Robert McNamara's “11 lessons” in the context of theories of strategic management

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the 11 lessons propounded by Robert McNamara in the film The Fog of War and to consider them in the context of theories of strategic management, particularly the formulation of strategy.Design/methodology/approachThe film is taken as a case study and the evidence is considered against the background of Mr McNamara's career and contemporary events, triangulated wherever possible by additional accounts so that bias is avoided as much as possible.FindingsThe paper finds that, despite a lifelong rational, empirical approach, Mr McNamara has discovered that there are limits to these methods. The importance of values, morals and ethics emerges. The importance of these messages is that the business strategist should acknowledge the limits of rationality and the importance of intangible factors, not least the vagaries of human nature.Originality/valueThe paper is a part of a continuing study by the author of the parallels between military/grand strategy formulation and the similar activity in business.