage. The Strategic Fitness System provides managers at all levels and in all functional areas with a comprehensive approach to enhancing their strategic capabilities (Zuzana and Andrea 2016 )

Reference list 

1.Zahav A.E., Hazzan O. 2017. Strategic Analysis. In: Risk Management of Education Systems. SpringerBriefs in Education. Springer, Cham, 14(5). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51984-5_2  
[ Accessed 08 August 2020] 

2.Neis, D. F., Pereira, M. F., & Maccari, E. A. 2017. Strategic Planning Process and Organizational Structure: Impacts, Confluence and Similarities. Brazilian Business Review, 14(5), 479-492. Available at:  https://doi.org/10.15728/bbr.2017.14.5.2
[Accessed 07 August 2020]

 

3.Zuzana P. and Andrea G. 2016. Role of Strategic Analysis in Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Analysis, 39 (2016) 571 – 579. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305396345_Role_of_Strategic_Analysis_in_Strategic_Decision-Making 
[Accessed at 07 August 2020]

 

4. Dyson, R.G., Bryant, J., Morecroft and J.,Brien, F. 2007. The Strategic Development Process, Supporting Strategy: Frameworks, Methods and Models. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265266145_The_Strategic_Development_Process

[Accessed at 07 August 2020]

 

5. J. Downey 2012 Strategic Analysis tools, Gateway series, defining and concept 34(6): Available at: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/ImportedDocuments/cid_tg_strategic_analysis_tools_nov07.pdf.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjmo6fo6JjrAhVZURUIHX6pCxYQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw1876sCt1Xtim7nyvbT2SRf 
[ Accessed at 8 August 2020]

 

6.Worrall, L. (1998). Management Research Centre. Wolverhampton Business School, University of Wolverhampton, UK. Occasional paper series, 27th May 1998, no. OP 001/98. ISSN 1464-1747. Available at: http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-1f3e5d27-3aa2-4367-90f4-4e04c765b2ee/c/Methods_of_strategic_analysis_and.pdf 
[ Accessed at 8 August 2020]

S Thelejane
Student No: 21601530

(a) Martin, M.(2018) found that strategic planning is the process of creating the direction of an organization by assessing both where the organization is and where it wants to be. The strategic plan provides a record for an organization's mission, vision, long-term goals and the action plans an organization will utilize to reach those goals. Strategic planning can play an essential role in a small business's growth and success because it tells the manager and the employees how best to respond to opportunities and challenges that will be faced by an organization, it provides an organization's manager with a unique view or insight of the organization
 
 (b) Strategic Analysis

 Martin, M. (2018) Stated that Strategic analysis is a process that involves researching an organization's business environment within which it operates. Strategic analysis is essential to formulate strategic planning for decision making and smooth working of that organization, with the help of strategic planning, the objectives and goals that are set by an organization can be fulfilled. Strategic analysis plays a vital role in an organization because it strives to improve and determine what are area need improvement, it also predicts future events and deduces alternatives strategies by utilizing the internal and swot analysis
 
 2. Evaluating strategic fitness

 Wright, T.(2019)Stated that the strategic evaluation process involves analyzing a strategic plan and assessing how well it has been done against achieving the goals in the strategy. Strategy evaluation is an internal analysis tool and should be used as part of strategic analysis for an organization when making informed decisions about the strategy an organization will utilize. Evaluating a strategy can be done through the understanding of how well a company did, how it can improve more on its achievements and understand what the environment requires and what did the organization gained along the way
 
 References
 Martin, M. (2018). Strategic analysis and strategic planning. Available from: https://smallbusiness.chro.com/examples-strategic analysis-marketing-25678.htm

:[Accessed 10 August 2020]
 
  Wright, T. (2019). Strategy Evaluation. Available from: https://www.executestrategy.net/blog/strategy-evaluation [Accessed10 August 2020]

(a) Martin, M.(2018) found that strategic planning is the process of creating the direction of an organization by assessing both where the organization is and where it wants to be. The strategic plan provides a record for an organization's mission, vision, long-term goals and the action plans an organization will utilize to reach those goals. Strategic planning can play an essential role in a small business's growth and success because it tells the manager and the employees how best to respond to opportunities and challenges that will be faced by an organization, it provides an organization's manager with a unique view or insight of the organization
 
 (b) Strategic Analysis

 Martin, M. (2018) Stated that Strategic analysis is a process that involves researching an organization's business environment within which it operates. The strategic analysis includes SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces as well as the pestle analysis as the methods of analyzing the environment. It' s essential to formulate strategic planning for decision making and smooth working or operating by an organization, with the help of strategic planning, the objectives and goals that are set by an organization can be fulfilled. Strategic analysis plays a vital role in an organization because it strives to improve and determine what are areas need improvement, it also predicts future events and deduces alternatives strategies by utilizing the internal and external environment.
 
 2. Evaluating strategic fitness

 Wright, T.(2019)Stated that the strategic evaluation process involves analyzing a strategic plan and assessing how well it has been done against achieving the goals in the strategy. Strategy evaluation is an internal analysis tool and should be used as part of strategic analysis for an organization when making informed decisions about the strategy an organization will utilize. Evaluating a strategy can be done through the understanding of how well a company did, how it can improve more on its achievements and understand what the environment requires and what did the organization gained along the way
 
 References

 Martin, M. (2018). Strategic analysis and strategic planning. Available from: https://smallbusiness.chro.com/examples-strategic analysis-marketing-25678.htm

:[Accessed 10 August 2020]
 
  Wright, T. (2019). Strategy Evaluation. Available from: https://www.executestrategy.net/blog/strategy-evaluation [Accessed10 August 2020]

KERRI ST. JEAN, VP, COMCAST

While you are conducting strategic analysis, you must have a good knowledge of your competitors, so you can define a strategy that will help you stand apart from them and remain competitive.One of the most critical functions of strategic analysis is the prediction of future events and the planning of an alternative approach if the first strategy doesn't work out.

There are a few types of strategic analysis you should consider.

Internal Strategic Analysis will give you an overview of the functioning of your own company. In this analysis, you assess and analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and establish a strategy that will help you improve the image of your company. The internal investigation starts with evaluating the performance and future potential of the company and its capacity to grow. Analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the company should be solely based on the market situation and client response. The strengths only make sense when they are giving your client complete satisfaction with your service. Along with the strengths, the strategist should also be aware of the weaknesses and liabilities of the company at that moment. The company can grow at an exponential rate if you have a sound strategy planned.

Once the organization has completed its internal analysis, they can move on to the external review. Many external factors can act as a roadblock to the organization's growth.To conduct an external strategic analysis, you need to know how the market functions and what the consumers require. You need to measure customer satisfaction towards your and your competitors' products so that you can get an overview of how the market functions.

Strategic analysis tools

SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) is a framework used to evaluate a company's competitive position in the market and to develop strategic planning.

 

SWOT analysis assesses internal and external factors, as well as the present and future potential of your organization. Let's take a look at every element of the study.

We use the PESTLE analysis to find out the environmental factors which can impact your business. PESTLE stands for Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Legal and Economical analysis. All of these factors determine the strategic performance of your company. PESTLE analysis consists of the most impactful elements of any business.

The strategy evaluation process involves analyzing your strategic plan and assessing how well you've done against achieving the goals in your strategy. A strategy evaluation is an internal analysis tool and should be used as part of a broader strategic analysis for the organization when making decisions about your strategy At the very least, you need to evaluate your strategy twice a year - or better yet, every quarter. 

Even if you feel as though your existing strategy is 'too far gone' and needs a fresh start, you'll want to perform a thorough strategy evaluation of what went wrong last time around. The mistake that people often make when it comes to strategy execution, is thinking of their strategy as a linear set of steps. I'm sure you've all seen those PowerPoint slides with the strategy running from left-to-right on the page? In reality, strategy is a circular process of constant iteration and evolution. A good strategy should never really 'end'. Rather, it should morph into something more ambitious and sophisticated as goals are met. The way we envisage strategy at Cascade is as a wheel said Tom Wright (2019).

 

 

 

1.       F.H Backer,(2018) strategic analysis and planning, Availablehttps://www.executestrategy.net/blog/strategy-evaluation#:~:text=A%20strategy%20evaluation%20is%20an,we%20made%20towards%20our%20Vision%3F

 

2. Tom Wright,(2019), strategic evaluation, Available at https://www.smartinsights.com/marketplace-analysis/swot-analysis/ultimate-guide-to-strategic-analysis/#:~:text=Strategic%20analysis%20of%20an%20organization,environment%20to%20formulate%20a%20strategy.

 

 

According to a Cleverism blog article by Anastasia Belyn 2019, strategy marketing is a process of planning, developing and implementing a number of maneuvers to help gain a competitive advantage in a chosen market. In the below content I will be discussing strategic analysis and planning including evaluation of strategic fitness as a process of strategic marketing.

Strategic analysis or environmental scanning is a process of investigating the organizational internal environment  and the external environment, which is crucial before beginning with the formulation of a new strategy.(Bhat Adi, 2020)

In the Internal Environment the marketer firstly needs to understand the mission and vision of the organisation to determine the desired direction the company wants to take and why. The process thereafter proceeds to complete a SWOT or TOWS  analysis, evaluating the strengths, weaknesses of the company and forest opportunities including threats that might avail themselves.

An internal analysis will help determine if the company has sufficient resources and the talent capable for the achievement of its vision. This will also clarify its current position in the market it operates in and how it is perceived.(Tomczak T, Reinecke S, Kuss A, 2018)

In the External Environment, the process continues after a complete internal scanning and move to understanding the market it operates in as a whole and the factors that influence it. This process often requires the use of a P.E.S.T.L.E analysis, which is conducting a look of research on factors including politics; economics; social issues; technology advancement; law and legal matters and environmental policies. A marketer should also pay attention to the behaviour of its target audience and gain a clear understanding of how they buy.(Tomczak T, Reinecke S, Kuss A, 2018)

After getting a proper and defined understanding of your capabilities as an organisation or marketing department and the resources that are availible, the marketer can combine that with the facts gathered from the external environment research to evaluate the strategic fitness and formulate an effective strategy. An effective strategy needs to be a thought out plan for offering value  and a solution to your market.(Belyn A 2019)

Strategic fitness is a principle that considers the degree of alignment between the resources and capabilities at the organisation's disposal for its strategy and the operating environment. This is an evaluation of strengths that the organisation has in alignment to the opportunities available in the market.

Belyh A 2019, The Strategic Marketing Process: A complete Guide. CLEVERISM. Viewed 12 August 2020.  

Bhat A 2020, What is Strategic Analysis. QuestionPro. Viewed 11 August 2020. amp/s/www.questionpro.com/blog/strategic-analysis/

Tomczak T, Reinecke S, Kuss A 2018. Strategic Marketing: Marketing-Oriented Corporate and Business Unit Planning. Berlin Germany. Springer Gabler. Page 19

1.1 Strategic analysis
Strategic analysis is an essential factor when it comes to formulating a plan for the smoother working of your company. Strategic analysis refers to the process of researching an organization and its working environment to formulate a strategy (Gonzales-Benito et al. 2014). It helps the organization to plan ahead and determine which areas need improvement. It further assists in making the organization aware of its competitors so that it will be able to define a proper and accurate strategy that creates a competitive advantage. Strategic analysis is crucial for predicting future events as well as plans for an alternative approach if plan A doesn’t work out. The strategic analysis has two components which are internal and external strategic analysis. The internal strategic analysis gives an overview of the functioning of the company, assess and analyzes the company’s strengths and weaknesses, and establish a strategy that will help you improve your company image. The external analysis makes the organization aware of how the market functions and what consumers require, it measures customer satisfaction towards the organization's products and those of competitors’. This is done to get an overview of how the market functions

1.2 Strategic Planning
The strategic planning process refers to the steps an organization goes through when planning. This process begins by first determining the mission statement, which answers why the organization exists (Boateng and Amponsah. 2015). Thereafter, it determines where you are now as a business by analyzing both internal and external data. This is achieved by utilizing a strategic thinking tool called a SWOT Analysis. The next step is to determine the organization's vision statement, which states the direction of the company, and where it wishes to be in the future. Thereafter, it focuses on articulating long term strategic objectives, and short term goals, using the SMART approach. These goals are then broken down into functional, departmental, and individual levels. The strategic plan also focuses on how the plan will be executed and ensures that the plan is clear to all organizational members.

2.0 Evaluation of strategic fitness 

Strategic fitness means the meeting of the organization’s external environment  with its resources, and capabilities (Rahman and Rahman. 2019. This strategy executes organizational capabilities and indicates how much the organization utilizes its resources and its capabilities. Strategic fitness evaluates the current performance of an organization. It is necessary to evaluate how the organization is capable of achieving its external demands. Strategic fitness requires that all functions within an organization and stages in the supply chain target the same goal, one that is consistent with customer needs.

Reference List

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In a constant strive to improve, organizations must periodically conduct a strategic analysis which will, in turn, help them determine what areas need improvement and areas that are already doing well. Strategic planning is a long-term task involving continuous and systematic planning and resource investment.

Evaluation of strategic fitness
According to habibur and Rah-man(2018;44-46) This is analyzing the strategic plan and assessing how much you have done towards achieving your strategy your goals through your strategy. it evaluates the current performance of an organisation , this is necessary to determine whether the organisation is capable to achieve its external demand. firstly the company have assess their current state and where it want to be in future and whether their resources are sufficient to obtaining their objectives and productivity of their strategic plan.

References
Adi Bhati(2020) strategic analysis. available from https://www.questionpro.com/blog/strategic-analysis

Habibur, M.D. Rahman,A, (2018). strategic fit: Model development and fitness analysis of a  manufacturing unit.(p44-46). https://doi.org/10.1080/21693277.2019.1583143  

In a constant strive to improve, organizations must periodically conduct a strategic analysis which will, in turn, help them determine what areas need improvement and areas that are already doing well. Strategic planning is a long-term task involving continuous and systematic planning and resource investment.

According to habibur and Rah-man (2018;44-46) This is analyzing the strategic plan and assessing how much you have done towards achieving your strategy your goals through your strategy. it evaluates the current performance of an organization; this is necessary to determine whether the organization is capable to achieve its external demand. firstly, the company have assessed their current state and where it wants to be in future and whether their resources are sufficient to obtaining their objectives and productivity of their strategic plan.

Adi Bhati (2020) strategic analysis. available from https://www.questionpro.com/blog/strategic-analysis 

Habibur, M.D. Rahman, A, (2018). strategic fit: Model development and fitness analysis of a manufacturing unit. (p44-46). https://doi.org/10.1080/21693277.2019.1583143 

 
References

Volume 7, 2019 - Issue 1