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Organisations need robust strategic architecture for success
Author: Corporate Communication / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie [Alec Basson]
Published: 01/06/2018

Organisations need a robust strategic architecture to be competitive and successful in a fast-changing world.

This was one of the viewpoints of Prof Marius Ungerer of Stellenbosch University Business School in his inaugural lecture on Thursday (31 May 2018). The topic of his address was A strategic architecture perspective to stimulate strategising in organisations.

According to Ungerer, a strategic architecture can be seen as an organisation's core logic for creating sustainable value, and therefore forms the foundation of an organisation's competitive potential

He said an organisation's strategic architecture increases its chances of success and underlies the success or failure of any strategy.

“A strategic architecture view on an organisation facilitates alignment and focus on the core strategic choices the organisation makes to achieve success. The successful execution of both planned and emergent strategies relies on clarity about the future strategic aspirations and options of an organisation." ungerer.JPG

“It also influences the current competitive behaviour of the enterprise and may, therefore, explain why an organisation seems not to be competitive in current terms. The departure point is that competitive behaviour and potential can be altered and influenced when an organisation redefines its strategic architecture."

Ungerer pointed out that the elements of the strategic architecture of an organisation consist of strategic leadership; analysis and synthesis of both external and internal factors that can influence the strategic landscape and context of an organisation; strategy formulation and development practices; the use of multiple futures perspectives; the enablement of strategy execution through strategy mobilisation, strategy translation and strategy monitoring practices; the use of strategy renewal and innovation practices to bolster the competitiveness and sustainability of an organisation; and entrepreneurial leadership.

He highlighted the importance of a people-centric approach during strategising processes and practices to ensure maximum support, enthusiasm and momentum for the strategic journey.

Ungerer said a strategic architecture perspective can be developed for both profit and not-for-profit organisations if the leadership aspiration and will exist to create and deliver outputs to meet and exceed stakeholder needs and expectations.

“Even if the objective is not to make a profit, every organisation has a purpose that encapsulates its reason for being. It must plan strategically to achieve this purpose," he added.

  • ​Main photo: Pixabay
  • Photo 1: Prof Marius Ungerer (second from left) with Proff Wim de Villiers, SU Rector en Vice-Chancellor, Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and Piet Naudé, Director of Stellenbosch University Business School, at the inaugural lecture.