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Charitably, I think "easy" is the wrong word here. I think Fred meant something like, "get the strategy right and the execution is straightforward hard work."
by dfabulich 11y ago
Charitably, I think "easy" is the wrong word here. I think Fred meant something like, "get the strategy right and the execution is straightforward hard work."
Still, if "strategy" is "deciding what to do" and "execution" is "doing what you decided to do," then Fred's statement is almost tautological; there's nothing left for execution but "straightforward hard work" once you've drained out all the decision-making.
On the other hand, if we say "strategy" is only decision-making at the highest level, then I don't think execution is just straightforward hard work; there's logistics and tactics, too, which are critical.
Think of the dead companies with the right strategy who spent too much money, or who bet on the wrong technology platform, or who couldn't marshal a top-tier sales organization.
- jacques_chester 11y ago> I think Fred meant something like, "get the strategy right and the execution is straightforward hard work." I think Fred meant something like "a catchy headline, even if not strictly true, will garner more readers". It's one of those easy strategies.
- paulddraper 11y agoAgreed. Either you define strategy either narrowly to be only very high level concepts, such that there are many counterexamples (10gen/MongoDB IMO), or strategy is defined broadly to be any decision of significance, such that this is trivially true. The only way I could imagine anyone disagreeing on this subject is if they have different definitions of "strategy".
- x0x0 11y agoEasy has two meanings in english. The first means you understand what to do, though the doing may be arduous. eg getting fit is easy. The second means the doing is itself not arduous. eg sitting on the couch is easy.
- paulddraper 11y agoWould you mind referencing a dictionary.
- KineticLensman 11y agoI interpret 'strategy' as integrating ends, ways and means. In other words, deciding where you want to get to, the approach you will use to do so, and how to exploit the resources you have available. Unless your business space is completely predictable , the strategy will have to include decision points. Strategy is often combined with policy, the set of guidelines and constraints you must adhere to.
- blueprint 11y agoHow about simple instead of easy?