Arturo J. Bencosme, PhDajbencosme@comcast.net

The Quest: From Crafting & Implementing Strategies …

… to Learning Collectively from those Experiences

Crafting Strategy: being in a state of being that is future focused that includes

- visualizing and imagining- and simultaneously realistic and cautious - planning, plus advancing readiness to change course under alternate scenarios.

Implementing Strategy: a people oriented endeavor that focuses on guiding the organizational transformation process required including culture change. Organizational Learning: a process that reaches progressively deeper levels of enquiry going from 1st loop learning –enhancing effectiveness & efficiency-, to 2nd loop –vetting the validity of theories & assumptions-, and on to higher levels of enquiry –scrutinizing paradigms, values & purpose.

“Strategy” Comes from an Ancient LineageThe term “strategy” derives from the Greek language: στρατηγία (strategia):

The logic that a high ranking officer such as a general has thought of to organize and align the resources in directing them to victory.

Modern management and leadership literature underscores the role of intuition in addition to, and sometimes even more important than pure logical reasoning in crafting creative, innovative and successful strategies.

Crafting Strategy

Strategy is a Major Component in an Organization’s Sense of DirectionA sense of direction includes: what the organization offers (products & services), why that is beneficial to society -purpose, the expected results that are being strived for –objectives and vision, and how to strive for them facing challenges such as competition –strategy.Strategy is thus the logic, assumptions and intuitive

perceptionunderlying the medium and long term plans of action designed to attain the organization’s visionary goals:

Strategy is a key component in instilling a sense of direction into the culture of the organization.

Crafting Strategy

Beyond Sense of Direction: A Sense of JourneyWhile instilling a clear and strong sense of direction is important, an understanding of the organization’s past trajectory, what lies ahead,and the collective behavior that is required for constructing a successful future is also important --- a sense of journey.

Crafting Strategy

Individually… Together… Everyone!A profound sense of journey will nurture the organizational culture as it cultivates a fellowship of travelers among the members of the organization: A collective awareness of travelling on a shared journey, partaking in a collaborative of purposeful effort which deepens the meaning of strategy.

Crafting Strategy

DEPARTURE / PREPARATION

INITIATION / PASSAGE

/ TRANSFORMATION

RETURN / CELEBRATION

The Hero’s Journey is a cycle of Change that comprises three stages: Departure / Preparation, Initiation / Passage / Transformation, & Return / Celebration.

Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth “The Hero's Journey” Offers a Useful Frame for Building a Sense of Journey in an Organization

Crafting Strategy

• Clarifying the governing ideas: values, mission, purpose, major objectives and vision.

• Describing current reality, performing a SWOT analysis relative to attaining the vision, and the challenges involved under several scenarios about the future.

• Crafting a strategy and the corresponding initiatives to overcome the challenges.

• Developing a measurement system for feedback and learning.• Aligning the organization (the meeting of the minds and the hearts)

for implementing the strategy.

While Strategic Planning Typically Comprises Well Known Steps…

Crafting Strategy

The organization’s WHY -sense of purpose- plays a top role.

The vision becomes a future-focused story that stewards a organization-wide fellowship of travelersS.W.O.T. & challenge

analyses are placed in the context of the journey ahead. Scenarios refer to possible future paths.

Strategy crafting aims at overcoming challenges along the journey. Its implementation calls on everyone to undertake the changes required.

Organizational alignment builds on individual & collective transformations and on the awareness that all are heroes.

Seeing the strategy process through the Hero’s Journey spurs a sense of epicness in it,Setting the foundation for a legend about the of the organization that allows handling everything within an awareness of progressing along a shared path toward greatness.

…A Consciousness of Advancing on a Journey toward Greatness Exhorts Reframing Strategy

Crafting Strategy

Positive, appropriate emotional energies can be supportive to the organization’s success including performing a worthwhile strategic planning process. Negative emotional energies can hamper everything, especially changes required.Just as transcending visions emerge from motivated, creative individuals, crafting & implementing robust strategies demand positively charged passionate people.

The Emotional Energy Side to Strategy

Crafting Strategy

Successful crafting and implementation of strategy demands the right organizational energy. Creating collectively a future focused story of the organization that instills positive attitudes toward the organization’s evolution along its path facilitates summoning that energy. The goal here is to grow a culture attuned to the organization’s epic journey ahead.

Storytelling Energizes Strategy Implementation

Implementing Strategy

The setting for the script includes strategic thinking insights.

The organization’s purpose and visionary objectives translate into a “Call to Adventure”.

S.W.O.T. and challenge analysis describe details for the script.

Scenarios lay uncertainty and possible futures for the story.

The Preparation / Departure part of the journey includes engaging helpers, noticing opponents,and fostering readiness.

Overcoming challenges, attaining goals and embodying the success take place during the Initiation / Passage / Transformation part.

The Return / Celebration part highlights the fulfillment of the organization’s purpose through an inspiring description of the “Expanded World as Usual”: Living the organization’s legend.

Future Focused Epic Organizational Storytelling

Leverages Strategy Implementation

Strategic thinking & decision making enliven the story plot to overcome challenges.

Implementing Strategy

MENTORSImpel learning and commitment to purpose and values.

WIZARDSSources of organizational transformative power.

THRESHOLD GUARDIANS Insurers of readiness to move forward on the journey.

SHAPE SHIFTERS Sources of confusion and mistakes. Can be used to craft a continuous change strategy.

HERALDS Organization intelligence, sources of information & feedback.

SHADOWThe organization’s dark, repressed side, including weaknesses & limitations.

ALLIES & VILLAINS Helpers & Opponents;Supporters & Detractors.

HEROMain Protagonist – the organization itself.

The Story Becomes Alive Through a Cast of Archetypical Characters Often found often in myths,

legends, epic films and literary works.

Implementing Strategy

What is the treasure after which the organization is going?Who will perform as aides, and who as opponents? What are the challenges ahead, and how can the organization prepare for transforming obstacles into possibilities and making the most of its advantages? Which ordeal(s) among those challenges could kill the organization? What betterment for society and the ecology would the organization fulfill? • • •

Of Great Value for Organizational Learning : Epic Story Construction Surfaces Critical Questions about Strategy & Its Implementation

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Implementing Strategy

Similarly to individuals , organizations can deepen collectively their sense of meaning embedded in their culture by seeing themselves through the Hero’s Journey lens.Joseph Campbell suggested that the Hero’s Journey pattern might comprise 19 stages. An 8 stage version is adopted here underscoring the transformational aspects.

The Organization’s Strategy Journey Story is One of Transformation

Implementing Strategy

It encompasses objective elements –i.e., re-engineered workflows, new products or services- and subjective experiences and cultural shifts – i.e., overcoming fears and concerns, trusting alliances, deepening the organization’s purpose.

~ The Emotional Energy in the Story Boosts Engagement throughout the Organization ~

A Hero’s Journey-Based Story Script Is Comprehensive

TrustSerenity

Gratitude

Joy

ResolveCompassion

Enthusiasm

Celebration

Appreciation Awe Surprise Passion

Implementing Strategy

“Business as usual” is a result of all past events. At present, there might be inefficiencies, discontent, complacency, stagnant market presence, and so on…

The Story Starts at the “World as Usual”

It could also be that the organization is just meddling through, sleeping in its laurels or even in a surviving mode.

Implementing Strategy

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

CALL TO ADVENTURE - Dwelling into the WHY: The call might come from outside the organization: competition, natural events, social disruptions…

Implementing Strategy

…Tending to the call involves committing to a shared epic intent: To go on a transformational strategy journey leaving behind the “World as Usual”.

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE: Expanding the awareness

about aides & opponents is done through SWOT

analysis. Crafting strategy to

overcome challenges under key scenarios and

developing a plan will set the course for the journey.

CALL TO ADVENTURE

Implementing Strategy

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

THE GATE KEEPER: It is necessary to deal with fears & concerns about the

uncertain future. The organization proceeds to build

readiness for implementing strategy, strengthening its

culture and re-committing to the

journey.

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLDEntering the extraordinary

world of organizational

transformation.

A decision is made to move forward with strategy

implementation, and substantial enrolment

of the organization is present.

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS:

Implementing strategy is about guiding organizational change utilizing

everything to learn and advance amidst adversity. Alignment is enhanced through transformative dialogue.

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGEThis is that which could kill

the strategy implementation process. It is also about transcending:

trusting that being loyal to the organization’s purpose

will lead to synchronicity to fulfill it.

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGECLAIMING THE TREASUREAttaining the visionary objectives translates into thriving in discovery & fulfillment that come with the realization that a worthwhile vision has been materialized.

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGECLAIMING THE TREASURE

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF Now is propitious to reinforce the culture: strengthening a shared consciousness of alignment around the organization’s core ideology and reaffirming the organization’s sense of purpose.

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGECLAIMING THE TREASURE

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF

2nd THRESHOLDLeaving the extraordinary

world of organizational

transformation: Tempering the connection

to Society.

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGECLAIMING THE TREASURE

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF

2nd THRESHOLD

PREPARING TO RETURN It is time to own the journey, being grateful for the success and letting abundance drive sharing it with society: ~ We did it – This is who we are!

Implementing Strategy

THE GATE KEEPER

THE WORLD

AS USUAL

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGECLAIMING THE TREASURE

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF

2nd THRESHOLD

PREPARING TO RETURN

Implementing Strategy

ARRIVAL & CELEBRATION Letting the passion for contributing to building a better world drive the organization’s future efforts.Celebration brings the journey to an end and signalsto move toward new journeys.

ARRIVAL & CELEBRATION

THE GATE KEEPER

DEPARTURE

CALL TO ADVENTURE

1st THRESHOLD.

ENDURANCE TRIALS

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGECLAIMING THE TREASURE

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF

2nd THRESHOLD

PREPARING TO RETURN

THE EXPANDED WORLD AS

USUAL

Implementing strategy successfully leads to a new, expanded “Business as usual”. What have we learned? What is next?

The Story Epilogue is the “The Expanded World as Usual”Implementing Strategy

THE EXPANDED WORLD AS

USUAL

CALL TO ADVENTURECommitment to a shared epic intent.

DEPARTURE: SWOT, challenges, strategy crafting &

plan ellaboration.

THE GATE KEEPER: Building readiness.

Re-committing to a shared epic intent

ENDURANCE TRIALS: Steadfastness & dialogue.Full strategy deployment

ABYSS –SUPREME CHALLENGE:Trusting the purpose and the vision

and synchronicity

CLAIMING THE TREASUREDiscovery & fulfillment

from materializing the Vision

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF: Deepening alignment around the

organization’s core ideology.

PREPARING TO RETURN: Owning the journey.

Gratefulness & abundance.

ARRIVAL & CELEBRATION: Re-inforcing the will to contributea better world.

Becoming ready for next journeys

1st THRESHOLDEntering the extraordinary world of organizational transformation.

2nd THRESHOLDLeaving the extraordinary world

of organizational transformation -

Reconnecting to Society

TrustSerenity

ResolveCompassion

GratitudeJoy

EnthusiasmCelebration

~ A Summary of the Story ~

Appreciation Awe Surprise Passion

Implementing Strategy

Organizational Learning Takes Place along the Whole Journey of Strategy

Multiple layers occur along the journey of strategy – they set the context for learning: Values are manifestations of the true selves of the organization’s members:

Statements about what are morally appropriate courses of action and outcomes.

Values also determine the worldview held by the persons in the organization which in turn lead to configuring a sense of purpose.

Purpose provides a backdrop for the assumptions in paradigms which frame the decisions that are input to strategy selection.

Strategy implementation affects current reality through the results it produces.

Decisions & StrategyValues

Purpose& Meaning

Worldview

Assumptions & Paradigms

Results

Organizational Learning

Multiple Loop Learning in Strategy

Learning Order

Link in the Strategic Learning Continuum

Single Loop - Assessing the quality of the decisions made in terms of the ensuing results.

Double Loop - Enquiring about the theories, paradigms and assumptions guiding behavior and providing an immediate backdrop for the decisions.

Triple Loop - Pondering the world view and the sense of purpose that underlie assumptions and paradigms.

Quadruple Loop

- Surfacing / Deepening the organization’s values: they stem from personal values and drive world views and sense of purpose.

Quintuple Loop

- Contemplating values as manifestations of the true self of each organization’s member.

Learning Along the Strategy Journey Needs to Examine Each Layer

TRUE SELF MANIFESTATION:

VALUES

WORLDVIEW & SENSE OF

PURPOSE

PARADIGMS / ASSUMPTIONS DECISIONS RESULTS

Organizational Learning

Examining each layer provides information useful to expand knowledge and act accordingly in the collective learning within the organization

SINGLE LOOP LEARNING: DECISIONS

TO ADAPT & IMPROVEOUTCOMES

DOUBLE LOOP LEARNING:SURFACE & TEST THEORIES

TO IMPROVE DECISIONS

TRIPLE LOOP LEARNING:SHIFT PARADIGMS TO IMPROVE

THE UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY

QUADRUPLE LOOP LEARNING:DEEPEN EMBODYMENT OF VALUES

TO STRENGTHEN INTENTAND CLARIFY PERSPECTIVE

ON THE WORLD

Learning along the Journey of Strategy Is a Multiple Feedback Loop Process

TRUE SELF MANIFESTATION:

VALUES

WORLDVIEW & SENSE OF

PURPOSE

PARADIGMS / ASSUMPTIONS DECISIONS RESULTS

Organizational Learning

Learning from Crafting and Implementing Strategy Strengthens the Organization and Builds Readiness

for the Future

Organizational Learning

When values & purpose are embraced and expressed in decisions and results,and there is an authentic ownership of the overall experience,

self-appropriation takes place: the journey is now a part of the organization’s True Self.

Attaining the visionary objectives is not really the end…Going through the transformations and learning that made that possible and using such achievements to contribute for the betterment of society

is the real destination

The End

Arturo J. Bencosme, PhDajbencosme@comcast.net