Lafley, Martin, and Riel (2013) suggest that strategic thinking does not need to be overly complex, and that a simple framework in which one rigorously answers five questions can be a strong starting point for developing a Strategy Playbook. As importantly, they suggest that this "five-question strategy playbook" is relevant for all kinds of organizations.
Here are the five questions:
- What is your winning aspiration? (What to you stand for and believe deeply in?)
- Where will you play? (Who will you serve, and who will either help or compete against you?)
- How will you win? (How will you create unique value?)
- Which capabilities must be in place (to win)? (What skills, competencies, and capabilities do you need now and in the future?)
- What management systems are required? (Do you have a supporting culture, structure, systems, and appropriate measures to implement a strategy?)
This week, and during the remainder of the course, you will use this framework as a starting point for analyzing case study examples, and for building your own Strategy Playbook. Additionally, this week you will create a "strategy map" of the Signature Theatre, which you will use as a template for creating such a map for your Strategy Playbook later in the course.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review all required readings, including the Weekly Briefing, which provides additional guidance on how to complete the Assignment.
- Review this week's case study. You can, and should, scan it multiple times.
- Identify and review all relevant readings from the Capstone Program Bibliography.
By Day 3, post a polished analysis that responds to each of the three prompts below:
- How would you explain the success of James Houghton and
the Signature Theatre using the "five-question strategy
playbook" and Wolfe's "living organization" as your frames
of reference? Be specific.
Then, review the Joseph (2009) article on implementing a balanced scorecard (a way to measure one's strategy playbook). Recall that you read this article in a prior MBA course. Pay particular attention to pages 119–123. - Using the strategy map illustrated on p. 122 as a guide, create a similar strategy map for the Signature Theatre (circa 2014). Attach your map to your original post in the Discussion board.
- Based on your strategy map and earlier
response, what should Houghton do in the future? Why? How?
NOTE: This is the most important element of your response and requires an analytic, rather than descriptive response.
