When you reply to two of your classmates' posts, respectfully agree/disagree to the post, and explain why, while offering an opinion with an example to support it. Include citations and references.

Classmate 1:

Of course, there are many companies that are actively trying to increase the amount of empowerment in the strategic management process throughout the organizations.

Empowerment in an organization refers to the process of enabling employees to take control of their work, make decisions, and solve problems. Also, delegate authority and provide resources to support, and foster a culture of trust.

Few example of the companies that are actively trying to increase the amount of empowerment in the strategic management process throughout the organization

1. Google which are known for its open culture and 20%-time policy, where employees can dedicate 20% of their work time to side projects.
2. Amazon Inc also encourages experimentation and risk-taking, with a focus on decentralized decision-making.
3. Zappos is an online shoe, and clothing retailer which are known for its unique method of empowerment. they focus on creating a solid culture of making employees happy as they give them freedom to make decision that is aligned with the company's values.
4. GitHub empowers employees to make decisions and drive projects through a decentralized, open-source approach.

Do these companies seem to be having positive outcomes? Why? Why not?

I will say yes because companies that actively promote empowerment in their strategic management process often experience positive outcomes because it can be seen in creative ideas, innovative solutions and in an increase of employee engagement where employee feel empowered. It creates an environment of fast decision-making as well as fast responses to any challenges opportunities.

Irrespective of the fact that it yields positive outcome, it is very important to know that not all companies may succeed in implementing it effectively. If there is no clear communication and well-informed decision-making, then there are bound to be confusion. Effective implementation of empowerment requires a strong organizational culture, active communication to thrive.

Reference:

1. Porter, M. (2020, May 16).Competitive Strategy
2. SME Strategy. (2017, March 24).The Steps of the Strategic Planning Process in under 15 Minutes
3. Ewing, J. (2012, May 27).Mission, Vision, and Strategy
4. Athapaththu, H.K.S. (2016).An Overview of Strategic Management: An Analysis of the Concepts and the Importance of Strategic Management
5. Al-tit, A. (2017).Factors Affecting the Organizational Performance of Manufacturing Firms.

Classmate 2:

Companies who focus on increasing the amount of empowerment in the strategic management process throughout their organizations empower employees to make decisions and be a part of the strategy goals of the company. One company doing this is The Virgin Group. CEO Richard Branson has fostered culture where employees are able to share business ideas and implement plans (Dess et al, 2020). Morgan (2018) adds, "Employees are empowered to solve problems immediately and to make every customer's journey memorable. Front-line employees have freedom to operate and solve customer problems within a wide outline established by managers". This culture of empowering employees to make decisions and share ideas allow for success and employee engagement throughout the organization.

Another example of a company empowering employees is Disney. Morgan (2018) notes, "It's all part of the Disney magicemployees are given the tools to solve issues right away, from comping meals to offering special experiences. Employees are trained on successful service recovery so they know the basic guidelines to provide a consistent experience, no matter what level they are". By promoting employee empowerment, Disney has become the leader in customer service. Dess et al. (2021) share in our text that the vision and mission statement of Disney are to become the leader in entertainment and differentiate themselves. Through employee empowerment, the strategy, goals, and mission of Disney are realized through employees. Disney is highly successful for this reason. It is clear that increasing empowerment through the strategic management process delivers positive outcomes for firms, by not only increasing employee engagement but allowing them to become decision makers to reach the company's strategic goals.

References:

Dess, G., McNamara, G., Eisner, A., & Lee, S. (2020). Strategic Management: Text and Cases (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US).

Morgan, B. (2018, March 14).10 Companies that arm employees with tools to fix customer problems. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2018/03/14/10-companies-that-arm-employees-with-tools-to-fix-customer-problems/?sh=4fd2f6c24a30Links to an external site.