7.4. Thinking Strategically

Many years ago, I came across an interesting discussion of strategic thinking in a book by the Japanese consultant Kenichi Ohmae, The Mind of the Strategist: Business Planning for Competitive Advantage (1991). An illustration, also called "The Mind of a Strategist" (p. 14), held a surprise epiphany for me.

Ohmae's key insight, for me, is his analysis comparing three management thinking methodologies: mechanical systems thinking (I call this linear thinking), intuition, and strategic thinking. Let me talk about each of them as I've come to understand them and teach them to others. The goal here is to help you understand as well, so that you can teach others, too.

7.4.1. Linear Thinkers

The linear thinker, or process ...

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