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Strategic imperative

English translation: strategy = the road / tactics = each step

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Strategic imperative / tactical function
Selected answer:strategy = the road / tactics = each step
Entered by: Fan Gao

13:15 Dec 15, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Management / Project Management
English term or phrase: Strategic imperative
A question in a survey on project management reads as follows:

Which one of the following statements comes closest to your opinion? When it comes to translating our company’s strategy into something operational, project management is…

a) A key strategic imperative within our company.

b) A largely tactical function within our company.

Could somebody explain in simple, or as simple as possible terms what the difference is between these two options?

Many thanks,
Mark
Fan Gao
Australia
Local time: 09:42
strategy:'the road' tactics: 'each step'
Explanation:
Hi Mark,

I'm currently working on a document which describes strategy and tactics as follows:

Think of where you are right now as point A and where you want to be - your goal - as point Z.

Your strategy is the path you walk to get you from point A to point Z, and your tactics are the individual acts, or steps, you
take along that path.

Never put tactics before goals and strategy, otherwise you’ll end up heading in a direction that doesn’t lead you towards your
goal.

I think the reading in your text is similar, reinforced by the use of the "key" and "largely" to describe each.

Strategic imperative: is crucial if the strategy is to be successful

Tactical function: 'just' a small part of the overall strategy

Good luck!

Álvaro
Selected response from:

moken
Local time: 00:42
Grading comment
Thank you, very helpful:)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +3strategy:'the road' tactics: 'each step'
moken


  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
strategic imperative
strategy:'the road' tactics: 'each step'


Explanation:
Hi Mark,

I'm currently working on a document which describes strategy and tactics as follows:

Think of where you are right now as point A and where you want to be - your goal - as point Z.

Your strategy is the path you walk to get you from point A to point Z, and your tactics are the individual acts, or steps, you
take along that path.

Never put tactics before goals and strategy, otherwise you’ll end up heading in a direction that doesn’t lead you towards your
goal.

I think the reading in your text is similar, reinforced by the use of the "key" and "largely" to describe each.

Strategic imperative: is crucial if the strategy is to be successful

Tactical function: 'just' a small part of the overall strategy

Good luck!

Álvaro

moken
Local time: 00:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you, very helpful:)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian Davies: Nicely put, Alvaro!
9 hrs
  -> That's very kind of you, thanks Ian. :O)
agree  Hamid Sadeghieh: very comprehensive
15 hrs
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
16 hrs
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