Strategic Analysis

Strategic Analysis

Part I

What is the value of an idea ? In our modern world , ideas are trashed as useless . It is an adage of our cynical times that ideas are worthless that ideas cost nothing , that ideas are nothing until they are realized To some degree , that is indeed true . However , the reality of that statement does not diminish the value of ideas . Ideas are the starting point of progress , the seeds of innovation , the fuel for a desire and want for more . For that matter , we may think of ideas

as a cyclical process , stemming from a need for more , a desire for something better The great ideas have always brought positive results . We don 't remember the dozens of failed tests , nor the astronauts who died in the way . What we remember out of von Braun 's idea is the images of Armstrong and Aldrin on Mare Tranquilitatis . This is something that leadership should focus on to keep the free flow of ideas . In executing an idea , a leader should champion the idea . He or she should always have a clear picture of what the idea will lead to , what all the effort and expenditures being expended will produce

That said , ideas have an attitude to them . One attitude to ideas is that they always seem to come from outside the organization . This is not surprising . In many organizations , especially large and well organized organizations , there is a tendency for things to fall into a routine Such a thing is unavoidable and even encouraged as a well organized routine and operations is essential to make a large organization perform efficiently . The problem is that ideas are anything but routine as their very nature calls for a unique approach or a one-of-a-kind viewpoint Such novel things are easier seen by people from the outside as they have no preconceived notions embedded in their mindset by routines . As Andy Grove , founder of Intel put it , success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure

This should be taken in consideration when choosing leaders . Oftentimes chosen leaders are too entangled in management that they forego their original designation - to lead . Their job is not to report to higher management , nor to reports , nor to keep the books straight (though it IS part of their duties , their job is to see the project to its fruitful end . On the upper management side , the investment they should put into the leader should be space and time - space and time to screw up , to miss is still on track

Indeed , the ability to maintain leadership under adversity and failure is a rare character trait . There are indeed times where a leader would have no way out , no projections , no positive result , and no foreseeable delivery date . During these times , the success of the project will depend on the leader 's capability to keep the course steady . Moreover , it is important for team morale that the leader 's morale stays up . A leader which...