Over half a century of strategic planning performance research – what have we been missing?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of literatures and previous studies on the relationship between strategic planning and performance and propose conceptual designs and hypotheses using multidimensional constructs to advance the understanding of this relationship, contribute to existing debates in the extant literature and make recommendations. Design/methodology/approach A semi-systematic literature and previous studies (studied by various groups of researchers within diverse disciplines) review approach has been used in this paper to contribute to the debate on whether strategic planning affects performance and how. Using more recent knowledge about the strategic planning concept, the semi-systematic review looked at how research within strategic planning has progressed over the past five decades and its relationship with performance. Findings In the past, the strategic planning performance relationship has been treated as a black box and this paper proposes that the conceptualisation of a number of constructs and the inclusion of strategy implementation will help converting the black box into a white box. To strengthen support for the debate regarding the relationship between strategic planning and performance this paper proposes a further conceptual/operational design, mathematical expressions and hypotheses to be tested empirically in further studies. The proposal provides a conceptualisation of the major constructs (strategy development; strategy implementation; and performance), and the use of strategy implementation as a mediator and/or as a moderator in the planning performance relationship. Research limitations/implications This study is limited due to fact that the findings have not been tested empirically, it is not a cross-sectional and/or a longitudinal research and only a limited number of dimensions of strategy development and strategy implementation have been used. In addition, the approach used is a semi-systematic review followed by quantitative thinking, which, in turn, typically assumes the relevance of and a warrant mainly from a positivist epistemology. Originality/value The proposed design developed in this paper ensures that core issues in planning performance relationships research are addressed. Furthermore, the inclusion of strategy implementation in planning performance relationship studies means that the whole chain of activities in the strategy process is being considered, drawing a complete and comprehensive conclusion on how strategic planning affects an organisation’s performance. In addition, by separating strategy implementation and by not combining it with formulation/formation activities will theoretically and analytically help to evaluate the importance or role of each stage of the strategy process. Moreover, the conceptualisation and operationalisation of the key concepts as multidimensional constructs contribute to past research gaps. Finally, this paper provides some clarity to many contradictory findings concerning the strategic planning and performance relationship.

Routine Vaccine Simulation for Infants in a Mobile Environment

Purpose–Thisstudy aimed to develop and evaluate the Routine Vaccine Simulation for Infants. The routine vaccine simulation application was developed for the health workers and parents to provide basic information and press the importance of the vaccination to infants.Method–The researchers used the fourth-generation technique (4GT) for the software development life cycle of the application. The technique adapted contains four major parts namely, requirements gathering, design strategy, implementation, and testing.Results–The application was tested and evaluated by health workers, parents, and IT practitioners from the academe and the industry. The evaluation was based on criteria for core app quality. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data presentation and interpretation. As a whole, the evaluation of the android-based routine vaccine simulation application was found excellent in most of its features. The finding asserts the adherence to the standards of android developmentapplicationsand conforms to the expectations of the app’s potentialusers. Conclusion–The development of a routine vaccine app for infants serves as a new platform for immunization awareness and education. Once information given in the app is taken earnestly, infants will be protected against diseases. Thus, controversies surrounding vaccination hesitancies can be decreased.Recommendations–A thorough information dissemination and education campaign regarding vaccine safety can be initiated in the local communities to address the issues on vaccine safety and hesitancy.Research Implications–The healthcare system in the communities through the local government unit (LGU) willbe able to benchmark and implement the information dissemination and education to mothers and health workers using the app.

Salesmanship Skills in COVID-19 Times

The activities that depend on direct interaction with the customers were the most affected by COVID-19's restrictions. These include the activities developed by salespeople. This study aims to analyse the impact of salesmanship skills on sales strategy implementation and salesperson performance during the COVID-19 crisis. To achieve the research objective, the authors collected a set of data through a survey (n=517) to test a proposed conceptual model based on the literature. The findings of the study demonstrate that the salesmanship skills are an important resource in highly disruptive environments and impacts sales strategy implementation and salesperson performance. In addition, the study also reveals the important role of digital skills and intrinsic motivation during COVID-19 times. The results attained can be used as a guide to design an effective strategy for sales activities in adverse times.

Digital Transformation

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the digitization of traditional businesses. In the retail sector, e-commerce played a fundamental role and promoted major changes in the consumer pattern. This evolution and its impact can be studied through the digital transformation lens, which is a multidisciplinary and holistic concept that encompasses a new strategy and new ways of strategizing. The present study aims to describe the digital transformation strategy implementation path at a Brazilian pre-digital retail company and discusses the role the COVID-19 pandemic had played. Moreover, the case highlights important strategic issues and provides the opportunity to analyze whether it is a strategic process or a strategic practice. Thus, it can enlighten which theory best supports DTS studies. This study also increases the understanding of the strategic configuration of digital transformation embracing context, process, and outcomes. And it also sheds light on the dilemma between brick-and-mortar stores and digital ones.

Reposicionamento Estratégico para Diferenciação por Meio da Educação Inovadora ## Strategic Positioning Differentiation by Innovative Education

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral analisar os resultados decorrentes da implantação de uma estratégia para a competitividade voltada à educação inovadora, em uma instituição privada de ensino básico brasileira. O levantamento dos aspectos teóricos possibilitou a delimitação metodológica para a realização da pesquisa de campo, o estudo de caso, para o que foram recolhidos documentos, além da observação in loco, da realização de entrevistas e aplicação de questionários, em um esforço de campo com duração de três meses, no período de outubro de 2019 a janeiro de 2020. Como resultados, pode-se observar que a escola caso foi uma escola tradicional cuja missão era preparar alunos para o vestibular, mediante ensino convencional em disputa de preços com as instituições concorrentes. Com a mudança de posicionamento, a escola caso repensou seu projeto pedagógico, implantou novas metodologias, trazendo o aluno para ser protagonista de sua aprendizagem, vivendo experiências que desenvolvem competências cognitivas e socioemocionais. Sob o ponto de vista estrutural, reformulou o projeto arquitetônico e investiu em novas tecnologias para ensino-aprendizagem. As estratégias de reposicionamento estratégico da escola caso em implantar uma educação inovadora se mostraram eficientes para atrair e fidelizar seus clientes, em um case de sucesso.AbstractThis research aimed analyze results arising from a strategy implementation for competitiveness aimed at innovative education, in a private institution of basic education in Brazil.

Strategi Optimalisasi Implementasi Pendidikan Karakter Pada Kurikulum PAK Tingkat SMA Acuan K-13

There is a decline in character values as indicated by an increase of moral decadence indicators, such as dropouts due to promiscuity, gambling, drug abuse among students, brawls between students, and gangs that unsettle the public, and other social issues that involve students. These issues are a barometer that character education has not optimally implemented. The study concentrated on the research question and research objectives of how to optimize character education through K-13. The strategy implementation to maximize the embed of character values can realize through three main approaches: integrating character values through PAK subjects, extracurricular activities, and school culture. Theories are used in action research by referring to curriculum theory and character education using qualitative research methods. Kemerosotan nilai karakter yang ditunjukkan dengan meningkatnya indikator dekadensi moral, seperti; kasus putus sekolah karena pergaulan bebas, perjudian, penyalahgunaan narkoba di kalangan pelajar, tawuran antar pelajar, geng yang meresahkan masyarakat dan masalah sosial lainnya yang melibatkan pelajar. Isu-isu tersebut menjadi barometer bahwa pendidikan karakter belum dilaksanakan secara optimal. Kajian dikonsentrasikan pada pertanyaan penelitian sekaligus tujuan penelitian bagaimana mengoptimalkan pendidikan karakter melalui K-13. Proses implementasi sebagai strategi dengan maksud optimalisasi penanamam nilai-nilai karakter dapat terwujud dengan baik, melalui tiga strategi utama yaitu melalui pengintegrasian nilai-nilai karakter melalui mata pelajaran PAK, melalui kegiatan ekstrakurikuler, dan melalui budaya sekolah. Teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian tindakan dengan merujuk pada teori kurikulum dan pendidikan karakter dengan menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif.

The effects of task environment and organizational agility on perceived managerial discretion and strategy implementation in a pharmaceutical company

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between task environment, organizational agility, perceived managerial discretion and strategy implementation on unit performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on the literature review, a structural model was developed. A 74-item questionnaire was circulated among middle managers in sales and marketing. The data collection method used purposive sampling. A total of 228 valid responses were obtained. This study was conducted in a leading pharmaceutical company in Indonesia. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings Based on the data analysis, this study shows that task environment and organizational agility act as antecedents of perceived managerial discretion, which drives strategy implementation resulting in unit performance. Originality/value Different from previous studies that examined the linkage of inertial forces and discretion, this research scrutinized the effects of organizational agility on perceived managerial discretion and the direct role of perceived managerial discretion on internal strategy implementation.

Ukrainian Library Association: Adjusting to the Next Normal Ecosystem

On 17-18 November, the Ukrainian Library Association (ULA) held a wrap-up electing conference on the UBA Development Strategy implementation for 2019-2021, a ULA award official ceremony, and the presidential, the Expert Board and the Association Control Commission votes for the next three years. A new visual identity and logo for the Ukrainian Library Association appeared during the Conference. The Conference on Ukrainian Library Association: Adjusting to the Next Normal Ecosystem was designed to reflect the complexity of the war, widespread pandemic, economic and managerial instability under which the Association had to build its work, and its commitment to be a mover achieving goals in the development of social ecosystems, the ULA's vision of its position in the system of social and professional ties, flows and focuses.

Vertical Integration Strategy Implementation Through Hybrid Upstream and Downstream Concession Agreements

Upstream developments in prolific oil and gas fields are highly profitable and hence attract various investors/partners, whereas Downstream developments profitability is margin based and challenging under certain situations to receive similar interest for investment in the same location. Vertical Integration Strategy implementation through hybrid upstream and downstream concession agreements can help address this issue. The seventies witnessed major changes in the oil industry's structures and strategies resulting from the nationalization of oil and gas reserves. This ultimately led to a separation between the upstream sector with national oil companies (NOCs) controlling most of the world reserves and crude production, and the downstream sector with the international oil companies (IOCs) controlling the largest share of the refining and marketing aspects in the main consuming countries. In the recent past, NOCs have started forward integration of its upstream sector with downstream sector to take advantage of the synergies and increase profitability. This paper takes the strategy a step more forward by exploring the possibility of developing oil and gas assets through a hybrid upstream/downstream concession agreement that can be awarded by the host government. The model hybrid agreement is built by integrating a typical upstream concession agreement with downstream equity-based joint venture (JV) agreement. It also takes the learnings from Production Development Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA) applied in the development of a Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) asset or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) asset which are usually developed as an integrated upstream and downstream business model. It is also feasible to build the hybrid agreement based on upstream Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) instead of a Concession Agreement. The paper will discuss how the hybrid upstream and downstream concession agreement is built and how it will distribute the risk and rewards across the entire value chain for investors, expand the scope of investment and support in the economic development of the host country.