Strategic Plan Update I Running head: STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE I

Strategic Plan Update I Willie F. Cason STRTM/581 Steven Hultgren January 10, 2012

Strategic Plan Update I This paper will explain the strategic plan for Kudler Fine Foods. The strategic

plan will be based on the environment scan performed previously. The paper will explain basic IT objectives, identify strategic plan options, and evaluate each option in terms of how well it aligns with current business objectives. Strategic planning is Kudlers method of identifying their direction, and making decisions on allocating the resources to pursue their strategy. Strategic competiveness can attained only when the firms selected structure is congruent with its formulated strategy ( Gomez-Mejia et al., Chapter 7, pg 28). Kudlers management realizes that in order to establish the course of the organization, it is paramount to understand their current position. In the companys current position they must identify the possible avenues that they can follow to a particular course of action. The particular course of action which is the strategic planning may be used to successfully chart Kudlers longerterm direction of the company. Although, the company cannot use strategic planning to reliably forecast what the market will do, and what problems or issues will emerge in the immediate future strategic planning will be the starting point for Kudler. In essence, strategic planning, innovation, and tinkering will be a necessary cornerstone strategy for Kudler to continue their existence in the chaotic business climate. Kudler Fine Foods management will determine how to align business and technology objectives to improve their financial performance and marketplace competiveness. Kudler Fine Foods management is aware that this alignment is in contrast to what most companies are experiencing. What most companies are experiencing is IT and business professionals unable or not willing to close the gap between themselves due to differences in objectives, culture, and incentives. In addition,

Strategic Plan Update I

there is mutual ignorance for the other groups body of work and knowledge. Therefore, a rift generally results in high-priced IT systems, which does not provide adequate return on the companys investment. Primarily, the initiative to search for Business / IT Alignment is closely related with efforts to advance the business value of IT investments. Therefore, to advance the business value of IT investments often includes efforts to establish trust between these two groups and a mechanism for consensus decisionmaking. Kudler Fine Foods management will compare and contrast strategic plan options by first making a comparison of setting goals and deciding on how is the best way to reach that goal. Management will then formulate and implement strategies geared to optimizing strategic goal achievement by contrasting the given available environmental and internal conditions that present an obstacle or hurdle for the company. The objective that Kudler Fine Foods is hoping to accomplish with this new direction is to implement steps in the companys strategic management process to be able for identifying what will make the organization have a sustained superior performance. Kudler Fine Food realizes that for every decision employed will affect the external and internal environment data. The effect on the external and internal environment data used will determine the organizations strategic intent, mission and its core values will identify to the organization what direction they are headed and what the company stands for. Kudler Fine Foods management will evaluate each option in terms of how well it aligns with current business objectives by conducting a SWOT analysis for Kudler Fine Foods to determine the companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The technologies that could be implemented to help accomplish the new direction will be the

Strategic Plan Update I intranet, which caters to the employees needs and also enable them to pass information within the organization. Research indicates that the percentage of companies using IT to support competitive intelligence increased from 31 percent in 19993 to about 50

percent in 1999 ( Turban et al., Chapter 13, pg 5). The internet was also used as a tool to serve their intended customers about their plan of operation and the services they render-like a voice in the community. This paper explained the strategic plan for Kudler Fine Foods. The strategic plan was based on the environment scan performed previously. The paper also explained the basic IT objectives, identified strategic plan options, and evaluated each option in terms of how well it aligned with current business objectives.

Strategic Plan Update I References Gomez-Mejia, Luis R Balkin, David B (2002) Management 1. New York : The McGraw Hill Companies. Turban, Efraim. Rainer, R. Kelly. Potter, Richard E. (2003) Introduction to Information Technology. New York: John Wiley and Sons Inc.