Operating Principle

2–4 min read

Strategy Concentrates Force, Diffusion Is the Default Failure

Strategy Concentrates Force, Diffusion Is the Default Failure

Strategy Concentrates Force, Diffusion Is the Default Failure

Strategy’s power comes from focusing resources on a decisive point, not spreading them evenly.

Strategy’s power comes from focusing resources on a decisive point, not spreading them evenly.

Strategy’s power comes from focusing resources on a decisive point, not spreading them evenly.

Advantage comes from concentrating effort on a pivotal objective.

Advantage comes from concentrating effort on a pivotal objective.

Advantage comes from concentrating effort on a pivotal objective.

Rumelt describes strategy’s leverage as concentrating strength against a single pivotal objective. Organizations divide attention and budget across goals to satisfy stakeholders, ensuring no objective receives enough force to break through.

Operating Question

What trade-off or assumption must be made explicit here?

What trade-off or assumption must be made explicit here?

What trade-off or assumption must be made explicit here?

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Why It Matters

Advantage comes from concentrating effort on a pivotal objective.

Supporting Evidence

Richard Rumelt, “Good Strategy Bad Strategy”.

Research Notes

Treat as an operating heuristic and assess the applicable context, limits, and counterarguments.

Practical Actions

Overfund one objective; cut another priority to pay for it; communicate the trade-off openly.