What is it

• A plan is a step-by-step instruction. It maps out the route. It helps clarify the turns you want to make.
• A strategy is a decision-making guide. It gives direction. It helps you choose where to go when you get to a fork in the road.

One without the other

• A plan without a strategy might take you in the wrong direction.
• A strategy without a plan leaves it unclear what the next step is.

What is it useful for

• Plan: Best for mapping out the short-term route on a lower level.
• Strategy: Best for providing long-term direction on a higher level.

Both become useless when used the opposite way.

Where and when to use it

• Plans: Ideal for 1-4 week iterations on team level.
• Strategies: Ideal as part of goal setting on company, unit, and team level.

A simple experiment

1. Pick a team: Use your own if you’re part of one.
2. Assess usage:
3. Does the team use strategies and plans as defined above?
4. Do they have a strategy to reach their goals or just a long-term roadmap?
5. Do they frequently do planning to map out the immediate route, or do they just hope to figure out the next steps along the way?
6. Discuss your analysis: Share insights with the team.

On a company level.

1. Assess strategy:
2. Is there a clear strategy for the company?
3. Are teams just expected to figure out the next steps without direction?
4. Are teams given the next steps without understanding the overall strategy?
5. Discuss your analysis with those responsible for company goals.

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