Four hallmarks of bad strategy

Insight

Bad strategy is not merely the absence of good strategy — it has its own identifiable markers. Rumelt identifies four: (1) fluff — superficial restatement of the obvious dressed up with buzzwords, (2) failure to face the challenge — refusing to define the actual problem, (3) mistaking goals for strategy — stating desires without a plan to achieve them, and (4) bad strategic objectives — objectives that fail to address critical issues or are impractical.

Why This Matters

Recognizing bad strategy is a skill as valuable as crafting good strategy. Most strategic plans in organizations exhibit at least one of these hallmarks. Naming them gives you the vocabulary to push back when "strategy" is just motivational language masquerading as direction.

Source Highlights

!Good Strategy Bad Strategy - Rumelt#^ref-51841

Related Concepts

strategy | critical-thinking | clarity | leadership