In the beginning of lecture 2 Professor Alava explains the cornerstones of strategic thinking (you may recall strategic planning from lecture one!).

Next, in the lecture, an instrument is presented in order to assess the strategic readiness of an organization. The framework originates from the classical works of Igor Ansoff. Here it is used in a very practical sense. Through an exercise, you will have the opportunity to analyze your own organization.

After the exercise, professor Alava develops an important framework in order to analyze organizational learning. The framework is based on two new concepts: strategic gap and organizational entropy. Pay special attention to the framework with two axes and on the development of two possible paths for organizational development, the learning cycle and the vicious cycle. This framework also serves as one to be used in the final assignment of this course EDLS820.

At the very end of the lecture, you will also learn to understand the Strategic Learning Cycle in a more comprehensive way when professor Alava ‘opens up’ the framework into a model of Leadership for Strategic Learning.

In order to perfom the exercise mentioned, follow lecturer's instruction and pause the video at the following time:

06:20 Pause the video and do the exercise according to the lecturer's instruction.
08:30 Pause the video and do the exercise according to the lecturer's instruction.
10:20 Pause the video and do the exercise according to teh lecturer's instruction.

Before any lecture either open or save to your computer the assigned PowerPoint presentations.

Assignment before the lecture: none

Open or save PowerPoint slides related to this lecture HERE.

Listen to the lecture, and afterwards do the assignment given below.

Write your learning experiences into your personal Reflective report

Assignment after the lecture: Read from the following Master’s Dissertation Chapter 2. Literature review: The nature of strategic management and strategic leadership. This text serves as good additional reference in order to deepen understanding of strategic leadership and thinking. Use it, if needed as an additional recourse to add comments of your workbook for developing your school.

Suggested reading (available via university electronic libraries only)

A new approach to strategic leadership: learning-centeredness, connectivity and cultural context in school design. By: Dimmock, Clive; Walker, Allan. School Leadership & Management, Feb2004, Vol. 24 Issue 1, p39-56, 18p; DOI: 10.1080/1363243042000172813; (AN 13073377)