STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PROCESS

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📖 DEFINITION

Strategic management is the complete process that companies use to plan, implement, and control their long-term direction. It helps organizations achieve their goals and stay competitive in the market.

(Le management stratégique est le processus complet que les entreprises utilisent pour planifier, mettre en œuvre et contrôler leur direction à long terme. Il aide les organisations à atteindre leurs objectifs et à rester compétitives sur le marché.)

The strategic management process has three main phases that work together in a continuous cycle:

1️⃣ FORMULATION Planning
2️⃣ IMPLEMENTATION Action
3️⃣ CONTROL Monitoring

1️⃣ PHASE 1: FORMULATION (Planning)

This is the thinking and planning phase. The company analyzes its situation and decides what strategy to follow.

Step 1: Strategic Diagnosis (Analysis)

Understanding the current situation by analyzing two areas:

A. External Analysis (What is happening outside the company?)

B. Internal Analysis (What are the company's strengths and weaknesses?)

Step 2: Setting General Objectives

Defining clear goals that the company wants to achieve in the long term.

Examples: Increase market share by 20%, expand to 3 new countries, improve customer satisfaction to 90%, reduce costs by 15%

Step 3: Determining the Strategic Gap

Identifying the difference between where the company is now and where it wants to be.

Formula: Strategic Gap = Desired Position - Current Position

Step 4: Design of Strategic Options

Creating different possible strategies to close the strategic gap.

Examples: Enter new markets, develop new products, form partnerships, reduce costs, improve quality, acquire competitors

Step 5: Evaluation and Selection of Strategy

Analyzing each option and choosing the best strategy based on:

2️⃣ PHASE 2: IMPLEMENTATION (Action)

This is the action phase. The company puts the chosen strategy into practice by organizing resources and people.

Key Implementation Elements:

1. Resource Management

Allocating and organizing money, people, equipment, and time to support the strategy.

2. Information Systems

Setting up systems to collect, process, and share information needed for decision-making and coordination.

3. Organizational Design

Creating or changing the company structure (departments, teams, reporting lines) to fit the strategy.

4. Management System

Establishing leadership practices, decision-making processes, and performance management systems.

5. People Behavior and Culture

Managing change, motivating employees, building the right culture, and ensuring everyone understands and supports the strategy.

3️⃣ PHASE 3: CONTROL (Monitoring)

This is the monitoring and adjustment phase. The company checks if the strategy is working and makes corrections when needed.

Two Types of Strategic Control:

1. Implementation Control

Checking if the strategy is being executed correctly and achieving the planned results.

Activities:

2. Vigilance Control (Strategic Watch)

Continuously monitoring the external environment for new changes, threats, or opportunities.

Activities:

💡 Important: The Process is Continuous!

Strategic management is not a one-time activity. It is a continuous cycle where control feedback leads back to formulation. Companies must constantly analyze, adjust, and improve their strategies to stay competitive.

🏢 MOROCCAN COMPANY EXAMPLES

OCP Group (Office Chérifien des Phosphates)

Formulation:

Implementation:

Control:

Attijariwafa Bank

Formulation:

Implementation:

Control:

📚 VOCABULARY BOX

English Français
Strategic managementManagement stratégique
FormulationFormulation
ImplementationMise en œuvre
ControlContrôle
Strategic diagnosisDiagnostic stratégique
External analysisAnalyse externe
Internal analysisAnalyse interne
Strategic gapBrèche / Écart stratégique
Strategic optionsOptions stratégiques
ObjectivesObjectifs
Resource managementGestion des ressources
Organizational designDesign organisationnel
Information systemsSystèmes d'information
Strategic watchVeille stratégique
Performance monitoringSuivi de la performance
To implementMettre en œuvre
To monitorSurveiller / Contrôler
Competitive advantageAvantage concurrentiel