Enabling Assessment 13: Key Strategic Leadership Actions

As discussed in this module, there are several actions that characterize effective strategic leadership. In this exercise, you will use
these actions to evaluate two top-level managers who are widely known and who have served as the CEO and/or chairman of his
firm for a long period of time. The length of time these individuals have served their firms allows you to find a wealth of information
about their actions as strategic leaders as well as the results of those actions. You can consult each firm’s Web site as well as search
engines to find the information and materials you will need to complete this exercise.

In the chart below, provide an example of each strategic leadership action for each of the two individuals. (Note: You are not being
asked to provide an example of the “exploiting and maintaining core competencies” action. The reason for this is that this action is
internal to the firm, meaning that it would be difficult for you to find an example of this action to include in the chart.) Each example
you provide in terms of the five strategic actions included in the chart should be an important indicator of the action it represents.

Do not forget to include your references.

Sustaining an Emphasizing ethical Establishing

Name Determining Developing Human effective practices balanced
strategic direction Capital organizational organizational
culture controls

Bill Gates (Microsoft) In 1980, Gate’s vision Bill gates envisions Microsoft’s culture Just like in their Microsoft’s Strategic
of “a computer on the digital future, embraces the growth organizational culture control is embedded
every desk and in where knowledge mindset, which was where accountability on their business
every home” provide workers are continued since is important, so is design. Gates
the world a glimpse empowered with Gates and Ballmer their ethical realized that if he
of the future in where information and tools era. It helps them standards that are wants to profit, he
all offices and houses that can help them focus on being guided by their must provide for all
had computers was a work efficiently and obsessed to their responsibility and kinds of market or
dream but today, serve customers. He customers and integrity. It is known customer groups.
they’re now an called this Openness which that their ethics Second, Gates
essential in this “Knowledge Workers aims to be more program has three focused on a classic
information age and without Limits”. inclusive and diverse pillars and they are: standards-based
Microsoft even that fosters a “One Prevention, business design, they
provide not just Microsoft” approach. Detection, and will be secured but
machines but tools One of their distinct Remediation. will not immediately
for us to work with in cultural profit. Their product
every aspect of our characteristics is will be the standard
lives. Accountability, this and they could offer
 ensures that every upgrades along the
employee knows their way. Earlier, Gates
actions have wanted to deliver to
consequences in the all kinds of customer
company so if they groups so he valued
are evaluated that differentiation. He
they adhere to knew he had to give
Microsoft’s rules and the customer a
objectives, they’ll be reason for them to
rewarded. switch to their
products so they
focused on meeting
customer’s needs
and priorities. His
team also knew
marketing is
important because a
standard is only
realized if it exists in
the minds of the
customer.
Reed Hastings There are 2 main Netflix’s management In managing their One of Netflix’s Netflix strategy is
(Netflix) points in Netflix’s of their human capital human capital, they ethical practices is to embedded in their
corporate mission has been known to have prioritized provide personal business model as
statement and they be harsh but proven talented people that viewing experience in they are a
are: to Entertain the to be effective as will increase which they cater the subscription-based
world, not only does it their employee productivity in their content based on the entertainment which
indicate the business turnover is only 11% workplace and can user. However, gives you unlimited
nature of the a year which is below exert results that people have issues access as long as
company but it also the annual average would be beneficial to with Netflix’s AI, the you are subscribed to
tells you the possible for tech companies. them so what they one that curates the their services. While
plans to diversify their What are these value the most is content, as it feel it this help them gain
business. Worldwide practices? To Seeking Excellence. doesn’t inform the profit in the short
Scale, for the first improve productivity Working with these user of the impact of term, it could also
point be profitable, in the workplace, they said talented people their actions, help them attain loyal
Netflix must reach must think like a in highly creative and depending on what customers if they are
their audience sports coach which is productive ways. they like or dislike. successful in their
globally so they have to let them go if they Their core philosophy operations. With their
set their organization aren’t skilled or is to value people no middleman
structure to suit the capable of their work. over process, which approach, having
 diverse needs of their Hire only the best they try to bring their own application
diverse audiences which put the people and build the to subscribe to them,
and market. Their company’s interest at dream team that accessing their
vision “To continue first. To motivate your would help their services would be
being one of the workforce, tell them company. Just like in easier. They also
leading firms of the the truth about their how they manage focused on their
internet performance which their human capital, platform, providing
entertainment era” can be aligned with they value Honest, entertainment and
aligns with their their first practice as Productive Feedback even producing their
mission as it to letting go of and this is to help own shows so people
highlights their incapable workforce. people learn and be could subscribe to
company’s objective. excellent in what them and watch
they’re doing. shows that are
exclusive in their
services.

References:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/compliance
https://www.reliableplant.com/Read/2432/power-of-a-clear,-concise-vision
http://panmore.com/microsoft-corporation-organizational-culture-characteristics-analysis
https://boards.fool.com/microsofts-strategy-for-strategic-control-16172972.aspx?sort=whole#16172972
https://www.rancord.org/netflix-corporate-vision-statement-mission-statement-strategic-analysis
https://www.process.st/hr-practices/organiz
https://jobs.netflix.com/culture
https://oraclewriters.com/order-now/netflixs-social-and-ethical-responsibilities-in-the-corporate-environment/