Sometimes I don't see the big picture...

Dien -

One way to plan a strategy is to define your long term objectives and plan backwards to actions that should be taken today.

As Michael pointed out above, strategy is the big picture and tactics are the actions taken to achieve the big picture. Planning with the end in mind (to paraphrase Stephen Covey) allows you to mesh day-to-day tactics within the framework of your strategy.

A great example of this is given by Michael Gerber (author of the E-Myth series). He says the purpose of starting a business is to eventually sell it so you can get on with enjoying your life. Given that, you would develop an overall strategy to create a business that will be valued at some large figure at some designated future date, and one that will stand alone without your day-to-day involvement.

With that as a strategic plan, you could then develop the tactics (i.e., action steps) to develop the business to the end result at the desired time. Certainly, the tactics will change with market conditions, etc., but the strategic plan would remain relatively stable.

We used a similar process when I ran a division for a large corporation. Our strategic plan called for gaining computer services business with a majority of federal agencies in the US government by providing superior service and technology. Our tactics differed by agency and politics, but we never wavered from the strategic objective - to maximize our revenues by dominating the market.

It worked, as we made several hundred million in revenues in under two years, despite corporate pressure from above to cut corners for quicker cashflow, and severe political lobbying efforts from the competition.

Anyway, just my take on how to employ strategic planning in a meaningful way in any size business.

Regards,

Bob