Strategy vs. Tactics: The Real Difference
posted by Anna Mar, August 18, 2012As with many business concepts, tactics and strategy have military origins.
According to military traditions a tactic is a mission conducted by a small unit such as a brigade. A tactic has a short duration and exploits situations as they develop.
A military strategy is a campaign conducted by a large unit such as a division. A strategy seeks to efficiently deploy resources and deceive the enemy to win battles and wars.
Key differences between a business tactic and a strategy include:
1. Tactics Address Gaps, Strategy Provides Direction
You have to be fast on your feet and adaptive or else a strategy is useless.Tactics are opportunities to address gaps in strategy.
~ Charles de Gaulle
Example
Your strategy is to expand your customer base. At the same time your CFO implements a tactic to drop your least profitable accounts.
Your strategy is to expand your customer base. At the same time your CFO implements a tactic to drop your least profitable accounts.
2. Tactics are Local, Strategy is Global
Strategy requires thought, tactics require observation.Team strategies are derived from departmental strategies which are derived from organizational strategies. Tactics have no such hierarchy.
~ Max Euwe
Tactics are planned by command structures close to the action. Strategy is planned by leaders at the top of an organization.
Any leader in your organization from executives to front-line managers may implement tactics.
3. Tactics are Short, Strategy is Long
Tactics typically span days or weeks. When your plans span many months they are normally considered a strategy.4. Tactics are Simple, Strategy is Complex
It's common for strategics to be complex multi-layer plans. Tactics are specific plans that don't tend to reach the same level of complexity.Tactics are micro-strategies that take advantage of opportunities as the develop.
5. Tactics are Obvious, Strategy is Mysterious
All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.Tactics are highly visible to your competitors. Strategy is less obvious. It's a common mistake to assume a competitor's tactical actions represent a strategy.
~ Sun Tzu
What Are Strategic Drivers?
Strategies that fail to adapt to these forces are a recipe for disaster.
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