Read "What is Strategy" by Michael Porter (www.hbr.org). He states that there are 5 ways in which a manager can create effective strategies.

Address the following factors:
1. Theories for shaping strategies and creating effective strategies.
2. Effective strategies and how these can impact a companies performance
3. How strategies can be achieved across different cultures in a company
4. Aligning a company strategies and their long term goals
5. Choose ONE strategy from "What is Strategy" and apply this to a business you currently work for or have in the past.

Please cite all references (minimum of three)