Assignment 1
Semester 2
Due August 2025
,MNG3701
Assignment 01
Semester 2
Due August 2025
Clicks Group Limited: Strategic Management and Organizational Planning
a) Differentiating a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement
A vision statement expresses an organization’s future aspirations. It paints an
idealistic picture of what the organization aims to become, providing long-term strategic
inspiration. In contrast, a mission statement articulates the organization's current role,
purpose, and scope of operations. It answers “What do we do?” and “For whom?”
Example: Clicks Group Limited’s vision could be “To be the customer’s first choice in
health and beauty retail in South Africa,” while its mission may focus on “Providing
access to affordable healthcare, trusted advice, and convenient retail solutions.”
Strategic Insight: The vision energizes long-term transformation, while the mission
stabilizes daily execution. A disconnect between the two risks misalignment in strategic
implementation and organizational culture.
b) Management Level of Ms. Lorraine Mthombeni and Associated Duties
Ms. Lorraine Mthombeni, as a store manager in Pretoria, functions at the middle
management level. This tier translates high-level strategic goals into localized
operational outcomes.
Her key responsibilities include:
Operational Execution: Ensuring smooth store operations, managing inventory,
implementing marketing campaigns, and delivering customer service that aligns with
Clicks’ brand promise.
, People Management: Leading, coaching, and evaluating store employees, promoting
compliance with HR policies, and upholding Clicks’ values such as diversity, inclusion,
and ethical retailing.
Performance Monitoring: Tracking sales targets, managing ClubCard participation,
and providing performance reports to regional or senior managers.
Expert Perspective: Middle managers like Ms. Mthombeni are critical knowledge
conduits. They balance the pressures of strategic accountability with on-the-ground
responsiveness. In retail, this role shapes both customer perception and operational
efficiency.
c) Strategic Planning Activities at Clicks Group Limited (5 marks)
Strategic planning at Clicks involves a structured process to define long-term goals,
optimize resources, and mitigate risk in a volatile market landscape.
Environmental Scanning: Clicks conducts PESTEL and SWOT analyses to assess
demographic trends (e.g., aging population, urbanization), policy shifts (e.g., NHI
debates), and its internal capabilities (e.g., UPD logistics and digital platforms).
Goal Setting: Establishes measurable objectives such as expanding to over 1,200
stores, capturing a 35% wholesale pharmaceutical market share, and enhancing digital
penetration through its online pharmacy and app.
Stakeholder Alignment: Engages with key stakeholders—employees, customers,
suppliers, investors—to ensure that strategy reflects shared expectations and regulatory
responsibilities.
Resource Allocation: Invests strategically in omnichannel distribution, pharmacy
education bursaries, and tech infrastructure to support growth and service delivery.
Risk Management: Identifies and responds to risks including economic instability, load
shedding, and evolving health regulations. Environmental, Social, and Governance
(ESG) factors are embedded in board-level decision-making and public reporting.
Rare Insight: Clicks would benefit from advancing its scenario planning capability. While
traditional forecasting serves stability, scenario planning prepares for disruptive shifts