Lol so Fergie didn't Aim to win the league when he took over at Man United and if he did it was a fantasy aim? Stop being a moody **** tobes! I know it's hard to take that we are top, and you won't finish above us again for a couple of decades but just get over it and find yourself some realistic aims!
Final word from me tonight on strategy. Sorry MITO but it's not "what someone makes of it". All strategy is, is the defintion of HOW you are going to do something. For me thinking about it from a corporate basis Strategy is the over-arching How which is defined by the elemental TACTICS. Now I know that military personnel like to change those 2 descriptors around but essentially they both mean HOW. The Aims (generalist) and Objectives define the WHAT. But like all simple ideas it gets complicated. But I still think that we can win the league. WE are more likely not to succeed. However, if we hold to that as our primary objective and plan our campaign accordingly we are more likely to achieve a higher level finish than we would otherwise have done.
thats fiar enough. i merely meant to each organisation their own strategy is what they decide it is. you are quite right.. .the how and the what. the vision is what you want to do and the objectives are the how you are going to achieve it.
There's a beautiful Harvard Press Case Study looking at Honda's penetration of the US Motorcycle Market. It's in 2 parts. Honda A is written by the prestigious Boston Consulting Group. The other (Honda B) was prepared from conversations with the Honda staff who were there at the time. Honda A describes a carefully prepared and implemented plan. Honda B defines an uncoordinated failure which was only saved by an accident - they took Honda 50's for the staff to run around LA on and a buyer from Macey's thought they looked cute and placed an order. Funny the smallest bike that they planned to sell was a 300cc!. So 2 very differing views of the same events. So does it really matter what outsiders think about your strategy? Well certainly not - if its working!
Fair points mito. Just to add the board is really quiet atm and not much to get your teeth into unless you want to get involved in 'would you' etc which I don't .... so while I'm not arguing for the sake of it, I see no reason to stop expressing views and expanding on theories providing it stays respectful, which it is, and other people feel like putting their counter points over, which they seem to want to do. If you think that's the wrong approach then I will leave it at that.
Mate, take the Aussie approach - say what you want to say and to hell with it! When the flak comes - and it will - take the sailor's view. This sea could kill me but if I wasn't here it would be doing the same things - so it's not personal. If it becomes personal then it's up to you how you want to react. But always be prepared to say sorry and admit when your wrong - even if it is through gritted teeth.
Fergie took over one of the biggest clubs in the country who were in the doldrums by their standards, so of course his long term aim was to restore their place at the games top table. Whereas I was talking about Crystal Palace ffs...... Never has the phrase 'one swallow does not a summer make'....been more apt btw.... Dave, MITO, JB, a decent discussion lads Oh & Saint, I totally agree mate, corporate terminology is also one of my pet hates & the fact that industry chooses to interchange some of the supposed definitions doesn't exactly help....
The fact that British management doesn't understand the basic principles is even more worrying. But I do agree about jargon.
I'm sure most do understand the principles, but how many consistently apply them is a different matter, the British have a downer on planning, 'doing' has historically always seemed to take precedence. I remember 10 years ago, when I took a senior position with a large company, the Chair said to me "I've no time for strategists, I want action not words". It was a bizarre comment, but he meant it...
no you are fine I just thought i'd also offer an opinion on it. everyone was right from their own points of view.
