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Written Assignment 1 As you grow as a leader, your understanding of how you lead will improve

Management

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Written Assignment 1

As you grow as a leader, your understanding of how you lead will improve. Understanding yourself is the first necessary step to becoming a good leader. The ability to think strategically, as well as identify and overcome obstacles to sound strategic thinking, is imperative to your ability to create an organization that can successfully achieve the mission and vision. The organizational strategy should help operationalize the mission and achieve the vision. In addition, the strategy provides a blueprint for sustainable competitive advantage.

Instructions

Write an 8- to 12-page paper (2000 to 3300 words), not including your list of references, in APA format. Your paper should focus on developing a sound understanding of your personal approach to strategy, an analysis of the eight strategic thinking models, and an evaluation of the obstacles to strategic thinking that you might tend to struggle with during your career.

Use the headings below when completing this written assignment. You must use at least ten references in this paper; at least nine of these references need to be sources not provided in the course. Six of these sources must be scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles; three references can be white papers published by professional organizations (e.g., Society for Human Resources Management). No blogs, wikis, or news websites will be accepted.

Introduction [maximum 1 page]

• Introduce the entire paper (not just the problem). Use the following two resources to assist you: Introductions and Beginning the Academic Essay. Tip: Write the introduction last. Complete the rest of the paper and then come back to write the introduction.

Importance of Strategy [maximum 2 pages]

• Why is strategy important to the mission of an organization? The vision? How does the strategy specifically help an organization create sustainable competitive advantage?

Overview of the Eight Strategic Thinking Models [maximum 4 pages]

• Create a subheading for each model and include a definition of the model and its key strengths and weaknesses.

Personal Approach to Strategic Thought [maximum 2 pages]

• Identify the strategic thinking model that best fits your personal approach. What is an example of how you have already used this in your work or life? How will you continue to grow your skill in this area? How will the key weaknesses of this model impact your success?

Obstacles to Strategic Thinking [maximum 2 pages]

• What obstacles to strategic thinking might you personally struggle with during your career and why? How would you help your work team assess their ability to think strategically? What model would you use to continually assess strategic thinking capacity? Why?

Conclusion [maximum 1 page]

• Clearly and concisely wrap up the paper. Use the following to assist you: Ending the Essay: Conclusions.

Submit the paper to your mentor for grading. Consult the Course Calendar for due dates