| In a recent Wall Street Journal article, strategy was | | | | the question "Why is consistent execution of |
| declared dead by a top consulting firm recognized for | | | | strategy so difficult?" Now that is an entirely |
| its business guru expertise. This individual did qualify | | | | different question. |
| the death of strategy by adding this clause "as we | | | | Pat Salaski from Digineer (Minnesota) conducted |
| know it." | | | | some research to answer just that question. His |
| Unfortunately, this statement is quite disingenuous | | | | findings reaffirmed the necessity for embracing |
| and may be due to a lack of understanding as to the | | | | organizational development when engaging in |
| original definition of this word. Strategy evolved from | | | | strategic planning. The data collected from this study |
| early generals who wished to deceived their enemies. | | | | shows the problem for failed execution rests with |
| Strategy is all about thinking. | | | | the people, systems and structure of the |
| So if thinking is dead, then we have some serious | | | | organization. |
| problems not only for businesses, but the entire | | | | Additionally, a colleague of mine, Ryan Scholtz of |
| planet! | | | | Leadership Strategies Associates, LLC, shared |
| Of course some will argue that we need to change | | | | another reason why some considered strategy dead. |
| how we think. But when one understands the origins | | | | He said: Too many strategies are built on |
| of this word, any business should always be changing | | | | assumptions that things will always be like they are |
| how they think because their competitors are | | | | when the strategy was developed - either good or |
| probably doing the same. Maybe the challenge is | | | | bad. Therefore, they become obsolete when the |
| some top consulting firms need to get out of the | | | | assumptions upon which they were built change. This |
| strategic planning business because it appears they | | | | then creates the feeling that strategic planning is |
| have been giving some false advice and worse yet | | | | useless (think dead) because we (the organization) |
| taking thousands of dollars for their failed services. | | | | can't predict the future. A good strategic plan needs |
| However the article did raise a good question as to | | | | to be adaptable to changes in the external |
| why strategic planning fails to deliver executable | | | | environment that impacts the company's business. |
| results. Again being a simpleton, one of the key | | | | In other words flexibility is required and therefore |
| problems from my experience is that most people do | | | | demands higher order thinking skills. Many leaders |
| not know how to achieve personal goals less alone | | | | have not taken the time to develop the necessary |
| organizational ones. This action alone involves higher | | | | thinking skills in themselves less alone their |
| order thinking skills and is one skill set not actively | | | | subordinates. (See early paragraph about goal |
| taught in the K-12 or K-16 educational experience. | | | | achievement.) The reason is because for many they |
| Also, for those CEOs of Fortune 100 companies to | | | | are so busy working IN the business as Michael |
| sales management to small business owners to sales | | | | Gerber has so often stated instead of ON the |
| professionals, strategy is just one element in the big | | | | business. |
| picture to secure more customers and improve | | | | To make such a statement of strategy is dead or |
| overall business results. One of the best and actually | | | | strategy is dead as we know it only suggests that |
| most simple models to see strategy and how its | | | | those top consulting firms issuing those remarks are |
| aligned to structure, processes, rewards and people | | | | truly clueless. To be as I advocate ahead of the flow |
| from the 30,000 foot picture is Jay Galbraith's 5 Point | | | | demands continued thinking and making those course |
| Star Model for organizational development. This model | | | | corrections so that when a recession or some other |
| has been around for 30 years. My question is why | | | | unknown obstacle happens you are thriving not dying. |
| reinvent the wheel or have to pay for its | | | | Companies like Ford and Apple are examples of |
| reinvention? | | | | organizations that demonstrate strategic thinking is |
| Possibly those top consulting firms should be asking | | | | alive and thriving. |