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Strategy is not X

umr.io

11–20 of 62 posts

Re: Strategy is not X

#12
One way to look at strategy could be how do you predict the second order effects. Using a sports metaphor to understand, strategy would be that "Our opponents are ABC, whose strength is D. Our team would go in initially with X plan, looking to tire out or unbalance the opponents/counter D, then at minute 60, they will have to do Y, we will counter that with Z, and we will win."

For 10 min delivery - a potential (although not good) strategy could be, we start with quick commerce delivery eliminating of long wait times and uncertainty in orders, and once the habit is formed and we know the items our customers want (and when they want it), we will predict demand accurately to store only the items they usually need, and we will reduce the cost of excess inventory and the storage needed for it, making it an efficient market.

Re: Strategy is not X

#13
post #4

I think about this topic a lot. I think I am fairly good at tactics: devising the "checklist" and executing on it. I don't know if I am any good at strategy. I haven't tried, and I wouldn't know where the line between tactics and strategy lies. It doesn't sound like the book being reviewed answers my question. Are there such books? Is it just a matter of "doing" strategy, to know what it is and how to do it well (tri…

>between tactics and strategy lies

My two cents.

In business ( And straightly in the sense of business, because the context changes if you apply to War ). I would consider tactics as something that sit between Strategy and Execution. Strategy as direction, or vision and goal. Whether you should enter a specific market, or pursue certain market opportunities. Tactics as steps and moves to achieve that goal. Execution being the actual work.

That is speaking as someone who is annoyed by the media and VCs repetition of "Execution eats Strategy for Breakfast" in the past 10+ years. My hypothesis or theory is that because VCs are already sold to your goal or vision ( strategy ), they just want you to execute it.

Re: Strategy is not X

#14
post #10

Interesting that he's not sure what a strategy consists of after reading the book. I read the same book and it does give a definition, with three essential parts, but frustratingly doesn't then link the examples back to show how they illustrate the definition. Rumelt says good strategy consists of: "1. A diagnosis that defines or explains the nature of the challenge. A good diagnosis simplifies the often overwhelming…

A number of writers (Mintzberg being perhaps the most notable one) point out just how inconsistent definitions of strategy are. It’s hard!

I enjoyed Rumelt, but to some eyes, he over-simplifies. “Strategy as theory” for example isn’t well represented. There’s room for it perhaps in the second and third points, not so much in the first.

Re: Strategy is not X

#15
To me, strategy is a plan of action within a system that dynamically resists your attempts at progress, usually due to the presence of other agents similar to yourself. Chess is a good microcosmic example.

Re: Strategy is not X

#16
post #15

To me, strategy is a plan of action within a system that dynamically resists your attempts at progress, usually due to the presence of other agents similar to yourself. Chess is a good microcosmic example.

So "strategy" doesn't apply to tasks like going to the moon, curing cancer or getting into shape?

Re: Strategy is not X

#17
post #15

To me, strategy is a plan of action within a system that dynamically resists your attempts at progress, usually due to the presence of other agents similar to yourself. Chess is a good microcosmic example.

So "strategy" doesn't apply to tasks like going to the moon, curing cancer or getting into shape?

“system that dynamically resists your attempts at progress” applies to all of those in spades, and then some, with a cherry on top!

Competition maybe not to cancer, but to some extent the other two (cold war and competitive fitness - why do you “want” a six pack?)

Re: Strategy is not X

#18
He missed one: Strategy is not tactics.

For example I see sports pundits do confuse strategy with tactics all the time. I guess you need to be a chess/go player to really understand these concepts.

Re: Strategy is not X

#20

I really liked this comment from the summary: > OKR is an strategy-alignment exercise, not a strategy-creation activity. I think my company has been treating it too much like the latter.

HQ idea of strategy "here is your P&L for next year. We need your strategy by Monday".
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