Advantages of Strategic Intent Thinking Essay

IntroductionThough strategic intent opinion and strategic planning aim at one thing, they are rather different from one another. The former involves development and application of high-level and droll business strategies with the aim of attaining competitive advantage for the firm. Strategic intent functions firms to guidance on new capabilities to tap hereafter opportunities. The notion is internally focused and has serious implications on how a business competes. The execute is characterized by immense and long-term target, and relates sense of urgency as well as lengthens attention. The major(ip) purpose of strategic intent is to help organizations share a communal intention in order survive business competition and aline to changes in the business world.Strategic planning is defined by (Miztberg, 1994) as an analysis of business operations. The analysis involves breaking business goals into manage satisfactory parts, scheming how steps are implemented and estimating t he anticipated outcomes of each goal. According to this definition, the process elaborate goals and strategies that already exist. Strategic planning supports strategies that have been developed by strategic thinking.The two processes aims at raising the performance of the firm. However, they have portentous differences. Strategic intent thinking is intent focused. It allows managers and all other stakeholders to displume themselves for as long as a certain strategy works. When apply to Costco Company, it so-and-so be noted that Costco employees are well paid, which eliminates workers turnover. This fashion that the employees at Costco are motivated to ensure strategy works no government issue the time it takes.Strategic intent thinking takes into consideration the past, the present and the future, unlike strategic planning which considers the future only. This means that strategy should not be driven by the future intent alone. The gap between instantly and tomorrow is ver y important when devising a business strategy. In addition to this, strategic intent think is responsive to business opportunities. This means that managers who employ this system of thinking are able to identify future opportunities and prepare to take them. Costco seems to employ this strategy. The company managers anticipate its sales to overture by 2017 because of the increased use of the internet. Internet continues to create new command for goods and services. This means that Costco must revise its goals and missions to tap the demand being created by the use of the internet.According to( DeGeus ,1988) the traditional view of strategy emphasizes on the degree to which a business fits between current opportunities and existing resources while strategic intent brings misfit between ambitions and resources. He further argues that the process requires a soma of people who should understand their organizations work. This way, they will be able to think strategically and work to wards achieving organizational goals.Back to our case study, it can be noted that Costco understands that a business does not operate in vacuum. With this in mind, Costco strives to conserve the environment by reducing greenhouse bungle emissions. This is one way of cutting down operational costs, and can help the company achieve a competitive advantage. On the other hand, Costco pays its employees more(prenominal) salary than the industry average. This way, Costco is able to operate at serene environment, which has no disruptions such as strikes.ReferencesDeGeus, A. P. (1988, March/April). Planning as learning. Harvard Business Review, 70-74.Mintzberg, H. (1994). The oarlock and rise of strategic planning. Harvard Business Review, 107-114.