Chapter 13 Strategic Control McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2009 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning Objectives Describe and illustrate four types of strategic control. Summarize the balanced scorecard approach and how it integrates strategic and operational control. Illustrate the use of controls to guide and monitor strategy implementation. 13-3

Establishing Strategic Controls Strategic control is concerned with tracking a strategy as it is being implemented, detecting problems or changes in its underlying premises, and making necessary adjustments Characterized as a form of “steering control” 13-4

Types of Strategic Control Premise control Strategic surveillance Special alert control Implementation control 13-5

Characteristics of the Four Types of Strategic Control 13-6

Premise Control Premise control is designed to check systematically and continuously whether the premises on which the strategy is based are still valid Environmental factors Industry factors 13-7

Strategic Surveillance Strategic surveillance is designed to monitor a broad range of events inside and outside the firm that are likely to affect the course of its strategy 13-8

Special Alert Control A special alert control is the thorough, and often rapid, reconsideration of the firm’s strategy because of a sudden, unexpected event Contingency plans 13-9

Implementation Control Strategy implementation takes place as series of steps, programs, investments, and moves that occur over an extended time Implementation control is designed to assess whether the overall strategy should be changed in light of the results associated with the incremental actions that implement the overall strategy 13-10

Balanced Scorecard Methodology An alternative approach linking operational and strategic control, developed by Harvard Business School professors Robert Kaplan and David Norton, is a system they names the balanced scorecard The balanced scorecard is a management system (not only a measurement system) that enables companies to clarify their strategies, translate them into action, and provide meaningful feedback 13-11

Balanced Scorecard Four perspectives: The learning and growth perspective: How well are we continuously improving and creating value? The business process perspective: What are our core competencies and areas of operational excellence? The customer perspective: How satisfied are our customers? The financial perspective: How are we doing for our shareholders? 13-12