Week 6: STRATEGY WORKSHOPS Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are other names for strategy workshops?
‘Away Days’, ‘Retreats’, ‘Advances’
These terms reflect different contexts in which strategy workshops may be conducted.
What percentage of organizations use strategy workshops?
77%
This statistic highlights the prevalence of strategy workshops in organizational practices.
Who primarily participates in strategy workshops?
Mainly senior managers
Senior managers are often the ones involved in strategy formulation during these workshops.
What is a key problem with many strategy workshops?
They solidify existing mindsets
Workshops often fail to challenge participants’ assumptions about their organization and industry.
What is one common activity during strategy workshops?
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is used to generate ideas, but often leads to confirming existing beliefs.
What is a significant limitation of brainstorming in workshops?
It confirms ideas and mindsets rather than generating new ones
This leads to incremental changes rather than dramatic shifts in strategy.
What is meant by ‘anti-structure’ in the context of strategy workshops?
Temporary suspension of normal social status
Anti-structure allows participants to engage without the constraints of their usual roles.
What is the goal of creating a state of ‘liminality’ during workshops?
To foster group relatedness and emotional energy
Liminality helps participants to focus on privileged activities away from daily routines.
What is the optimum size for a strategy workshop?
5 – 7 participants
This size facilitates better management and encourages participation.
What should be done in the pre-workshop stage?
Collect data and analyze it
Preparation is essential to ensure the workshop is focused and effective.
What is a recommended activity to help participants relax before a workshop?
Informal gathering over coffee
This helps ease participants into the workshop environment.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the prescribed form of a ritual used in workshops.
Liturgy
Liturgy guides the workshop process and helps participants think differently.
What type of workshops are more successful if they have a clear purpose?
Change workshops
A clear goal enhances the effectiveness of change workshops.
What is the role of a facilitator in a strategy workshop?
To lead the group to think and act differently
Facilitators help manage dynamics and ensure productive discussions.
What does pictorial representation in workshops aim to achieve?
Surface deeper cultural and emotional constructs
This technique helps participants connect with organizational identity.
True or False: Most strategy workshops focus on implementing the strategy.
False
Workshops primarily involve strategy formulation rather than implementation.
What is an example of a warm-up exercise in a workshop?
‘Tell us something no one in the room knows about you’
Such exercises help break the ice and foster openness.
What should be secured to make participants comfortable during a workshop?
Confidentiality of discussions
Participants need to feel safe that their contributions won’t be shared negatively.
What is liminality
distanced from everyday work for privileged activities
What are strategy ‘episodes’
bounded temporally (beginning & end) & spatially (‘Awayday’)
What is communitas
group relatedness/ emotional energy
what is Anti-structure
temporary suspension of normal social status
What is Liturgy
Prescribed rituals – tools, sequencing, agenda-setting, process
What features are emphasized to a greater degree in workshops known for being more effective?
Communitas
Liminality
Liturgy
Anti-structure
perceived legitimacy (of events, actors and tools)
Strategy episodes
specialists (facilitator, consultant, CEO)
