Reacting is as important as planning

Successful strategy is often about reacting to events. Planning only takes you so far because you don’t know what will happen in the future – you can only guess. The smart strategist allows strategy to be shaped by events. Good reactions can make great strategy.

Frequency: Every problem, every opportunity!

Key participants: First, you. Then, everyone.

Strategy rating: Strategy6

Young Ingvar Kamprad used unexpected cash from his father – a gift for good exam results – to found IKEA. He lived near furniture makers so reacted by selling furniture. He reacted to a boycott from local rivals by producing his own furniture. His first designer reacted to not being able to fit a table in a car by creating the first ...

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