DB FPX 8710 Assessment 3 Aligning Frameworks

Student Name

Capella University

DB-FPX 8710 Strategy and Innovation: Theorizing, Crafting, Executing

Prof. Name:

Date

Introduction

Kensington Auto Parts has experienced declining financial trends over the past year, identifying the core business problem as breakdowns in leadership. This paper will outline frameworks and align them with the identified business problem.

Specific Business Problem and Gap in Process

Over the past year, Kensington Auto has suffered financial losses due to various factors. Identifying the specific problem is essential to reversing the trend of losing market shares. A review of the business case revealed that the fundamental issue is a breakdown in leadership. Kensington Perry, CEO, acknowledged that the leadership team lacked the necessary strategies to achieve success. After identifying the specific business problem, the next step is to explore the gap in practice that led to this issue.

For Kensington Auto Parts, the CEO recognized that his team lacked the tools required to implement successful strategies. The true gap in practice is in leadership, starting from the top down. Mr. Perry lacked the leadership skills to equip his team with the necessary tools and strategies, leading to a decline in market shares.

Frameworks

Frameworks are utilized in the business world to outline and organize a company’s goals and procedures (Magloff, 2021). These frameworks are often reevaluated when a company faces adversity. The adversity faced by Kensington Auto Parts necessitates such a reevaluation. Identifying frameworks that provide evidence of leadership breakdowns within Kensington Auto is a crucial step toward resolving the business problem. Frameworks are only beneficial when the analysis is thorough. The frameworks listed below will outline the analysis and benefits of each.

Scholarly Framework

Fishbone diagrams, or Ishikawa diagrams, are commonly used in business among leadership teams to analyze potential causes of a business problem and address them (Sharmila Reddy, 2019). Creating such a diagram illustrates the cause and effect of a business problem, allowing management to propose resolutions. The Fishbone Analysis framework is well-suited for Kensington Auto Parts, as it gets to the root cause of the problem, providing evidence to the executive leadership team that there are leadership and development breakdowns within the organization causing the decline in market shares over the past year. Creating a fishbone diagram to illustrate cause and effect is the foundation of the Fishbone Analysis framework.

Practitioner Framework

The Congruence Framework, developed by organizational theorists David A. Nadler and Michael L. Tushman, is the best practitioner framework for this business problem (Sridharan, 2022). This framework assists in identifying root causes of organizational performance issues and provides a holistic outlook on the necessary changes. For Kensington Auto, this framework would allow the executive leadership team to review the inputs and outputs of the organization, offering a better perspective on what changes are needed for the company to regain profitability. This framework involves analyzing inputs and outputs, creating a thorough process.

Framework Justification

Congruence Framework

The Congruence Framework allows Mr. Kensington to outline the inputs and outputs of the organization to determine weak areas. Utilizing this framework provides a comprehensive diagnostic of the issues at hand. The drawback of this framework is that it often requires additional tools to support the full change. Kensington Auto Parts would need another framework structure to complete the total analysis necessary for positive changes to return to profitability.

Fishbone Analysis Framework

The Fishbone Analysis framework complements the Congruence Framework by illustrating the cause and effect within the organization. By outlining the cause and effect of the business problem, Mr. Kensington can evaluate where his leadership failed and how that affected the rest of the leadership team and the company. Creating a visual of the pain points provides a clear picture of the necessary changes and who needs to be involved. It is crucial that the implemented changes are thoroughly analyzed to ensure they lead to regained profitability for Kensington Auto Parts. Returning market shares to profit is vital for the company’s sustainability.

Framework and Current Trends in Strategy and Innovation

Reviewing previous or current business models and using them to create newer, more innovative business models is a current trend (Lüttgens & Diener, 2016). Different business models are rated according to impact, and Porter’s forces are used to evaluate multiple business models appropriately. Utilizing Porter’s forces, businesses analyze other business models and strategies to create more innovative strategies for their success. Comparing good and bad business practices and models provides an opportunity to develop a unique and successful strategy.

Reflection

In writing this analysis, I have learned how to identify not only a business problem but also the root cause. Utilizing different frameworks is beneficial in identifying the necessary changes to resolve the business problem and bridge the gap in practice. Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for change is essential to ensure they produce positive results. This assessment and course have provided a foundation for my DBA journey and my professional journey. I have gained knowledge and skills to utilize in my current job. I evaluate systems and workflows daily, creating better strategies and designs for a more seamless user experience. The research in this analysis can be applied to my daily work, leading to more innovative ideas that create easier use for our users.

References

Cavaleri, S., & Shabana, K. (2018). Rethinking sustainability strategies. Journal of Strategy and Management, 11(1), 2–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsma-08-2016-0050

Filipović, S., Vasić, M., Tica, S., Veg, E., & Šiniković, G. (2020). Using Modified Nadler-Tushman Model in GAP Analysis of Educational Process of EFMNS Certified Engineer. Tehnički Vjesnik, 27(4), 1213–1220. https://doaj.org/article/8b65888812dc458e8bc4ec43c0c832a0

Lüttgens, D., & Diener, K. (2016). Business model patterns used as a tool for creating (new) innovative business models. Journal of Business Models, 4(3), 19-36.

Magloff, L. (2021, December 7). What Is an Operational Framework in Business? Chron.com. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/operational-framework-business-25852.html