MAJORING READING

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SUBJECT: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SEMESTER: VIII TERM: 1

PRE-READING
Before reading, try to guess the correct
answer.
1. Reflective process that determines the
intention and strategic profile of what an
organization wants to become. Its objective is to
look for the ability to anticipate events, visualize a
destination and build it.
A. Plan
B. Objetive
C. Strategic thinking
D. Program
2. It is the set of general ideas, which provide the
frame of reference of what a company is and
wants to be in the future.
A. Objetive
B. Goal
C. View
D. Missión
3. They are the result of the planning process and
can be defined as detailed designs or schemes of
what will be done in the future and the necessary
specifications to carry them out.
A. Objetives
B. Plans
C. Goals
D. Achievements
WHILE READING
Read the following text and do the proposed
exercises.
STRATEGIC PLANNING DEFINITION:
By: Mg. Sc. Rosana R. Tazza Matta
Peruvian University of the Andes
Some leading researchers on the subject, some
strategic planning concepts to know:
(1) “Strategic planning is a process that
begins with the establishment of
objectives; define detailed strategies,
policies and plans to achieve them; is
what an organization establishes to
implement decisions, and includes a
performance review and feedback to
introduce a new planning cycle” (George
A. Steiner)
(2) “Planning includes selecting missions
and objectives and actions to achieve
them; requires making decisions: That is,
select between various future courses of
action. So the planning provides a
rational approach to achieve preselected
objectives” (Harold Koontz – o Step No 2. Identification of internal
Heinz Weirich)
This workshop and its full content was adapted and prepared by Jennifer León Vanegas, Sandra Borbòn as part
of the project “MAJORING IN READING for SPECIFIC SUBJECTS © UNIMINUTO 2019 – Unidad de inglés Centro
Regional Soacha. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is
prohibited.
(3) “It is the continuous process that consists
in adopting now business decisions (risk
taking) systematically and with the
greatest possible knowledge for its future
character; in systematically organizing
the necessary efforts to execute these
decisions, and in measuring the results of
these decisions by comparing them with
expectations through organized
systematic feedback” (Peter F. Drucker).
(4) “Strategic planning is an exciting process
that allows an organization to be
proactive and not reactive by shaping its
own future.” (Fred R. David)
(5) “It is the result that was developed
through experimentation, error and the
exchange of experiences” (H.I. Ansoff)
(6) “Strategic planning partly includes future
actions to make events happen that are
not likely to happen otherwise.. They set
the course to follow, either under
favorable or unfavorable economic
conditions” (George Terry)
Strategic planning consists in determining the
direction that an organization must have in
order to achieve its medium and long term
objectives.
One of the instrumental functions of strategic
planning is to strike a balance between three
types of forces, which in turn answers different
questions:
• The mission of the organization
• Las oportunidades y amenazas que enfrenta la
organización (enviroment)
• The strengths and weaknesses of the internal
environment of the organization
An effective strategic plan helps to balance these
three forces, to recognize potentialities and
limitations, to take advantage of the challenges
and to face the risks.
Steps to design a strategic plan:
o Step No 1. Identification of external clients
and determination of their demands. External
clients are the people, organizations, groups or
sectors of great importance for the institution.
Your views, expectations and demands should be
taken into consideration to later decide if they can
be taken care of.
The systematic determination of the demands of
external customers will provide valuable
information to design and deliver quality products
and services that increasingly meet expectations.
customers and determination of their
 MAJORING READING

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SUBJECT: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SEMESTER: VIII TERM: 1

demands. The people, groups, areas or internal
departments directly and permanently linked to
the management of the organization, can be
called internal customers.
o The demands of internal customers should
be considered carefully as they will serve as
the basis for the formulation of objectives and
strategies. This does not mean that all
expectations must be met.. To the extent that it
satisfies the demands of internal clients, their
degree of motivation and commitment will
increase, that will undoubtedly result in the
effectiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of the
organization.
"Satisfied internal customers will achieve the
satisfaction of external customers"
Strategy Definition. Plan or requirements
established to facilitate the objectives are met,
because it defines the way forward, despite the
influence that the environment exerts on the
organization.
Objetives. These are the results that the
organization intends to achieve within a period of
1 to 5 years. They are more oriented to define
strategic, tactical and operational results.
Goals. Definition of specific results, derived from
an action or limited set of actions and that can be
measured with results indicators
Results indicators. They are the units of
measure, through which the criteria have been
determined to know if the expected results have
been produced.

VOCABULARY

Customers Plan Planning Objetives Indicators

Strategics Results Directión Process Riks

Complete the blanks with a word from the vocabulary box.

1. Priorities set to facilitate that ______________ are fulfilled

2. The demands of ______________ interns must be considered.
3. ______________ o Priorities established to facilitate the achievement of the objectives
4. The _______________ Strategic is an exciting process that allows an organization to be proactive and
not reactive
5. They can be measured with _________________ of results
6. Strategic planning consists in determining the ______________ what an organization must have
7. Definition of _______________ specific, derived from an action or limited set of actions.
8. They are more oriented to define the results. _________________, táctics and operational.
9. Strategic planning is a ______________ which begins with the establishment of the objectives.
10. An effective strategic plan it helps to take advantage of the challenges and face the
_______________

VOCABULARY (NEW CONTEXT)

Customers Plan Planning Objetives Indicators

Strategics Results Directiòn Process Risks

Complete the blanks with a word from the vocabulary (new context) box.

1. Provide excellent quality of service to his _______________

2. The materialization of some of the ___________ may cause the project to be unfeasible.
3. We proceed to control the strategies through _________________ preset.
4. Planning includes selecting missions, ________________ and the actions to reach them.
5. The _____________ strategic planning includes the sequential development of the phases.
6. The development of a ___________ strategic produces benefits related to the ability to perform
more efficient management
7. The Operational Phase, which consists in determining the objectives ________________ and the
determination of the strategies
8. They represent the ______________ that are expected from follow-up of certain strategies.
9. The _____________ includes selecting missions and objectives and actions to achieve them.
10. The vision is not expressed in numerical terms, defined by the high ________________

READING COMPREHENSION

This workshop and its full content was adapted and prepared by Jennifer León Vanegas, Sandra Borbòn as part
of the project “MAJORING IN READING for SPECIFIC SUBJECTS © UNIMINUTO 2019 – Unidad de inglés Centro
Regional Soacha. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is
prohibited.
 MAJORING READING

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SUBJECT: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SEMESTER: VIII TERM: 1

Read the questions and answer them based on the text above.

1. What is strategic planning?

2. What are results indicators?
3. What are the three forces that help balance an effective strategic plan?
4. What are objectives?
5. What are goals?
6. What will increase when the demands of internal customers are met?
7. What are internal customers?
8. What is the first step in designing a strategic plan?
9. What is the second step in designing a strategic plan?
10. What is the third step to design a strategic plan?

TRUE / FALSE
Based on the reading, put an “X” if the sentence is T (true) F (false).
1. Satisfied internal customers will achieve the satisfaction of external customers. ( )
2. The demands of internal clients should not be considered carefully as they will serve as the basis for the
formulation of objectives and strategies. ( )
3. The views, expectations and demands of customers require consideration ( )
4. Strategic planning defines detailed strategies, policies and plans to achieve them. ( )

5. One of the instrumental functions of strategic planning is to take stock of the organization's mission ( )

6. Strategic planning is a process that does not allow an organization to be proactive. ( )

7. Strategic planning includes specific past actions partly to make events happen ( )
8. Strategic planning is the continuous process that consists in making decisions now ( )
9. Strategic planning sets the course to follow, either under favorable or unfavorable economic conditions (
)
10. Strategic planning is the continuous process that consists in systematically organizing the necessary
efforts to execute decisions, and in measuring the results ( )

This workshop and its full content was adapted and prepared by Jennifer León Vanegas, Sandra Borbòn as part
of the project “MAJORING IN READING for SPECIFIC SUBJECTS © UNIMINUTO 2019 – Unidad de inglés Centro
Regional Soacha. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is
prohibited.