…is a loaded, multivalent, term.<\/p>\n
My definition: “the process of making explicit resource allocation decisions.” Alternatively, and more actively: “Goal-oriented resource allocation decisions.”<\/p>\n
But it’s often used, dismissively, as the opposite of what I call the “acticals”: practical and tactical.<\/p>\n
It’s often used as a synonym for ‘planning’ (“we need a lunch strategy, guys.”)<\/p>\n
Henry Mintzberg, one of my only business theory heroes, distinguishes between ‘deliberate’ or ‘intended’ strategy and ’emergent’ strategy; the latter is a pattern <\/strong>of decisions that emerge, like slime molds or cities or the open source movement<\/a>. I’ve argued in the past that this is really the only valid approach, based on Mintzberg’s arguments, but there are many others.<\/p>\n Mintzberg discusses this distinction (between intended and emergent strategy) in The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning<\/em> but elaborates on the idea in Strategy Safari<\/em>, which lays out a whole taxonomy of approaches to strategy.<\/p>\n I was working with Larry Bennigson when Strategy Safari<\/em> came out and he provided a blurb for it.\u00a0 I remember thinking at the time, “what an idiotic title; I’m never going to read that book.”\u00a0 But, really, Strategy Safari<\/em> is a great book and is probably the final word on the uses of the word and the value of the various approaches. The final word at least for our times.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" …is a loaded, multivalent, term. My definition: “the process of making explicit resource allocation decisions.” Alternatively, and more actively: “Goal-oriented resource allocation decisions.” But it’s often used, dismissively, as the opposite of what I call the “acticals”: practical and tactical. … Continue reading