Leadership and Strategic Management

Abstract

This paper looks at the role of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in strategy implementation and argues that developing a successful business strategy for an organisation involves the formulation and implementation of a sustainable competitive approach as an integral component of its strategic planning process. Starting with a concise analysis of what constitutes strategic plan, the paper develops an argument outlining the rationale behind the process and the need for investing senior leadership time in producing and implementing a viable strategic plan aimed at differentiating its products and services from those of its competitors with a view to gaining market advantage. The author uses established theoretical models to explain the process of strategy formulation, evaluating the pros and cons of each module. The originality of the paper's contents stems from the use of contemporary examples of good practice to illuminate how the differing leadership styles may be used to facilitate the implementation process and to gain staff buy-in. It concludes that the ability of senior managers to formulate and successfully implement viable strategic plans is critical to their own professional success and that of the entire organisation.