30 Jun STRATEGIC
Strategic
ASSESSMENT 1:
“If we think of organizations, and their surrounding environment, as being political systems,
this changes the way in which we think about strategic decision making. This is important as
strategic decision-making lies at the very heart of strategy-making”.
Critically discuss the statement above in relation to ONE of the movies/series listed below or the
book by Gillian Tett.
Watch ONE of the movies/series listed below:
1. Margin Call (2012)
2. 13 Days (2000)
3. Apollo 13 (1995)
4. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
5. The West Wing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_West_Wing)
6. Borgen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgen_(TV_series))
OR
Read the following book:
7. “Fools Gold” by Gillian Tett (2010)
Your response is to be a maximum of 2000 words, excluding references. Marks will be deducted for
papers which are longer or shorter than this.
You must self-asses your submission, using the following criteria on ReView (or it will not be
graded).
You must also submit your essay on Turnitin.
This process will be explained in tutorials.
Please must use sub-heading
(Grading criteria outlined on next page)You will be assessed as follows:
Introduction (5)
1- Overview of issues
2 Statement of purpose of essay
3- Identification of key argument(s)
Understanding of question and context (12)
1- Critical reflection of essay question
2- Identification of key authors and concepts
3- Understanding of broader issues
Content and critical analysis (20)
1- Range of appropriate theories, concepts and examples covered
2- Quality of sources to support argument (i.e. academic journal articles)
3- Use of evidence to support argument
4- Synthesis of established theories/concepts where relevant
5- Appropriate use of examples from movie or book (appropriate, concise, relevant, timely,
supportive of argument)
Professionalism and referencing (8)
1- In-text referencing
2- Structure and flow of argument
3- Clarity of writing
4- Spelling and grammar
INDIVIDUAL ESSAY TIPS
Tips on answering the essay:
– The focus of the essay is on critically discussing the statement.
– You need to do some reading on this topic (start with your text book, look up the foot notes,
use our lecture materials, read several articles from the list below).
– Based on your reading, you then need to critically discuss this statement. In forming your
argument/views, you may wish to reflect upon concepts such as Cohen, March and Olsens
garbage can model of decision making, bounded rationality, satisficing and Lindboms idea
of “muddling through” (NB: you dont have to use these concepts, nor to you have to use all
of these in one essay).
– The focus is on critically discussing strategic decision making and this statement, referring to
academic articles, and then using the movie/book to provide illustrations/examples.
– Avoid writing a movie/book review; focus on strategic decision making, and use examples
from the movie/book to support your answer.
– This is an essay and not a report, therefore it is advised that you do not use sub-headings or
bullet points (unless where a short list is required). Try to set up your argument in the
introduction, and also introduce how your essay will be structured. Use this to guide your
writing.
– Be sure to include a reference list at the end of your essay (i.e. a listing of all in-text
references that you have cited and not a bibliography).
– Do not rely solely on your textbook. Higher grades will be achieved by doing original
research and incorporating insights and analysis from other high quality academic papers.
Relevant references for Individual Essay on Strategic Decision Making
NB: these are just to help you get started reading in the general area; you do not have to read all
these articles; you do not need to include all these articles in your essay (and please do not directly
copy and paste this list as your reference list in your submission!)
Highly recommended (*):
*Eisenhardt, K. And Zbaracki, M. (1992). Strategic decision making. Strategic Management Journal,
Vol. 13, 17-37.
*Langley, A., Mintzberg, H., Pitcher, P., Posada, E., Saint-Macary, J. (1995). Opening up decision
making: the view from the black stool. Organization Science, Vol 6(3):260-279.
Allison, G. T. (1971). Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis. Little, Brown, Boston
MA.
Anderson, P. A. (1983). Decision making by objection and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Administrative
Science Quarterly, 28, pp. 201-222.
Bourgeois, L. J. III and K. M. Eisenhardt (1988). Strategy decision processes in high velocity
environments:Four cases in the microcomputer industry, Management Science, 34, pp. 816-
835.
Cohen, M. D., J. G. March and J. P. Olsen (1972). A garbage can model of organizational choice,
Administrative Science Quarterly, 17, pp. 1-25.
Dess, G. (1987). Consensus on strategy formulation and organizational performance: Competitors in
a fragmented industry, Strategic Management Journal, 8, pp. 259-277.
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Making fast strategic decisions in high-velocity environments, Academy of
Management Journal, 32, pp. 543-576.
Langley, A. (1989). In search of rationality: The purposes behind the use of formal analysis in
organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 34, pp. 598-671.
Lindblom, C. E. (1959).The science of muddling through. Public Administration Review, 19, pp.79-
88.
March, J. G. and J. P. Olsen (1976).Ambiguity and Choice in Organizations.Universitetsforlaget.
Bergen.
Mintzberg, H. and J. A. Waters (1982). Tracking strategy in an entrepreneurial firm. Academy of
Management Journal, 25, pp. 465-499.
Olsen, J. P. (1976). Choice in an organized anarchy. In J. G. March and J. P. Olsen, (eds.), Ambiguity
and Choice in Organizations. Universitetsforlaget, Bergen, pp. 82-139.
Padgett, J. F. (1980). Managing garbage can hierarchies.Administrative Science Quarterly, 25, pp.
583-604.
Pettigrew, A. M. (1973). Politics of Organizational Decision-Making.Tavistock, London.
Pettigrew, A. M. (1985). The Awakening Giant: Continuity and Change in ICI. Basil Blackwell, Oxford.
Pfeffer, J. (1981). Power in Organizations.Pitman Publishing, Marshfield, MA.
Pfeffer, J. (1992). Managing with Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations. Harvard Business
School Press, Boston, MA.
Priem, R. (1990). Top management team group factors, consensus, and firm performance, Strategic
Management Journal, 11, pp. 469-478.
Weiner, S. S. (1976). Participation, Deadlines, and Choice. In James G. March and Johan P. Olsen,
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