Comments on Profile Post by Poleepkwa

  1. BenjaminBore
    BenjaminBore
    I was going to say “Depends on context. Plan is specific, strategy can be broader.” But then I looked strategy up in the Oxford Dictionary:
    “1 a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim:
    time to develop a coherent economic strategy, shifts in marketing strategy.
    2 the art of planning and directing overall military operations and movements in a war or battle.”
    Oct 2, 2018
  2. m17xr2b
    m17xr2b
    The architect finished my house strategy.
    Oct 2, 2018
  3. Poleepkwa
    Poleepkwa
    I see the a strategy as the “why” and the plan the “how”.
    Oct 2, 2018
    Deep Funk and Priidik like this.
  4. MrTeaRex
    MrTeaRex
    Plans and strategy are generally both the how, with individual plans feeding an overall, singular, strategy. The why is typically a mission statement or vision statement.
    Oct 2, 2018
  5. Friday
    Friday
    Nope, both are "how". I'm inclined to see "strategy" as being more decisive, and "plan" as more exploratory, but that's more to do with my personal perception than a hard and fast rule
    Edit: posted before I saw MrTeaRex's comment
    Oct 2, 2018
  6. rlow
    rlow
    In a business/organizational sense, strategies are generally low on specific timelines (other than end goals perhaps) and tactics. Plans need more detailed timelines and specific tactics of how you will execute the strategy.
    Oct 2, 2018
  7. fraggler
    fraggler
    Rlow's got it similar to how I use the terms within my organizations. Not surprised at all that a layperson or simply someone who hasn't needed to think about the difference would use them interchangeably.
    Oct 2, 2018
  8. rlow
    rlow
    While I agree that both are “how”, I tend to look at strategy as “what” and plans as “how”.

    “What we need to do to win” and “how we’re going to do it”.
    Oct 2, 2018
    Poleepkwa likes this.
  9. Poleepkwa
    Poleepkwa
    Excellent viewpoints. I have to explain the difference between these terms to a client from a marketing point of view and how they differ. Perhaps in this case marketing "tactics" could be a better option than "plan".
    Oct 2, 2018
  10. Poleepkwa
    Poleepkwa
    Basically a client ordered a marketing strategy from us and now they are dissappointed that there is no plans included.
    Oct 2, 2018
  11. Azimuth
    Azimuth
    It is kind of like a plan are the specific steps of the strategy.
    Oct 2, 2018
  12. Biodegraded
    Biodegraded
    Typically, a topheavy company that pisses away shareholders' money on management consultants will have a new 5-year strategy every year. 'Plans' are usually too specific for such outfits.
    Oct 2, 2018
  13. Deep Funk
    Deep Funk
    When playing chess you stick to strategy. A plan is more something for a business venture. You know business plan. Thing is the words "strategy" and "plan" overlap in meaning and implementation. Damn you context...
    Oct 2, 2018