Signs of bad strategy

There are certain elements you should be on the look-out for when you want to detect bad strategy:

• Fluff and buzzwords are a form of gibberish masquerading as strategic concepts or arguments. It uses words that are inflated and apparently esoteric concepts to create the illusion of high-level thinking.
• Failure to recognize or define the core challenge. When you cannot define the challenge, you cannot evaluate a strategy or improve it.
• Mistaking goals for strategy. A strategic objective is set by a leader as a means to an end. Strategic objectives are “bad” when they fail to address critical issues or when they are impracticable. Many bad strategies are just statements of desire rather than plans for overcoming obstacles.
• Overlooking execution. When strategy disregards execution, it becomes nothing more than a plan.
• Copying others. When you simply copy what others do, you miss the reasoning for why they do it. Hence, you become a knock-off without the ability to actually learn.
• Ignoring trade-offs and priorities. Deciding for objectives and actions means saying no to others. Everything is always a trade-off: time, money, resources… When you don’t decide, everything will slow down and you will delay any impact.

Source

• Good Strategy, Bad Strategy – Richard Rumelt