STRATEGIC MANAGEMNET

(MGMT5410)
Roger Chen
Learning Requirements/Summary—July 8th PM Class, 2023

Method: Evaluating and Selecting Strategy Proposals/Choices.

This class mainly focused on Reverse Engineering Strategic Options (RESO) method and
Amazons’ Working Backwards Method. We discussed P&G’s Olay product example,
and Old Navy to illustrate the RESO method. More importantly, we highlighted
following key learning points.
• The power or the importance of framing issue/objective/aspiration before
developing strategy.
• How to use business model canvas and related 3 criteria, Customer (desirability),
company (operation feasibility and financial viability) and competitors’ reactions
to help evaluate strategic proposals.
• We also discussed a story to illustrate the relationships among different
components in the business model canvas and the three criteria (e.g., the
relationships among offering innovative products, the choice of sales channels,
the cost structure and the choice of being a software or a system company).
• The class discussed the method of finding the riskiest assumptions/conditions of a
proposal.
• In the class, we also summarized the common-sense key takeaway of RESO (3
points) and the differences between the RESO and traditional strategy analysis
methods.

Note:
Our class did not discuss Amazon’s working backward topic, so this topic is NOT
required.