STRESS-TEST YOUR STRATEGYThe 7 Questions to Ask

by Robert Simons

Jemima Kanerva, Aarni Honkaniemi ja Jaakko Ylönen

Structure

• Introduction

• 7 Questions

• Critique

Introduction• Goal of the article is to provide a solution/tool for

managers to expose the shortcomings of their business strategy

• Stress-test• Identify confusion, inefficiency and weaknesses in business

strategy and its implementation• 7 Questions• Engage the whole organization to the discussion

Questions 1 & 2• Question 1: Who is your primary customer?

• Choose your primary customer• Allocate all possible resources to meet your primary customer’s

needs

• Question 2: How do your core values prioritize shareholders, employees and customers?• Choose the most important interest group• Make a clear decision and implement this decision consistently

Question 3: What critical performance variables are you tracking?

Key variable

Key variable

Question 3: What critical performance variables are you tracking?

Key variable

Key variable

Key variable

Key variable

Question 4: What strategic boundaries have you set?

Question 5: How are you generating creative tension?

Question 5: How are you generating creative tension?

Question 5: How are you generating creative tension?

Question 5: How are you generating creative tension?

Question 5: How are you generating creative tension?

Question 5: How are you generating creative tension?

Question 6: How Commited Are Your Employees To Helping Each Other?

Question 7: What Strategic Uncertainties Keep You Awake at Nights?

Critique• Question 1

• It’s not always necessary to determine only one primary customer

Critique• Question 1

• It’s not always necessary to determine only one primary customer

• Question 2• Shareholder value always comes first

Critique• Question 1

• It’s not always necessary to determine only one primary customer

• Question 2• Shareholder value always comes first

• Question 5 & 6• Conflict?

Critique• Question 1

• It’s not always necessary to determine only one primary customer

• Question 2• Shareholder value always comes first

• Question 5 & 6• Conflict?

• Question 7• Is it enough to always adapt to the environment?