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  • January 2021 (Revised March 2021)
  • Technical Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Strategy and Strategic Thinking

By: Eric Van den Steen
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:11
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Abstract

This note gives managers a concrete perspective on what ‘a strategy’ really is, what makes a decision ‘strategic,’ and what ‘strategic thinking’ means. It also gives them practical frameworks to assess whether some set of decisions is really a strategy and how to assess a strategy’s effectiveness. It finally also gives managers a starting point for developing strategy in the form of the ‘4+3 Elements.’ The note builds on the theory of ‘strategy as core guidance.’ (This is an in-depth rewrite of “Strategy and Strategic Decisions” HBS 712-500.)

Keywords

Strategic Alignment; Strategy Definition; Strategy And Execution; Strategy Test; Strategy; Strategic Planning; Decision Making

Citation

Van den Steen, Eric. "Strategy and Strategic Thinking." Harvard Business School Technical Note 721-431, January 2021. (Revised March 2021.)
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About The Author

Eric J. Van den Steen

Strategy
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Related Work

    • January 2021 (Revised March 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Strategy and Strategic Thinking

    By: Eric Van den Steen
Related Work
  • Strategy and Strategic Thinking By: Eric Van den Steen
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