Business Functions - Strategy

Business is an ever-expanding world comprising several industries. How Business functions is a complex topic to understand. You will need an in-depth understanding of several concepts. Do not worry! If you want to be a successful business person, we will introduce you to the often ignored building blocks of this industry. It is impossible to understand business functions without first understanding the concept of strategy, features of strategy and strategy meaning or strategy definition. This article will cover all the necessary knowledge you need to start an independent business and some critical insights for the experts. Let us begin by exploring what you mean by strategy. 

What is the Meaning of Strategy or Strategy Definition?

As discussed above, a strategy is an imperative part of the business world. A good strategy can significantly influence your progress or growth. After all, without a well-placed strategy or plan, you can not possibly see your business's future or where your business is heading? So what is this concept of strategy? The word strategy is derived from a Greek word called Strategos, which means “military general.” Although, in business terms, it is a decision-making process at the managerial level to oversee the business's overall flow. It also involves understanding your competition i.e., how your competitors are moving forward and devise an intricate plan to stay ahead of them. 

It is all about surpassing your rivals and competitors. In terms of strategy definition, choosing a company's scope and direction over a long period is a process of choosing a company's scope and direction. You can gain an immense advantage over your competition by strategizing ahead of time. The concept of strategy can be extremely beneficial in the ever-challenging market. Strategizing is the job of the bright minds of top management in a company. Now let us look at some of the features of strategic management. 

Several Features of Strategy

There are several key features of strategy irrespective of business requirements. Some of these features are listed below:

• The concept supports planning ahead of time to surpass your competitors over a long period. 

• It will enable you to plan minute details of how your managerial positions should react or respond to the business changes. 

• All businesses function with a clear goal in mind. Strategizing will help you clearly define the direction of your business towards that goal.

• It provides a way to use the available resources at your disposal efficiently. 

•  Ultimately, it will bring your organization towards a common goal and will help achieve those goals effectively. 

Different Business Levels and Role of Strategy

The strategy meaning doesn’t change at any business level. However, the role of the strategy varies with different business levels. Your strategy can include several levels of your business, such as from the top position to the individuals working in it. We will look at some of these types of strategies:

• Operational Strategies: This strategy is at the most basic level of your business and supports all the strategic direction of your business's top branches. These strategies mainly incorporate the individual people, resources, processes, etc. and bring them together to form a well-oiled machine that functions efficiently. Your top strategic decisions will only be effective once your operation strategy is well placed and functioning. Obviously, if your smallest units are not working, you won’t be able to deliver results. 

• Competitive or Business Unit Strategies: This strategy mainly involves analyzing your competition and how your business competes with them. It also includes making several critical strategic decisions such as deciding the products, what your customers want, how you can gain an advantage over the competition, finding new opportunities, etc. 

• Corporate Strategies: Corporate strategy is the topmost level of strategic planning for your business. It involves clearly defining your objectives or missions for the business. You will be determining the overall scope and the company's primary purpose to meet your stakeholders' requirements. This strategy is of utmost importance because it also incorporates your investors' decisions and hence influences your entire business. It should be clearly defined because it will be forming a basis as the whole of your other strategic plannings. 

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Fun Facts

Did you know that in 2012, one hundred wealthiest people on earth earned so much money that it could end poverty in the entire world?