10.3 - Managing Strategic Implementation

• When implementing a new strategy, managers and leaders can use network analysis to manage and plan the different stages and elements of a project.
• • Network analysis is the use of a network analysis diagram to visually display the different elements of a project to identify the quickest way of completing all activities.
• Network analysis diagram


  Circles, known as nodes, are used to show the start and end of an individual activity
• Using network analysis allows managers and leaders to identify activities which can overrun without impacting the finish date of the whole project. This extra time is known as float time and is the difference between the latest finish time of the previous activity and the earliest start time of the next activity with the activity duration deducted.
• Network analysis


  • Allows businesses to calculate float time
  • Allows businesses to identify activities which can be delayed or overrun without affecting the overall project
  • Allows managers and leaders to move resources if they need to
• Network analysis


  • Allows businesses to calculate the critical path
  • The critical path is the list of activities which have no float time and cannot be delayed without delaying the overall project
  • Allows managers to prioritise
• Network analysis


  • Allows managers and leaders to identify whether different tasks can be done at the same time
  • Allows managers and leaders to minimise the overall duration of project implementation
• Disadvantages of network analysis

  • Network analysis uses forecasted activity durations and these forecasts may be inaccurate.
  • Network analysis does not guarantee successful strategy implementation as the business still needs adequate resources and managerial experience to implement the strategy successfully.
• Total Float Time = LFT - Duration - EST
• A network analysis diagram is also called a critical path analysis diagram.
• Implementing strategies effectively:

  • planning (who, what, where, when)
  • clear standards of expectations
  • organising resources required
  • coordinating what has to happen
  • ensuring correct people run various parts
  • establishing clear points to measure and review progress