The quality of both strategic thinking and action rely, in important ways, on the quality of the strategic conversations underway at all levels in the organization. The design of these conversations is the defining contribution of the strategy-making process. When these strategic conversations about the design of the future operate successfully at both local and organizational levels, they create a "meta-capability" for strategy-making capable of both furthering intended strategy and for recognizing opportunities for emergent strategy.

In this case, Copeland executives have hired Bain & Company, a management-consulting firm, to make recommendations about a capital-appropriations request. A teaching note is available to registered faculty, along with a video supplement to enhance student learning.

Describes a company that is seeking to restructure the lobster fishing industry by applying technology and management to what has been essentially a cottage industry. The student is expected to identify and evaluate the strategy pursued by the company to date and then to assess the prospects for the future in continuing to follow that strategy.

Dansk Designs Ltd., a supplier of high quality, highly designed tableware products, plans to enter a new product area in housewares. Past growth and anticipated future expansion make organizational changes necessary. Overseas operations, design changes, supplier relations, quality control, marketing strategy, and competition all have impact on the organizational structure.

Policy problems, mainly organizational issues, face a young middle manager in the context of capital budgeting in a highly technological conglomerate firm with high market uncertainty.