Week 4 Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Week 4 Discussion Questions - Essay Example Leadership is an important element in strategy implementation because it provides the vision, the direction, and the emotional impetus to achieve tactical goals. Without it, strategy is naught. An example of a CEO’s key role in strategy implementation may be represented in the case of Cofidis headed by Michel Guillois. When Cofidis was facing stiff competition from web based companies, Michel Guillois guided it through the transition from a primarily direct marketing business to a broad range web marketed enterprise. Furthermore, Michel Guillois leadership style helped negotiate the issues presented in the tactical implementation of the strategy by competitors, cross-culturalism, and unpaid accounts. Thus, leadership is an important element of strategy implementation. Next, under what conditions would it be more appropriate to fill a key management position with someone from outside the firm when a qualified insider is available? There are at least two situations in which this may be appropriate. The first is when all the qualified people in house are needed elsewhere. For example, say Cofidis has the skills to implement a new website full of all of the features necessary to address the current tactical challenges, but those managers skilled in web development are engaged in a data migration project. It might be more feasible for Cofidis to hire from outside than to divert resources in house. Another example is when hiring from outside ads additional benefits. Say where Cofidis is engaging increasingly in web marketing, it may be more cost effective to hire an advertising manager than to have an information systems professional do double duty. Furthermore, it may bring added insights and innovations of the new blood. These are just two of many po ssible reasons a company may want to hire management from the outside even if the skills are present in house. Last, what has gone well and not so well so far in this class? What areas do we