1. Michael porter “what is strategy?

2. What does porter mean by “operational effectiveness?

3. Why, according to porter, is operational effectiveness not a strategy?

4. Porter says that the key to strategy is identifying and focusing on core competencies and unique advantages. Does this suggest that only focus strategies (in the generic sense) are truly sustainable?

5. Does porter’s example of southwest airlines (swa) contradict the claim that operational effectiveness is not a strategy?

6. Why or why not?

7. Overview of strategic management overview of strategic management: the net mba site presents the strategic planning process schematically as follows: mission -- objectives -- situation -- analysis -- strategy formulation -- implementation.

8. Can this process explain the path by which an organization identifies and expresses its mission?

9. If so, why?

10. Discuss the drawbacks of this process, including any drawbacks you identify that are not mentioned in the net mba summary. Where do middle managers fit into this process?