Deliberate versus emergent strategies in organizational planning

¶ … organization follows when using a deliberate strategy. How does this process differ when an organization implements an emergent strategy?

The process that an organization follows when using a deliberate strategy is to choose and implement a plan with specific goals for its future. In the interest of achieving these deliberative goals, the organization's senior managers must be given distinct responsibilities. Usually, most companies implement a deliberative plan by assigning most senior managers with two specific responsibilities, with one short-term and one long-term goal in mine. An emergent strategy is one where a pattern of action develops in the organization in the absence of mission and goals or despite mission and goals.

For example, an organization might be hit with an unexpected event that affects is market position, such as the rising cost of fuel and increased input costs. This requires an immediate, emergent strategy to cope with the problem and to achieve the long-term goals and the short-term goals of senior management. Although each manager may have distinct deliberative responsibilities, all managers must convene to create an effective emergent strategy to deal with the new environment in light of their specific responsibilities.

2. Which strategy should a firm develop first - its business level or its corporate level strategy? Describe the relationship between a firm's business and corporate strategies.