David Hurst said a number of interesting things, among them:
"In their appeal to desirable outcomes without specifying the means for
their achievement, most strategy statements have the logical status of
prayer! Let me hasten to add that IMHO this is fine, as long as it is
recognized as such and the management process conducted accordingly. One
way prayer "works" is if it is treated as an appeal for joint action from
a community with shared values and a common vision."
I would add that most strategy statements have components which appear to
be mutually contradictory. One of the great values of this is that if we
simply accept the value of two "mutually contradictory" ends, we make
break through the paradigm that makes them mutually contradictory and find
a new paradigm in which the contradiction disappears.
In this context, management strategies really do add value.
-- Rol Fessenden LL Bean 76234.3636@compuserve.com