Strategic Thinking in Action

Strategic Thinking in Action — Four Activities (Scanning, Questioning, Conceptualizing, Testing)

Four Main Activities

4 Strategic Activities

In practice, strategic thinking consists of four main activities:

Scanning
Questioning
Conceptualizing
Testing

Scanning

Scanning Definition

Scanning is the identification of emerging patterns in the environment.

What Scanning Involves

This consists of:

Taking in information from different sources
Deconstructing information
Synthesizing information

…with the goal of applying this information to the future.

Scanning Techniques

Example scanning techniques:

Seeking input from an expert panel
Analyzing historical data to identify trends

Questioning

Questioning Definition

Questioning (asking questions of others and oneself) is needed to more fully understand an issue from different perspectives.

What Questioning Includes

This includes:

Framing issues broadly
Exploring problems rather than aiming to solve them immediately
Considering input from all stakeholders

Conceptualizing

Conceptualizing Definition

Conceptualizing potential options is needed to identify possibilities for future direction.

What Conceptualizing Includes

This includes:

Identifying a broad range of options (brainstorming)
Using various analytic tools and techniques to explore potential solutions
Rejecting options ONLY after exploration

Testing

Testing Definition

Testing allows for informed speculation to anticipate the impact of a proposed action on organizational performance.

Testing Example

For example, one might initially:

Conduct a role play of how the proposed course of action would be communicated to stakeholders
Assess how stakeholders are likely to respond

Pilot Testing

The proposed solution should be tested on a small scale (a pilot test) to:

Evaluate its initial impact
Address any problems that arise in the initial implementation