MGT599-MOD4-SLP-Strategic Choices

Running head MGT599_MOD-SLP-Strategic choices

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July 19th , 2010

MGT599_MOD-SLP-Strategic choices

Strategic choices in management

Strategic alternatives are required at all levels of management in a company . These levels include corporate , business and functional levels . Strategies at the functional level are known to be short term . At the functional level , the reference is aimed at addressing the functions of the organization . The examples to these functions are customer service , management of materials , manufacturing and marketing (Craig Sadler2003 .The other level is the business level

, which has strategies that are at medium range . These strategies are inclusive of the distribution channels , geographic locations and the position of the organization in the market

The last level in the strategic alternatives is the corporate level , which has long term strategies and has the options of strategic alliances , acquisitions , mergers and vertical and horizontal integration . Companies have always , selectively designed their strategies so that they can have a competitive advantage over the other companies competing with them in the market (Hitt Ireland , 2009 . The sustained competitive advantages are not copied easily or imitated by the other companies

Porter 's generic strategies basically focus on cost and differentiation . In the recent times , there has been invention of more strategies which are niche focus and pre-emptive move which is also described as first mover advantage . This four strategies namely cost leadership , differentiation , niche focus and pre-emptive have different ways of being approached by different organizations (Joyce Woods2001

Cost leadership has to do with maintenance of...