To the smart, business tactics is strictly observation and operation

Differentiating strategy and tactics Sun Tzu came with a classic hit: strategy is thinking; tactics is observation. Tactics are not pre-planned; these come out to the smart who are in the operations field and who have the knack of observation. Here are seven pointers:

1.        Business tactics are defined as ”specific moves, manoeuvres and actions taken in isolation or as in a series by line managers in order to move from one milepost to another in the pursuit of operationalizing strategy”. By this definition it is clear that tactics are short-term, linear, and single, with localised focus and having fairly limited impact on business performance

2.        It is the action part of the business planning process and driven by mission related to a particular set of circumstances

3.        Tactics are in a state of constant of flux keeping in line with changes taking place in the environment; these symbolise movement towards goals and mileposts within business objectives 

4.        Value maximization is the anchor on which tactics are knotted, by this, business seeks best possible benefits in the short-term, and so that trend curve of business success never falters

5.        Decomposition is the means whereby tactics dissect a single part from the whole strategy that needs correction or adjustment. In other words, tactics allow you to excise a part from the whole plan, work on it and re-fix without upsetting the overall gist of the strategy. An apt example is the pricing policy adopted in a business. When an existing old customer comes with a special order for a large quantity of a popular product tactics allow you to consider a special discount in addition to the usual ones

6.        Tactics are by nature short-term affairs that function in consonance with all-inclusive strategic policy, but tweak it each time a business faces an issue or snag. Nobody can keep a treasure trove of tactics that could be applied to, each time an unforeseen consequence slaps on the face of business. Each time you face a crisis situation you come out with a tactic that takes care of it adequately. Admittedly, tactics are developed on the spur of the moment. 

7.        It does not mean planning tactics is not necessary in a business though. If you envisage how a situation could unfold, you can develop the wherewithal to meet it. What is in essence is that you have to quickly adjust to changing business environment and the consequences that arise in its wake? For this purpose a line manager who has an uncanny ability to use a blend of planned and ad-hoc measures with a view to tide over a difficult and perhaps desperate situation is an excellent tactician.

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist