Strategic Decision Making
Wednesday May 13, 2015 

Decision-making is a central element of strategic processes within firms. A firm’s strategic position, resource sets, and degree of competitive advantage are the outcome of a string of “big-bet” strategic decisions. Thus, these decisions are central in determining the strategic success or failure of the firm. However, manager’s experiences, stories in the business press, and academic research all demonstrate that the strategic decisions often fail. Are these failures an inevitable outcome due to the riskiness of the decisions, or are they predictable surprises? In this program, we will explore the process of strategic decision-making and will aim to identify issues that both impede and improve the likelihood of decision success. In our discussions, we will examine how the characteristics of decision makers, the structure and dynamics of the decision team, and the steps used in the decision process all impact the likelihood of decision success. At the end of the program, participants will have new insights on the factors that predictably but unnecessarily lead organizations to fail in the strategic actions they undertake and the tips they can employ to avoid predictable surprises.

Location:
The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development
3535 Forest Rd
Lansing, MI 48910