Framework

Suitability, acceptability, feasibility

The question it answers

When a leadership team must choose between strategic options, which one fits the situation, will stakeholders accept, and can the firm deliver with its resources?

Origin
Johnson et al., 2008; Whittington et al., 2023
Diagram type
Process by phase
Level of analysis
Firm
Topics
Strategy & leadershipBusiness consulting
Chess knight on a glass compass, icon for strategy and leadership

Diagram

Suitability, acceptability, feasibility

  1. Suitability
  2. Does it fit the situation?Does the option address the strategic problem found in the analysis?
  3. Acceptability
  4. Will stakeholders accept it?Expectations on return, risk and social impact.
  5. Feasibility
  6. Are there enough resources and capability?Money, people, time, skills.

Pitfalls

Pitfall

Testing only 'suitability' because it is easiest to argue. A good but infeasible option still fails.

Sources

References

Listed A–Z by author surname, Harvard style. A source with a DOI links to https://doi.org/…; one without links to its page or says plainly that it has no DOI.

  1. Johnson, G., Scholes, K. and Whittington, R. (2008) Exploring corporate strategy: text and cases. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall.No DOISource page
  2. Whittington, R. et al. (2023) Exploring strategy: text and cases. Harlow: Pearson.No DOISource page