Title: A Critical Evaluation of BRAC's Strategic Approach: A Comparative Analysis Using Whittington,

Angwin, Regner, Johnson, and Scholes Frameworks

1. Introduction

BRAC, the world's largest non-governmental development organization, has played a significant role in
poverty alleviation and social development. This research report critically evaluates BRAC's strategic
approach by employing models and frameworks explored in the module, primarily focusing on
Whittington, Angwin, Regner, Johnson, and Scholes' perspectives as outlined in their seminal work
Exploring Strategy (2022).

2. Whittington's Classical, Evolutionary, and Processual Perspectives

Whittington's strategic lenses provide a valuable framework for evaluating BRAC's strategy. The Classical
perspective highlights BRAC's adherence to efficiency, stability, and control in its operations, ensuring
consistency and reliability in its programs. The Evolutionary lens acknowledges BRAC's adaptive
responses to changing environments, enabling it to grow and diversify its initiatives. Meanwhile, the
Processual perspective reveals BRAC's internal processes and decision-making mechanisms, shedding
light on its collaborative, dynamic, and iterative strategic approach.

3. Angwin and Regner's Strategy-As-Practice

Angwin and Regner's Strategy-As-Practice framework focuses on the daily activities, routines, and
interactions that shape an organization's strategic direction. This lens allows a deep dive into BRAC's
organizational culture, knowledge sharing, and leadership styles. By examining how BRAC's staff
members interpret and implement strategies on the ground, a nuanced understanding of its strategic
practices emerges, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.

4. Johnson and Scholes' Cultural Web

The Cultural Web model by Johnson and Scholes delves into the underlying cultural assumptions that
influence an organization's strategy. By examining BRAC's cultural elements such as rituals, symbols,
power structures, and routines, this framework offers insights into the alignment between BRAC's
organizational culture and its strategic objectives. Identifying congruence or dissonance between the
two illuminates potential challenges and opportunities for strategic alignment within the organization.
5. Comparative Analysis and Critique

Through the application of these frameworks, several critical observations about BRAC's strategy
emerge. While BRAC demonstrates commendable stability and efficiency in its Classical approach, there
is room for enhancing its flexibility and innovation to respond to evolving challenges. The Evolutionary
perspective highlights BRAC's ability to adapt, yet a more proactive stance towards emerging trends
could enhance its strategic agility. In the Strategy-As-Practice context, fostering a culture of continuous
learning and collaboration might optimize the organization's strategic execution. The Cultural Web
analysis reveals the need for aligning formal and informal aspects of BRAC's culture to reinforce its
strategic goals, promoting a more cohesive and unified organizational vision.

6. Recommendations

Based on the critique, the following recommendations are proposed:

Enhance Strategic Agility: BRAC should proactively scan the external environment to anticipate future
trends and challenges, enabling the organization to respond swiftly and effectively.

Promote a Learning Culture: BRAC should invest in training and development programs that encourage
staff to share knowledge, learn from failures, and experiment with innovative approaches, fostering a
culture of continuous improvement.

Align Organizational Culture with Strategy: BRAC should assess its cultural elements and ensure that
they align with the organization's strategic objectives. Leaders should actively communicate and
reinforce the desired cultural values to create a unified sense of purpose among employees.

7. Conclusion

In conclusion, the critical evaluation of BRAC's strategic approach using Whittington, Angwin, Regner,
Johnson, and Scholes frameworks provides valuable insights. While BRAC demonstrates strengths in
various strategic perspectives, there are areas that require attention and enhancement. By
implementing the recommended strategies, BRAC can further optimize its approach, ensuring continued
success in its mission to alleviate poverty and promote social development.
References

Whittington, R., Angwin, D., Regner, P., Johnson, G., & Scholes, K. (2022). Exploring Strategy: Text and
Cases (13th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education.