Studying and Teaching Strategy

If you open any defense or international relations-related journal, you'll see a host of articles related to what strategy we should approach. But rarely will you see anyone talk about the structure of how we make and/or think about strategy. The framework from which we think about strategy is much more important than any issue of the day.

That's why I want to highlight this Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) monograph edited by Dr. Gabriel Marcella. It's a great compilation of writings on what strategy is, how to teach it, and why it is difficult to learn. It's full of great writing, but you should check out Christopher Paparone's entry, which challenges the traditional ends-based strategic method. Whatever your feelings on the ends = ways + means model, we should always be open to reconsidering the structure of our strategic reasoning.

Another standout article in this vein is Ionut C. Popescu's article on strategic planning methodology. Popescu convincingly outlines that the traditional method of formally planned strategy does not take into account the past 50 years' worth of research on how organizations make effective strategy. Popescu advocates that the US take a look at a more bottom-up system instead of a purely top-down "rational design" model.

Comments

[Steve Metz]

FYI, it's Gabriel Marcella

[A.E.]

Thanks Dr. Metz, corrected!