A strategic plan is important, but it is not enough. To create competitive advantage companies must have a differentiated strategy that defines how the business will create value. Strategy must be dynamically supported by an execution-oriented organization and the right mix of talent in the right roles. A sustainable competitive advantage only comes with the alignment of those three elements.
If your company doesn’t have the organizational model and talent to execute the plan, then the investment in time, resources and manpower can be wasted. A winning strategy must be fact-based and supported by the commitment of the entire leadership team. Effective development and execution of a strategy requires painstaking realism and objectivity about the gap between where your organization is today and what it will take to reach where you aspire to be tomorrow.