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Strategic Alignment Cycle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Strategic Management involves the “Art of Winning.” If you want to win, you must embrace change with entrepreneurial passion to create a sustained competitive advantage. What is your end game? Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Commerce is a game of skill which many people play but which few play well.”

English: Ralph_Waldo_Emerson_1940_Issue-3c.jpg Category:Famous Americans Issues Category:Ralph Waldo Emerson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In my class, you will build an arsenal of Strategic Management skills that will help you win in life! You will optimize your personal value chain! The over-riding intent of course is to help you become a more savvy participant in the game of commerce. This will prepare you for a successful management career. This is a big picture course; it cuts across the whole spectrum of business functions that you have studied in your previous coursework. You will synthesize what you have learned in prior classes to make fact-based decisions.

You must focus on the total enterprise: (1) the industry and the competitive environment (2) long run direction and strategy (3) resources and competitive capabilities and (4) prospects for success. You will seek strategic harmony; a blend of sound strategy formulation and effective strategy execution!

Marine Institute Ireland, Strategic_Planning_Symbol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The skills that you build in class, will ultimately maximize the value of your personal and professional assets with a strategic plan that you will deploy. At the end of the semester, you will publish your findings and become an Amazon.com author!

Change Management (Photo credit: larry_odebrecht)
First, you must analyze the Drivers of Change in the External Environment by conducting research using the following model:
Drivers of Change in the External Environment Mindmap: http://www.xmind.net/share/socialmediaevie/drivers-of-change-in-the-external-environment/ #xmind

SIP – Developing the Strategic Improvement Plan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are many topics that you will master throughout the semester. Your Strategic Management Toolkit will be brimming with assets. Here’s an overview of these Strategic Management Tools:
Strategy Toolkit Mindmap: http://www.xmind.net/share/socialmediaevie/strategy-tools-1/ #xmind

Using XMind for Mind Mapping (Photo credit: Wesley Fryer)
In order to win, you must maintain a positive digital reputation. You will build this with another toolkit. Here are the components of your Social Media toolkit:
Social MediaToolkit Mindmap: http://www.xmind.net/share/socialmediaevie/create-and-promote-a-wordpress-blog-1/ #xmind
Click on the “Follow me on Pinterest” You will find “Business Boards” that highlight some of the concepts that we cover in class: http://pinterest.com/socialmediaevie/
When you click on a pin, they generally take you to more in-depth information about the concept.
Here’s an outstanding Introduction to Strategy Video for you to watch:
http://youtu.be/rJ2tmqRkiCM

- SIP – Organization’s Master Plan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
You are the master of your destiny! I truly appreciate your diligence and I wish you the best of luck in all future endeavors.
Dr. EveAnn Lovero teaches Strategic Management and International Business at Lewis University. She writes Travel Guides at www.vino-con-vista.com

It’s a Wonderful World (1939 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)