A business strategy defines the direction in which a business will take in the future. The business organization tries to achieve an advantage over the competition by the configuration of its resources within a confronting setting so that the needs of the market are met and the expectations of its stockholders are fulfilled. This is the overall definition of a business strategy. This focuses a business organization on which market it should engage in and the activities that are needed to compete in that particular market for the business to grow.
In making a business strategy, the planners need to determine how the organization can outperform its competition in a particular market niche. These are the advantages of the company which it needs to utilize, in order to gain the upper hand. In this connection, the right resources that the company can utilize should be gained, in order to maintain its competitive advantage. These resources will include the skills, various company assets, relationships, facilities and technical competence. As an organization plan how to manage its resources, it should also take into consideration the environment in which it is to operate. These are the external factors which can have an effect on the ability of a business organization to compete. Furthermore, the hope and values of its stakeholders should also be taken into account on the overall business strategy.
Though there is an overall strategy which a business organization enforces, there are different levels in a business setting where particular strategies are implemented. First there is the so called corporate strategy. In this particular strategy level, the focus is on the overall purpose and coverage of the organization to meet the expectations of its stockholders. This is crucial to the company since it has a great influence on its investors and guides the strategic decision making all through the company. A corporate business strategy is posted for all to see in the mission statement of a company.
Next in importance to the corporate strategy would be the business unit strategy of a particular business organization. A business unit strategy is mainly concerned with how a business can compete in its chosen market niche. The decisions which are the focus of attention in a business unit level are about meeting the needs of its costumers, choice of products, gaining advantage on the competition and the creation and exploitation of new opportunities.
The next level of business strategy which a business organization focuses on is the operational strategy of the company. At this level, the focus is on how each segment of the business can be systematized so as to give the direction to the business unit strategy. The consideration is on processes, people, resources and other such concerns. Various business organizations have their own strategies which they see are most advantageous to the company. They each implement safeguards to guarantee that strategic goals and objectives are met and vigorously implemented and followed by each member of the team.