Who Should Be Responsible for Business Strategy?

Abstract

Our topic was corporate strategy. The CEO sat across the conference table, his tanned fingers drumming lightly on a massive leather binder. “We have the most sophisticated strategic planning process money can buy,” he said. “These plans give me the details on what every segment of every unit will do for the next three years, and God help the general manager who doesn't make his quarterly targets.” As he went on about “maximizing shareholder value,” it occurred to me that planning had failed once more to produce a corporate strategy worthy of the name.