When to Fly?

Geese fly before winter sets in, when the seasons tell them its time to move on. Geese understand that they cannot change or fight the seasons. Similarly, organizations need to develop strategies anticipating 'winter', and start flying before winter sets in. Organizations must respond to external demands quickly, adapt their organizations and redirect their employees and IT to achieve competitive advantage (Rollins et al.).

Organizations need to understand that IT change is one external factor, which affects competitive position. In order to survive, organizations need to adapt timeously to change. Therefore, strategic planning must be a dynamic process, and IT and IT change must form part of the process. Successful organizations balance a well-defined business focus with the willingness, and the will, to undertake major and rapid change. Immobility is the most dangerous behavioral pattern (Burgleman et al., 2001).

Organizations need to be ready to fly. Four prerequisites for organizations wishing to embark on e-business are leadership, governance, competencies and technology (Hartman et al., 2000). The first prerequisite is leadership; outstanding companies are associated with their leaders (Welch, Gates, Bezos). Leaders create a vision that is shared and accepted within the organization. Governance is the operating model that defines the organization. The formation or structure of the organization must be clear. People roles, responsibilities, and authority levels must be defined. Organizations need to have methods for assessing, selecting, allocating and monitoring resources. Competencies are the ways in which the organization responds to change, exploits available resources and opportunities, and accommodates reality. Technology needs to be robust and comprehensive.

"The reality of a strategy lies in its enactment, not in those pronouncements that appear to assert it" (Burgleman et al., 2001). Strategic intent needs to be converted into strategic action to be meaningful.