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

Strategy is critical to the process of charting a company’s direction in the business environment. When evaluating strategic choices, it is important to understand key advantages and disadvantages of the various options under consideration. Decision models continue to impact strategy development and should continuously be evaluated, and others considered.

Minimum of 500 words in the body.

Minimum of 2 sources from the literature in addition to course texts.

Use bolded headings below in the discussion.

Current APA format must be used.

Use the following outline:

· Introduction

· Process: Setting the Company’s Direction with Strategy – What is the process for setting the company’s direction with strategy. Discuss the process in no less than 200 words

· Strategic Thinking: Key Advantage or Disadvantage  – What is a key advantage or disadvantage from the Rumelt text. Discuss the advantage or disadvantage and why it is important in no less than 200 words.

· Decision Model – No less than 100 words

· How do my decision models aid / hinder the process of setting the company’s direction with strategy and why? Discuss your model(s) and why they aid or hinder direction setting process.

· What other decision models are being considered and why? Discuss what models you are considering using as a better choice and why.

· Conclusion

Support your factual assertions with citations.

Include an Annotated Bibliography, in current APA format, of the 2 additional Sources:

· Minimum of 250 words in each annotation

· Use the bolded headings below for each annotation

Use the following outline:

· Summary of Key Points

· Evaluation of the Quality of the Publication 

· Evaluation of the Quality of the Author(s) 

· Where this fits into the discussion

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

You will reply to one of your classmate’s thread. Minimum of 250 words in the body.

Minimum of 2 sources from the literature in addition to course texts.

Use bolded headings below in the reply.

Current APA format must be used.

Use the following Outline:

· Summary –  Sumarize the author’s original thread in no less than 125 words.

· Critique – Discuss what you agreed with, did not agree with and why in no less than 125 words.

Support your factual assertions with citations.