Avoid Pigeonholed Approaches to Strategy

Avoid Pigeonholed Approaches to Strategy

Strategy is defined differently by different proponents, based on what one considers, is the key focus of his theory / paradigm / postulate. Examples include
• Blue ocean strategy that espouses a clean slate approach, out of the box thinking, unbounded by the past, bold, forward looking and claimed to be superior to other forms of strategy development
• Porters five forces model of competitiveness that believes sustainable businesses depend purely on competitiveness driven by the five forces of competitiveness
• SWOT approach where strategy development is driven by an analysis of the past: strengths, weaknesses (constraints) and the future opportunities and threats
• Systems approach where a holistic integrated approach is taken in charting a strategy

I believe - contrary to a pigeonholed (Editor: ~put in/assigned to one particular category, typically an overly restrictive one) approach that individual proponents espouse - that strategy is the thinking process in the mind of the strategist (business owner or the CEO). It is not something that is bragged about to the public, put on ppts and broadcast. Such an approach demolishes and neutralizes the fundamental premise of a strategy: to take on the competition / adversary by surprise, swiftness and low reaction time, orchestrate unique benefits for the self and entry / operational barriers for others, continuous evolution to always leave the competition / adversary behind (trailing). Strategy keeps evolving all the time in the mind of the driver. Loud statements on strategic expertise brandishing one tool or another are unrealistic, not recognizing the value derived, limitations, contextual appropriateness and holism to deliver practical value.

Real strategy is rarely spoken about loudly other than serving a diluted / text book version, to quench the thirst of analysts. Strategy is more often a game plan residing in the mind of the leader. He may disclose / share elements of it, just as much felt necessary to carry his team along, and give them a sense of belongingness in its conception and implementation, in order to hit the long term agenda.

Can we train one on strategy? Strategy is highly individualistic driven by thinking patterns and thought processes, learnings from experiences, successes, failures and how one has sailed through. Strategy is knowledge interspersed with emotions and confidence that one can. Strategy is nothing without being different.
Strategy is impossible without a belief that something that others have not tried or done, is possible. Objective of the strategist is to reveal as little of the strategy necessary to give meaning on one's action to those he needs, to collaborate with, to achieve his vision. Stated vision is only a hazy picture of ones' mental model of strategy that may never be articulated. Strategy has many elements in the nature of intrigue, bordering on illegality, unethical and even secretive, which if revealed would derail and endanger one's goal achievement. It may not even be comprehensible to another. One can only comprehend only what is within ones' realm of perception. Sometimes there may not even be a strategy, but only a passion that carried one forward. Business school case studies on strategy tend to be more of giving a legitimate meaning to an event in the language of the strategists to sync with known theories to gain credibility among one's social and professional circles. Is it possible to give meaning to all that one does, over someones else's template?

		Comments Sort by date Sort by rating Rating
		0 mangesh pansare Manager, India
	Pigeonholed Strategy I did read books by Porter, on SWOT, etc., and I was wondering how can the strategist divulge ones s... Sign up

		0 subramanian Business Consultant, India
	Pigeonholed Strategy Thank you Mangesh. You are absolutely right. I happened to have some professional interaction with a... Sign up

		-1 mahmoud Saudi Arabia
	Pigeonholed Strategy @Subramanian: I don't agree with the part you mentioned about strategy being a game, actually this i... Sign up

		2 subramanian Business Consultant, India
	Pigeonholed Strategy You seem to have interpreted the word game in a negative sense. The word game here only means a set ... Sign up

		1 Leslie Student (University), Mexico
	Creating an Efficient Strategy in Silence It's an interesting and common topic that we see during all our life. When you move the correct piec... Sign up

		1 Neeran Gautam Professor, India
	Always Share Strategy Inside your Firm I believe that strategies in a competitive environment should always be shared (this too is a strate... Sign up

		2 subramanian Business Consultant, India
	Sharing the Strategy? Dear Prof. @Neeran Gautam, thank you for your views. I tend to agree with you in a limited sense for... Sign up

		1 K.Narayana Moorthy HR Consultant, India
	No Pigeonhole Strategy But Entrepreneurial Strategy My thinking is that, rather than try to be perfect, you should do your best. Remember of course, tha... Sign up

		0 subramanian Business Consultant, India
	Evolving Strategy @K.Narayana Moorthy: Yes, you are right. Strategy is an evolving thing depending on the situation th... Sign up

		0 K.Narayana Moorthy HR Consultant, India
	Some Additional Information on (Business) Strategy Success in business through strategy comes from: teamwork; innovation; clear vision; good leadership... Sign up