There is a lot of confusion in many large companies about the exact strategy that the company intends to pursue. This confusion is not just at the lower level employees but even managers and higher level employees. In fact higher level employees sometimes misunderstand the corporate strategy. This results in a wrong set of ideas trickling down to the greater employee base.
One of the most difficult things about strategy is communicating it effectively. Many great companies have done it in the past , but there is no one way of achieving it.
A strategic principle is one of the ways in which this can be done. It is because a strategic principle is something that is executable and makes sense for the employees who are involved in making decisions every day. I was reading a wonderful HBR study http://hbr.org/2001/05/transforming-corner-office-strategy-into-frontline-action/ar/1 which explains this concept in detail.
Very briefly ,
A Strategic Principle is a memorable and actionable phrase, easy to remember and execute. “ Execute” is the key word which is the main theme of this HBR article. A Strategic principle must help the employees to execute
- - When he has to make trade offs (especially with resource constraints)
- - To test how good a particular action or decision is.
- - - It also helps to decide what not to do, like setting boundary conditions
One of the most difficult things about strategy is communicating it effectively. Many great companies have done it in the past , but there is no one way of achieving it.
A strategic principle is one of the ways in which this can be done. It is because a strategic principle is something that is executable and makes sense for the employees who are involved in making decisions every day. I was reading a wonderful HBR study http://hbr.org/2001/05/transforming-corner-office-strategy-into-frontline-action/ar/1 which explains this concept in detail.
Very briefly ,
A Strategic Principle is a memorable and actionable phrase, easy to remember and execute. “ Execute” is the key word which is the main theme of this HBR article. A Strategic principle must help the employees to execute
- - When he has to make trade offs (especially with resource constraints)
- - To test how good a particular action or decision is.
- - - It also helps to decide what not to do, like setting boundary conditions