Strategy Execution Module 1: Managing Organizational Tensions

This module reading lays the foundation for executing strategy using performance measurement and control systems. Properly applied, these systems can overcome the organizational blocks that impede the potential of all people who work in modern organizations. This module explains why managers rely on profit plans and performance measurement systems to implement their strategy and explores the five organizational tensions that managers must resolve to ensure success: (1) balancing profit, growth, and control, (2) balancing short-term results with long-term sustainability, (3) balancing the expectations of different constituents, (4) balancing opportunities and attention, and (5) balancing the motives of human behavior. While this module is designed to be used alone, it is part of the Strategy Execution series. Taken together, the series forms a complete course that teaches the latest techniques for using performance measurement and control systems to implement strategy. Modules 1 - 4 set out the foundations for strategy implementation. Modules 5 - 10 teach quantitative tools for performance measurement and control. Modules 11 - 15 illustrate the use of these techniques by managers to achieve profit goals and strategies.