Examination on Business Management: Critically Assessing Mintzberg's and Porter's Models for Strategic Planning

This examination on business management critically assesses Mintzberg's and Porter's models for strategic planning. It discusses the extent to which Mintzberg's emergent planning model represents a more realistic view of how the strategic planning process operates in a modern organization. It also assesses how managers can use Porter's Five Forces model as part of the strategic planning process. The examination includes an overview of the strategic planning process and its importance, as well as an analysis of the application of Mintzberg's and Porter's models for Tesco. The references include books and journals on competitive business management, social network analytics, knowledge transfer, and family business management.

Examination on
business management

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
QUESTION 2 ..................................................................................................................................3
Critically assess Mintzberg’s view of the classical, deliberate, formal model of strategic
planning. Discuss, using examples, the extent to which his alternative, emergent planning
model represents a more realistic view of how the strategic planning process operates in a
modern organization....................................................................................................................3
QUESTION 3 ..................................................................................................................................6
Porter’s Five Forces to analyse the industry of an organization, Critically assess how
managers can use the model as part of the strategic planning process.......................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

MAIN BODY
QUESTION 2
Critically assess Mintzberg’s view of the classical, deliberate, formal model of strategic
planning. Discuss, using examples, the extent to which his alternative, emergent
planning model represents a more realistic view of how the strategic planning process
operates in a modern organization
It is compulsory for an organization at the marketplace to expand its operations with
better strategy. This will help the company to develop a classical approach in framing effective
and efficient strategy for the organization (Brondoni, 2018). It is also a key responsibility of the
company to analyse all consequences of learning and development in order to implement
Mintzberg’s theory. This theory deals in supporting the establishment and formulation of a
developing strategy to focus organizational development. The Mintzberg’s theory is mentioned
below with the application of five elements:
 Plan- The planning is essential in order to formulate risk free development in the
company to formulate systematic development. It is also crucial for the company to
develop effective planning for the future to achieve marketing objectives. The
organization should also evaluate advice of all management staff in order to plan
specifically for different operations. The planning should be risk free according to
Mintzberg’s approach for desired success of the company. In the corporate world,
companies also prefer to choose appropriate plans in marketplace for systematic
development. The planning should be also effective in order to formulate the main
decisions with the help of appropriate leadership style.
 Strategy as Ploy- According to Mintzberg's theory, this concept says that getting the
better of competitors, by plotting to disrupt, dissuade, discourage, or otherwise influence
them, can be part of a strategy (Haldorai, 2018). Plotting is essential for a business entity
in order to get edge over different competitors in a set period of time. Plotting is also
essential for the company to develop effective edge over other competitors. Companies
should also develop and manage effective strategy to plot changes in the business with
the help of precise strategy. It is also compulsory for the business to deeply develop
effective measures in order to develop patent and copyrights. The companies should also

take assistance of trade mark and copyrights for systematic development of business. It is
also a major business function of a company to develop plot strategy to point out
different competitors. It is also a major job of top level management to support plotting.
 Strategy as a pattern- It should be major role of a company to develop strategy of the
business as a pattern in order to briefly analyse the market situation. The patterns of
company development should be selected with the help of effective measures for the
company in order to seek attention of customers. In the business organizations, strategy is
developed and formulated with the help of past company experience and analysis to gain
competitive edge (Jena, 2018). The company should also take into consideration, major
roles and responsibilities which decide future of the business in order to compete at the
marketplace.
 Strategy as position- This refers to developing and selecting right geographical location
for the company. It will also help the company to easily sell products and services with
appropriate positioning. Company identifies target customers in the first instance and also
develop a precise planning for the achievement of long term organizational goals. It is
also one of the major function of organization to lead the competition by selecting
geographical location which has large amount of customer base. Business organization
should select appropriate positioning with the help of professional and skilled marketing
management to gain competency edge.
 Strategy as a perspective- The strategy chosen or developed by a company should be
taken into consideration as a perception of employees. The perspective of company
should be highlighted by different consequences of marketplace in order to develop
positive perspective of employees. The motivation can be a key force behind the
company which enables it to develop positive focus on different operations.

Overview of strategic planning process-
The strategic planning process is an effective approach which is beneficial for increasing
competitive strength of the company (Jena, 2020). It is also one of the major responsibility of the
company to contribute genuinely to strategic process planning in order to develop systematic
operations. The strategic planning process for Tesco is mentioned below:
 Plan- The plan is an effective way of future growth which helps a business to develop
effective and efficient operations. In the first phase, management of Tesco develops a
perfect strategic plan in order to achieve marketing objectives. The strategic planning is
developed by professionals with the support of skilled and trained employees. Also it is
major responsibility of a company to develop planning in order to comply with
organizational policies for future development. It is also one of the major task of
professional management to develop a major function of planning. The companies should
also analyse key factors which are present in the organization to develop strategic
planning.
 Implementation and Action- The second stage is implementation and action which
includes the brief analysis. Also it is key responsibility of a business to focus on
implementation with appropriate supervision and control to lead the marketplace.
Implementation should be done with proper vigilance and support information and
technology to develop management operations in fast and accurate manner.
 Feedback- It is also major responsibility of a business to develop feedback from different
customers to analyse the performance. It is essential for the Tesco to take regular
feedback from employees in order to grow at faster pace in the marketplace. The
company should also involve ethical practices while taking feedback and effective
performance (Lombardi, 2019). Companies should include major practices of developing
business parameters in order to gain desired market growth.
 Modifications- In the strategic planning the last stage is about developing essential
modifications in the plan. The modifications should be prepared while taking into
consideration different parameters of feed and suggestions from the employees.

QUESTION 3
Porter’s Five Forces to analyse the industry of an organization, Critically assess how
managers can use the model as part of the strategic planning process
The Porter's five forces model is an affective approach which is helpful in developing
competitive advantage for a business firm. It is the major responsibility of a company to analyse
Porter's Five Forces in order to develop different functions. Company should focus on taking
assistance of the analysis in order to compete with different industries. Overall effectiveness of
the industry should be analysed with the help of Porter's five forces model for company
development (Matheson, 2017). Major role of a business should be in order to briefly evaluate
all the major factors to conduct an internal analysis of the organization. In this answer, example
of Tesco company is taken into consideration which is a multinational retail company based in
UK. The company was founded in 1919 and was founded at East End of London to evaluate
major practices in retail sector. The Porter's five forces analysis for Tesco is mentioned below:
 Bargaining power of buyers- It refers to the capacity of buyers to bargain against
business products and services. In case of Tesco, bargaining power of buyers is high as
there are many outstanding retail companies are present in the marketplace. Attention of
the customers must be drawn by Tesco, by providing quality services.
 Bargaining power of suppliers- In the case of Tesco, bargaining power of suppliers is
moderate, earlier it was high. With the impact caused by Brexit, bargaining power of
supplier has decreased in the company. Tesco should focus on developing bargaining
power of suppliers in order to increase revenue and profitability. It is also major duty of
management of management to focus on bargaining power of suppliers for company
development.
 Threat of substitutes- In the marketplace after the evolution of globalisation, companies
have threat of substitutes in marketplace. It is essential for a company to focus on threat
of substitutes in order to lead the marketplace. The Tesco should evaluate different
sources that are substitutes and develop the product and services. It is also a crucial
responsibility of management to focus on substitutes and develop product according to
needs and demands of target customers.

 Threat of new entry- There is always a threat of new entry for the company in
marketplace. It is major responsibility of the company to analyse new entries with the
help of prediction from strategic management at the marketplace. It is also key
responsibility of management to develop product life cycle for developing systematic
approach in production process. In order to minimise threat from new entry it is
compulsory for the business entity to develop a precise strategy for risk minimisation in
order to face threat from new entry.
 Competitive rivalry- Companies in the international and national marketplace face a
tough competition from existing competitors. The competitive rivalry is considered as a
major competitors which are giving stiff competition to the companies. The current
competitors of Tesco are Marks and Spencer and Walmart which impacts on profitability
of the company.

Application of Porter's five forces for strategic planning:
The Porter's five forces provides a brief overview of external environment of the
company to develop internal analysis. It is also major role of management to analyse all the
elements in porters five forces to lead the competition. In strategic planning this model provides
insight to develop the solution related to risk free planning. It gives a typical information in the
form of summary to company for analysing the competition. The Porter's five forces model is
also helpful in providing benefits that are effective in increasing competitive strength of
company. It is also appropriate to select the approach which is suitable for developing this
analysis in a precise manner to develop company's operations (Ratten, 2020). The strategic
planning should be done in an effective manner to achieve all short and long term goals of Tesco.
Tesco should also adopt change management in the organization to face new consequences and
challenges. Porter's five forces will be analysed by the company to face competitors with
effective strategy. The strategic planning should be executed with proper supervision and control
in a company in order to seek attention of different market forces. In order to briefly analyse
whole strategic plan, it is the duty of management to apply appropriate theories of management.
The company can also choose effective leadership with the help of strategic planning at the
marketplace. In order to develop a precise approach, the top level and board of directors to
develop the proper planning related to functions and tasks. The importance of strategic planning
are mentioned below:
 It makes the company competitive in the market to develop effective products and service
to target customers.
 The strategic planning also helps company to analyse its marketing aspects and to
develop operations accordingly.
 Strategic planning also helps a company to gain sustainable growth at the marketplace.
 The strategic planning also helps an organization to develop key roles and responsibilities
related to strategic development.
 It helps in minimising the actual risk associated with the operations and leads towards
market success.
 Strategic planning is also a major term which helps a company to distinguish its
operations from the competitors.
 It increases the financial strength of the company.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brondoni, S.M., 2018. Competitive Business Management and Global Competition. An
Introduction. In Competitive Business Management (pp. 21-42). Routledge.
Haldorai, A., Ramu, A. and Murugan, S., 2018. Social Aware Cognitive Radio Networks:
Effectiveness of Social Networks as a Strategic Tool for Organizational Business Management.
In Social network analytics for contemporary business organizations (pp. 188-202). IGI Global.
Jena, R.K., 2018. Predicting students’ learning style using learning analytics: a case study of
business management students from India. Behaviour & Information Technology, 37(10-11),
pp.978-992.
Jena, R.K., 2020. Measuring the impact of business management Student's attitude towards
entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention: A case study. Computers in Human
Behavior, 107, p.106275.
Lombardi, R., 2019. Knowledge transfer and organizational performance and business process:
past, present and future researches. Business Process Management Journal.
Matheson, R. and Sutcliffe, M., 2017. Creating belonging and transformation through the
adoption of flexible pedagogies in masters level international business management
students. Teaching in Higher Education, 22(1), pp.15-29.
Ratten, V., Manesh, M.F., and Dabic, M., 2020. The journal of family business management: a
bibliometric analysis. Journal of Family Business Management.