Speaking of Strategy: What is Strategy?

Strategy is a not a static plan or something you do once a year at a two-day retreat. It is a continuous conversation, and one that we as leaders need to be prepared to have every day to make better decisions. Speaking of Strategy is a complete system to support and guide those conversations. The system is built around a practical definition of strategy and a supporting framework for analysis, the core strategy framework, with seven elements:

1. What is strategy?

2. Purpose

3. External factors

4. Internal factors

5. Core strategy

6. Performance

7. Strategy narrative

Each of the seven elements has its own course. What is Strategy? is the first and foundational course in the Speaking of Strategy series. It has five learning objectives:

1. Review the origins of strategy and its evolution over time from military to political to organizational.

2. Survey the current interpretations and definitions of strategy to identify common themes.

3. Construct our own working definition of strategy.

4. Describe the seven elements of the core strategy framework for creating, analyzing, and communicating strategy.

5. Clarify our methodology by discussing examples of "not strategy," including metaphors, plans, and models.

If you own or contribute to strategy for your organization, this course will give you a roadmap so you always know exactly where you are in the strategy process. Want to get better at speaking of strategy? This is the way!