Case study of strategic development process in the Umhlanga Dental Practice (UDP)

Abstract

The dissertation evolved out a need to determine the strategic way forward for the Umhlanga Dental Practice (UDP). The practice has been experiencing major and minor changes in its internal and external environments. The general strategic approach has been to merely adapt to these changes but with a distinct lack of formal, planned sustainable initiatives.The First chapter of the dissertation highlights the necessary theory that will be applied to the specific situation surrounding the practice. Includes the various approaches to strategic analysis of the external and internal environments of the organisation. Thus a theoretical framework is illustrated that may be applicable to determining the various situations of any organisation. Chapter Two presents the application of the theoretical framework to illustrate the specific conditions that the practice finds itself in. Chapter Three identifies all the necessary analysis and evaluation of the strategic options available to the practice and aids in determining the strategic way forward. The present and future resources required to implement the chosen strategies are also analysed. Thus providing the basis for the next chapter. The last chapter focuses on Implementation of the various strategic options available to the practice. Implementation is encouraged in incremental stages and with a definite time line that enables the key resources within the practice to be adapted to the new strategies. Control of the organisation and monitoring of the strategies is an essential part of any strategic implementation and is discussed as the last part of Chapter Five. The dissertation thus addresses an actual problem that is relevant and applicable to an existing practice.