Mintzberg 5ps Essay

Question one
STRATEGY is a plan, a ploy, a pattern, a position, and a perspective. Explain these various views of strategy. Discuss the importance of strategies to management and the dimensions of strategic decision in today’s organization.
Mintzberg first wrote about the 5 Ps of Strategy in 1987. Mintzberg sees strategy from five different angles and contends that strategy can be thought of as the 5 Ps. This thought brings a different approach to strategy. The 5Ps
1. Plan.
2. Ploy.
3. Pattern.
4. Position.
5. Perspective.
By understanding each P, one can develop a strong business strategy that takes full advantage of the organization's strengths and opportunities. The 5 p’s can be seen as a variety of viewpoints that can be considered while developing a robust and successful strategy.
1. Strategy as a Plan
Mintzberg defined plan as some sort of consciously intended course of action, a guideline (or set of guidelines) to deal with a situation. By this definition strategies have two essential characteristics: they are made in advance of the actions to which they apply; flexibility and they are developed consciously and purposefully. General von Moltke once observed, “No battle plan ever survived contact with the enemy”, so flexibility is crucial.
The problem with planning, however, is that it's not enough on its own. This is where the other four Ps come into play.
2. Strategy as Ploy
Mintzberg says that getting the better of competitors, by plotting to disrupt, dissuade, discourage, or otherwise influence them, can be part of a strategy. This is where strategy can be a ploy. For example a telecommunications company might buy up patents that a competitor could potentially use to launch a rival product.
According to (David, 1999) the short term strategy can also consist of a series of ploys designed to keep an organisation’s position intact. Ploys are