Introduction
Management of competition is the core principle of any strategic plan. Rigorous competition within any sector drives change and creativity. In fact, while struggling for a market share, competition is not just in the form of other players in the industry but also in the underlying economics and other forces. Consequently, firms need to link strategic planning to efficient human resource practices. The efficient management of human work force determines the performance of the strategic plan. Hence, a competent skilled work force gives a firm an edge above the rest of the competition. This paper will carry out an in-depth assessment of strategic planning within Microsoft Corporation then propose human resource activities that will motivate workers.
Microsoft Company
Microsoft Corporation is an international organization with a global footprint. The corporation creates and upgrades computer software and applications. In addition, the Microsoft publishes books and manufactures smartphones, gaming devices, tablets and other computer hardware items (Pearlson et.al, 2016). Like any other international corporation, the ability to remain above the rest of the competition requires smart strategic plans able to push sales a notch higher. Microsoft workers increased to 117,354 in 2015 June. The firm utilizes Lync server designs for exterior communication. Other business firms can communicate with it via the Lync server. For safeguarded internal communication, the organization utilizes SharePoint. The firm believes in achieving the impossible and strategically shaping its vision. Hence, it has set standards to help it achieve its dreams.
Components of Microsoft’s Strategic Plan
As stated earlier, communication is one of central component of Microsoft Corporation strategic management (Pearlson et.al, 2016). Internal and external communication clarifies the goals of the corporation strategic plan and confirms the execution of the plan in line with both short and long-term purposes. Secondly, the strategy encompasses core principles of the firm.
Evaluation of Microsoft’s Strategic plan
Microsoft Corporation operates under a dynamic competitive environment. Hence, it needs to evaluate its strategy based on basic components other than emerging trends. The scenario evaluation assists huge corporation make effective decisions and figure out a wide variety of uncertainties they may face in the future while strategizing outside the box. Similarly, the scenario analysis can assess the external activities of the corporation (Vecchiato, 2015). Challenges such as deregulation and emerging technologies are some of the issues the scenario analysis can counter and stem before they spiral any further. In addition, it exposes assumptions of the entire organization and any market gaps not yet applied by the corporation.
Most of the times, a corporation’s point of view about the future is short term or not inclusive enough (Vecchiato, 2015). Hence, the scenario evaluation facilitates and necessitates creative thinking and pushes the limits of the corporation’s workers into solving future problems ad anticipating threats.
The scenario analysis hinges on the defining trends and unknown threats (Vecchiato, 2015). Then, the corporation uses the information to formulate new horizons rather than deal with immediate threats detected by the scenario analysis.
Time and scope
The first phase is identification of time and context of the analysis. For example, if A Microsoft manager wants to implement the scenario strategy, he or she has to factor in time context in terms of technological alterations, competition, and the degree of investment (Vecchiato, 2015). After defining the period to be a five-year period, Microsoft will manufacture operating systems whose life cycle lasts for five years. Therefore, if the operating system lasted for ten years, five will the maximum time.
Scope
After defining the time limit of the scenario strategy, the scope of the strategy should easily materialize. It is vital to note that the scope of a strategy can always change depending on the factors present. For Microsoft Corporation, the scope is normally in terms of items, technological opportunity, and the location’s scope (Vecchiato, 2015). Picturing the possibility of choosing a scope that covers faulty personal laptops, all client affected will receive repair services. Over the years, software developers became pivotal in the production of computers and loyal consumers dictate the standard the technological sector adopts for the development and upgrading of software. In summary, software developers have to meet the demands of loyal consumers.
Trends and Threats
The third phase of the strategy is defining current trends and contexts likely to affect Microsoft especially in the near future. Graphs and diagram are vital tools when analyzing market trends and interconnections (Vecchiato, 2015). More so, trends and perceptions of the industry must interrelate and work within the timeframe provided for the strategy to be fruitful. It is vital to take note of the fact that trends impact economic, political, and social policies. An example of a trend that affected economic policies is the shift of computers from high-end commodities to easily affordable technological items. Such trends are likely to affect the strategic planning of a Microsoft and managers take trends seriously.
Nonconsensual trends increase chances of uncertainty and failure concluding the third phase of scenario analysis (Hill, Jones, & Schilling, 2014). To recognize major threats, which is the core function of scenario strategy; managers need to monitor any trend likely to cause an absolute change in the technological world. Other ways of isolating threats is assessing issues pertaining new policies or anything likely to change the course of the Corporation’s decisions.
Human resource Practices
Human resource department plays a major role in motivating workers and creating job fulfillment while at the same time increasing their commitment towards Microsoft Corporation. Motivating workers lifts their spirits and encourages them to achieve more for an organization. One of the ways of motivating workers is offering solid valuable packages (Hill, Jones, & Schilling, 2014). Compensating employees keeps workers on their fit and loyal to the Microsoft organization. For example if company x offers better salary with medical insurance that covers dental and vision impairment, it is likely to have better output than companies with only basic medical cover. Therefore, employees are essential people that dictate the ability of the organization to function and achieve vital goals in an organization. Just to make things clear benefits are financial bonuses that a worker gets apart from salary.
The second human resource practice is awarding outstanding performance from employers in an attempt to motivate other to put in more effort. Appreciation is the simplest form way of establishing morale and fulfillment in the workplace (Hill, Jones, & Schilling, 2014). With a growing urge to sustain quality performance, employers need to appreciate extra effort put in by workers. In fact, appreciating workers who outperform others increases work skills and enhances the level of competence among employees.
In summary, the scenario strategic evaluation is able to secure Microsoft future and protect the giant tech firm from falling off the global map. Strategic management builds up concepts and understandings on the dynamic ever-changing world surrounding an organization. Consequently, the information helps an organization amend its internal and external structure to suite the surrounding trends.
References
Pearlson, K. E., Saunders, C. S., & Galletta, D. F. (2016). Managing and Using Information Systems, Binder Ready Version: A Strategic Approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Vecchiato, R. (2015). Strategic planning and organizational flexibility in turbulent environments. Foresight, 17(3), 257-273.
Hill, C. W., Jones, G. R., & Schilling, M. A. (2014). Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning.
