Strategic Issue Analysis Paper Guidelines
Prepare and submit a 20 – 25 page paper in which you apply core concepts from the MAOL program to a strategic organizational issue with
significant leadership challenges; the issue may be a problem or opportunity that your organization is currently facing or has faced in the past.
Examples of strategic organizational issues with major leadership implications that could be the basis of an effective analysis include:
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Merger or acquisition
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Reorganization or restructuring
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Large lay-off (10% or more of staff)
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Entry into a new market and/or country
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New technology or system
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New product development and/or implementation
In analyzing the issue and proposing recommendations, you must position yourself as the leader either as a mid to senior-level manager or an
external consultant working with the senior management team. After briefly describing the issue, analyze the problem or opportunity from different
perspectives to draw conclusions and recommend action
Strategic Issue Analysis Paper Content
Issue Description
In 1 – 2 pages, concisely describe the strategic organizational issue and its potential impact on organizational effectiveness. Positioning yourself
as the leader, the narrative should discuss the need addressing the issue, impact on the organization’s short and long-range goals, key players
(names optional), and the leadership challenges faced.
Analysis
Examine the strategic issue from multiple leadership perspectives demonstrating your knowledge of the importance and value of each to
organizational and leadership effectiveness. For each core MAOL course listed below, apply relevant course theories and concepts to analyze
the issue, and assess the implications on the organization’s short and long-term strategy and objectives:
Effective Spring 2023
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Ethics (OLCU 601): Analyze the issue from an ethics perspective identifying one ethical issue created by the situation. Propose an ethical
decision-making framework discussing how you as the leader would address the ethical issues.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) (OLCU 650): Analyze the issue from multiple dimensions of diversity, identifying DEI challenges created
by the issue and applying DEI strategies and/or models to encourage inclusion.
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Organizational Dynamics (OLCU 613): Analyze the issue using the four-frame model considering potential structural, human resource, political
and cultural causes and implications in addressing the issue.
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Collaboration (OLCU 614): Analyze the issue assessing the need to collaborate upward, with peers and/or followers. As appropriate, identify
the impact of team effectiveness on the issue, and how you as the leader could enhance needed collaboration.
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Change (OLCU 615): Analyze the issue from a change management perspective. Describe a change management model you as the leader
would use to facilitate the change effort.
Integrated Leadership Analysis
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Critical Analysis: Integrate and synthesize your analyses of the issue from the multiple perspectives of ethics, DEI, organizational dynamics,
collaboration, and change identifying critical factors causing the issue.
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Leadership Approaches: Discuss two leadership approaches from OLCU 600 that would enhance leadership effectiveness in addressing the
issue
