Strategic management is the process of setting goals, analyzing internal and external factors, making decisions, and taking actions to achieve organizational objectives. The purpose of strategic management is to ensure that an organization is able to adapt to its environment, make informed decisions, and achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
Some key purposes of strategic management include:
1. Setting direction: Strategic management helps organizations define their mission, vision, and values, and set long-term goals and objectives. This provides a clear direction for the organization and helps align all activities towards achieving these goals.
2. Analyzing the environment: Strategic management involves analyzing internal and external factors that may impact the organization's performance. This includes assessing competitors, market trends, technological advancements, and regulatory changes. By understanding the environment, organizations can identify opportunities and threats and make informed decisions.
3. Making decisions: Strategic management involves making decisions about resource allocation, product development, market positioning, and other key aspects of the business. These decisions are based on a thorough analysis of the organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as its long-term goals and objectives.
4. Achieving competitive advantage: Strategic management helps organizations identify their unique strengths and capabilities and leverage them to gain a competitive advantage in the market. By focusing on their core competencies and differentiating themselves from competitors, organizations can create value for customers and achieve sustainable growth.
5. Monitoring and evaluating performance: Strategic management involves monitoring and evaluating the organization's performance against its goals and objectives. This allows organizations to identify areas for improvement, make adjustments to their strategies, and ensure that they are on track to achieve their long-term goals.
Overall, the purpose of strategic management is to help organizations navigate the complex and dynamic business environment, make informed decisions, and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. By setting clear goals, analyzing the environment, making strategic decisions, and monitoring performance, organizations can position themselves for long-term success and growth.