Discussion response

Post ID: 3486711

Ann Watters

Feb 1 5:25pm

Reply from Ann Watters

Discussion Thread: Setting Direction, Advantages/Disadvantages, and Decision Models

Ann M. Watters

Doctorate of Business Administration, Liberty University

BUSI502: Servant Leadership

Dr. Jerrod Gatlin

Author Note

Ann M. Watters

I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ann Watters.

Email: [email protected]

Introduction

Organizations should have a solid strategic direction to succeed. Business strategies need to be flexible and monitored. This discussion will examine how to set a company's direction through strategy, the advantages of having a strategic plan, the decision models used, and how this aligns with the Bible.

Process: Setting the Company's Direction with Strategy

To set up a solid strategic plan, organizations need to know where they are going and how they will get there (Gamble, 2024). Organizations need to have a solid vision, mission, and values statement; these are the foundations of their strategy. Next, set strategic objectives, such as locations, financial goals, and operational goals. Objectives need to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based (SMART). These objectives set the stage for the organization for the executives to communicate with employees.

Along with the company's objectives, employees should set SMART goals that align with them. According to Chowhan et al. (2024), goal setting and planning relate managers' activities to the organization's performance goals. Managers need to meet the organization's objectives; in turn, they set goals, provide training, and evaluate employee performance to ensure those objectives are achieved. Financial objectives are the next step. These should look at how many new and returning customers there are, and which products or services are selling. This will provide information and allow executives to make changes to products or services or to their target market. Organizations use a balanced scorecard approach because it measures their performance against both strategic and financial objectives, providing a comprehensive view of the organization's performance (Gamble, 2024). Having company objectives and employee goals provides both short-term and long-term goals for the organization to achieve its ultimate objective. When all aspects of the strategy are completed, the organization should have a full view of its products, target market, pricing, and marketing. Once objectives are established, they need to be implemented, monitored, and adjusted when needed. This will give them a strategic competitive advantage. They should also use a decision model for monitoring. Periodic SWOT analyses will provide both internal and external views and identify what needs to change.

Strategic Thinking: Key Advantage or Disadvantage

There are several advantages to having a strategic plan. One is to have a solid strategic plan, as this shows the company's direction. The primary advantage is having a competitive advantage. The strategic plan helps manage resources efficiently, including employees. When evaluating objectives and goals, this will keep the organization ahead of its competition. Business is continually changing, and executives need to be aware of what their competitors are doing and whether any changes are needed. According to Rumlet (2011) organizations should a guiding light policy. This policy creates an advantage by anticipating others' actions and reactions, reducing the ambiguity and complexity of the situation, providing leverage, and, by creating a coherent plan, enabling each area to build on the others. Another area is planning, which helps create a sustainable advantage with employees by understanding what the competition is paying for. This allows the organization to stay ahead by paying employees more or providing more benefits, and it can also help attract more workers. Having a strategic human resource management approach and developing employees to learn quickly and apply it more effectively than competitors gives an organization a competitive advantage (Glichlee et al., 2026). Using all resources effectively allows them to maintain a competitive advantage. Flexibility in the strategic plan will enable organizations to assess and make decisions faster. This organization is proactive rather than reactive in monitoring its competition.

Decision Model

SWOT analysis aids the development of a strategic plan. This shows the organisation's strengths and weaknesses, as well as its opportunities and threats. Using the SWOT analysis decision model and taking the time to analyse the situation can show them how to maximise opportunities and protect themselves from the threats (Krogerus & Tschappeler, 2017). The other decision model was SMART goals. Using this model keeps goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Goals are more focused, and managers can evaluate an employee's performance because they are job-specific and must be completed within a specific timeframe. These are my go-to decision models because they provide structure for employees in both cases. The other model I would use is the team model. This model tells me whether my team members are in the right place or need to be moved around. This helps evaluate everyone's skills, including their soft and hard skills, their dependability and motivation, and their ability to use computer programs and a copier (Krogerus & Tschappeler, 2017). Team models help me understand each employee at their level, and each employee is in a position where they can excel.

Biblical Integration

God created us and provided each of us with spiritual gifts. When we tap into these gifts, it will show us our path even in our careers. Whether you are a janitor or a manager, we, as Christians, should know our purpose in the work God has chosen for us. Business owners should make a strategic plan because running a business is their purpose, as he is guiding us (Keller 2012). We need to understand that our managers and employees are in our path because God is putting them there and showing us the right people to assist them. "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed (Proverbs15:22). Prayer is a way to stay connected to God and to listen to what he is saying to us. We also need to live in the day and be present with what is going on in our business. When business is going well, we should not judge others or boast about it. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:10). We never know what the next day will bring, so we need to help others and praise God for all he has done for us. One thing I always say is I get to go to work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, organizations should develop a strategic plan with a clear, concise vision, mission, and value statements. They also need a strategic objective for management and finance. These objectives help create goals for employees to achieve, which will help the organization attain its overall objectives. They also need to implement objectives effectively for them to work. Everyone should have a clear understanding of the organization's objectives. One advantage of a strategic plan is having a competitive advantage over its competitors. Businesses need to stay ahead of the competition to avoid losing their employees and customers. The decision models used were the SWOT analysis and SMART goals. By using these, the organizations can evaluate how they are doing both internally and externally and have clear goals for their staff. Biblical integration means having someone to help us plan and guide us.

Annotated Bibliography

Chowhan, J., Mann, S., & Budworth, M. (2026). Feedback, training, goal-setting, planning, and performance: understanding the pathway to improved organizational outcomes. Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijm-12-2023-0737Links to an external site.

Summary of Key Points

This article was about feedback, training, goal setting, planning, and performance, which could improve organizational outcomes. Business is dynamic and changes quickly. It took into consideration global competition. It examined contributing factors to successful planning, management practices, training for skills development, operational feedback, and goal-setting. The purpose of this study was to explore the positive relationship among managerial activities that generate feedback, training in planning performance outcomes, and goal setting. They found that managerial activities are positively related to performance outcomes and planning, and that they improve organizational results.

Evaluation of Quality of Publication

The publisher is the International Journal of Manpower, a reputable outlet. This article was written in 2024, which is currently. The publisher had a site score of 10.6, indicating this is a reputable source.

Evaluation of Quality of the Author (s)

The author's quality was good; they presented it in a clear, well-ordered manner. They explained how they conducted their study. They conducted a literature review within three frameworks. They developed three hypotheses and used data to evaluate their study.

They included an abstract, introduction, background, each main point, and the study results. They used good resources for this study.

Where this fits into the discussion

This fits into the planning section and the relationship between managerial planning and organizational goals. Managers who have a strategic plan and goals for employees have a positive impact on the organization and can meet their goals and company objectives.

Ghlichlee, B., Mohammadkhani, E., & Hatami, A. (2026). Knowledge-enhancing HR practices and sustainable competitive advantage: the mediating role of intellectual capital in knowledge-based firms. Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/jic-05-2023-0120Links to an external site.

Summary of Key Points

The main points of this article were the relationship between HR and sustainable competitive advantage. They provided background in the business environment and the global human capital trends. The importance of intellectual capital, such as human capital. Strategic human resource capital helps achieve a competitive advantage.

Evaluation of Quality of Publications

The publisher is Emerald Publishing; it has a CiteScore of 13.9, which is reputable. This article was proofread and contained no errors; it was published in 2026.

Evaluation of Quality of the Author (s)

There were three authors: Ghlichlee has an H-4 score based on 6 documents, Mohammadkhani has an H-1 score based on 1 document, and Hatami has an H-2 score based on 2 papers. They included an abstract, introduction, background, each main point, and the study results. They used knowledge-based firms for their study. They conducted a literature review on knowledge-enhancing HR practices, intellectual capital, sustainable competitive advantage, knowledge-enhancing HR practices with intellectual capital, intellectual capital with sustainable competitive advantage, and HR practices with sustainable competitive advantage.

Where this fits into the discussion

This section of the discussion was one advantage of strategic planning. The one advantage is having a sustainable competitive advantage over the competition. Having a competitive advantage, an organization needs to use all of its resources effectively. This article showed the importance of using a human capital strategy by training them quickly and effectively to stay ahead of the competition.

References

Keller, T., & Alsdorf, K. L. (2014). Every good endeavour: Connecting your work to God's plan for the world. Hodder & Stoughton.

Krogerus, M., & Tschäppeler, R. (2017). The decision book: Fifty models for strategic thinking. Profile Books.

Rumelt, R. P. (2011). Good strategy, bad strategy: The difference and why it matters. Crown Business.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (2005). Zondervan.