How to survive and succeed in a disrupted world? With sound strategy

A FAMOUS WWII British general, Bernard Montgomery, had two fundamental rules about fighting the North Africa campaign. One was to plan in great detail even though he knew the plan would never work out as intended. The other was to be better equipped than his adversary.

These sound like simple rules, but neither is that easy to follow. Better equipment requires time, and everyone wants a war to be won as fast as possible. “Don’t let glory-seekers push you off your time schedule,” was Montgomery’s view, because “they will if they can”. In business, the pressure to achieve results today is often at the expense of the longer term.

Disruptions – the new normal?

In our somewhat frightening, ever-changing world, the ability to discern and seize opportunities is more critical than ever. Disruptions and uncertainties have become the norm, requiring a new blend of strategic foresight and tactical finesse not only to survive but to thrive. These will increase as mounting debt brings economic uncertainty, unstable climate becomes more destructive, and social pressures fostered by increasingly available media make everyone a participant in politics whether equipped or not. The world’s chaos makes us question the developing roles of strategy and tactics. How are we to handle unforeseeable events?