ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY Ateneo Avenue, Bagumbayan Sur,

4400 Naga City, Philippines

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTANCY Name: Jerwin Roy R. Villacruz
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Date: August 13, 2021
“Describing a Strategy” video

1. Struck you most and explain why?

In the video entitled “Describing a Strategy” what struck me

the most is the discussion on how Apple Inc. became one of the
most successful tech company in the industry with the use of
strategic management. I am fascinated by the fact that how a
business strategically plays in the market definitely impacts
its level of success in the industry. In the video, I am
fascinated by the fact that Apple became successful by
developing a good business strategy. In the video, it was
explained that Apple rose to prominence because of the high-end
quality tech products it is producing. Apple chose the high-end
niche market in order to catapult itself in the tech industry.
Apple chose not to lower it product standards by selling
cheaper devices, instead, Apple strategically chose to make
their products high-end in order for it to be more attractive
to customers who want high quality devices. This strategy
sealed the name of Apple to have high quality products and has
gained the trust of the public. Apple also strategically
integrated its devices to each other such as the internal
connection between iPhone, Mac, and iTunes. This has resulted
to more people subscribing to more Apple products and services.
Apple strategically chose not to compete with cheaper brands of
devices as it would hamper its goal of creating high quality
products and services as lowering the product cost means also
compromising its quality. Thus, Apple chose a high-quality
product users niche market who are also willing to pay for the
quality products and services that they have. In the long run,
this has resulted to the huge success of the business as many
people want to avail of the high-quality products and services of
Apple. I am fascinated by this fact as it is truly evident that
knowing the goal of the business and strategically knowing how to
achieve such goal is instrumental to every success of a business
institution. Knowing the route towards success and strategically
hurdling all the challenges along the way are the way by which
the goals and objectives of the business is achieve. Hence, this
shows how much essential strategic management is in the context
of business.

2. Your own insights of the video clip.

Based from the video, I have learned that in order for the
business to succeed, it has to clearly define and know it’s goals
and objectives. Defining and knowing such allows the business to
devise strategies in order to reach such goals and objectives.
Employees who are essential members of the business would
likewise be able to live up to that expectation when they are
aware of it. Hence, I learned that it should be the strategy of
the business that these goals and objectives be communicated well
and understood by all members therein. It is only in that case
that such employees and members of the organization would be
expected to follow these goals and objectives through the
strategies as envisioned by the business institution. Moreover, I
have learned that strategic planning is essential in outcompeting
competitors in the market. Knowing the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats of both one’s own business and that of
the competitor allows the business to be able to work its way
around towards success in the industry by employing the
appropriate strategies and techniques in order to take advantage
of the opportunities in the system. Moreover, I likewise learned
that the strategy must always be aligned to the goals, mission
and vision of the business in order to achieve success. The
business must zero in and look at the strategies and methods that
it is employing currently in order to see whether there is a
disjunct between the strategies applied and the goals of the
business. Having such allows the business to reform and be better
both for the members of the organization and as well as the
customers thereof. In summary, I have learned that strategic
management is truly instrumental to the success of the business
institution.

Strategy vs Planning: thinking outside the box video

1. What struck you most and explain why? and

In the video entitled “Strategy vs. Planning: thinking outside

the box video” what really struck me the most is strategy of the
guy who won the board game. At first, he was losing the match
because his opponent seems to be getting more pieces. However,
I’m fascinated that those seeming losses where just part of the
comprehensive plan of him winning the match. He positioned his
pieced and manipulated his opponent to be placed in a position
that would appear that his opponent is winning, but in actuality
he is actually the winner in the long run. This struck me the
most because I have realized that not all strategies are apparent
to lead to success. Sometimes, the strategies employed by an
individual is just working in silence but they are actually very
effective. In the context of business, this means that a business
institution should be highly wary of businesses that work its
success in silence. Businesses have to take note that the stealth
strategies of other businesses are highly deadly. Hence, they
have to guard itself against it in order to remain competitive in
the market. Moreover, I have learned that such is also the best
way for the business to succeed. It is in times that other
businesses are complacent and unaware of the strategies of other
businesses that the latter would succeed in the market. The
strategies employed by every business would definitely lead to
many benefits and the success thereof in the long run.

2. Your own insights of the video clips.

From the video, I have learned the value of strategizing in order

to succeed, especially in business. I have learned that while
short term losses may seem that it is not strategic, if the
consequence thereof would be the success of the business in the
long run, such is a huge success that should be celebrated. From
the video, I learned that having a foresight on how to win and
strategizing the ways to achieve it is essential to the success
of every business organization. Without this foresight, it would
be impossible for the business to strategically position itself
in such a way that would be advantageous to such. Learning how
the competitors work and positioning itself strategically in such
a way that would outcompete them is the way by which business
organizations would succeed in the industry. It is the knowledge
of the vulnerabilities of the competitor and knowing how to take
advantage of such allows the business to catapult itself at the
top of the business ladder. I learned from the video that it is
highly important to plan as planning makes the business know its
path towards its goals and objectives. I learned from the video
that every step, such as that of each move of a piece in the
game, is essential to the business organization. Each move
defines the future of the business organization; hence it is
essential that each move is planned ahead as it is irreversible.
It is important for businesses to plan ahead in order to achieve
its success in the fastest, most cost-efficient and most
effective way possible. In the end, it is indeed strategic
management and proper planning that allows every business
organization to succeed.