| See attached instructions: -Please remember to mention at least 4 of the 8 critiques by Betts–Is Strategy an illusion. Assignment Instructions This assignment is a take-home essay assignment intended to test knowledge and assimilation of the course objectives. You may draw evidence to support your argument from other sources, but you must use the course’s required texts and readings as the main sources of evidence to demonstrate your mastery of them. The assignment should be 10-12 pages in length. We have used Betts’ 10 Critiques to guide our investigation of the making of strategy, and we have used our analytical framework comprised of the Nine Constants and Nine Variables of Strategy to evaluate its effectiveness. Belief 1: Strategy is an Illusion As we addressed in the forum, Eliot Cohen has argued recently that the idea of using a deliberate process of making strategy to anticipate and address in the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (i.e., VUCA) times we face is misguided, since the human condition makes it impossible to anticipate the future in any meaningful ways and/or serve as the basis for developing policy that is proactive and effective. In essence, Cohen agrees with Betts that strategy is an illusion. Belief 2: Strategy is and can be Effective By contrast, in his recently published and magisterial work, Strategy: A History, the world’s current “Dean of Strategic Studies” Lawrence Freedman offers a definition of strategy that is both simple and sublime: “the art of creating power.” Freedman concludes that the impact of strategy is both discernible and measurable, especially in terms of its impact on the “prevailing balance of power” (Freedman 2013). The contrast between the beliefs of Cohen and Freedman reflects the contrast we have been exploring in this course between the beliefs of Betts and those of Yarger and Lykke. By this point in the course, we should be ready to determine which position is more valid and able to present our argument in support of our position cogently and persuasively. Based upon the case studies and material we have considered in this course, is Betts right that the making of strategy is an illusion; or, is Lykke right that the making of strategy is and can be effective? TECHNICAL GUIDANCE: • Type in Times New Roman, 12 point and double space. • Students will follow the Turabian Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. • Must contain evidence from at least two of the historical case studies we have investigated in the course. • Must make reference to at least 4 of the 8 Betts critiques we considered. • Must incorporate meaningfully our analytical framework comprised of the Nine Constants and Nine variables of Strategy into your response. • Your submission is be in your own words with minimal quotes and cited appropriately. • This assignment will be graded using the attached rubric. |
