Quality and Innovation

I am always on the lookout for examples in the news of challenges that people have aligning strategy and tactics, because quality management based on a plan that’s not aligned with the strategy is bound to fail. I found one of these examples this morning in the Washington Post, encouraging the Republican ticket to shift its strategy:

In these last days before the vote, Republicans need to face some strategic realities. Our resources are limited, and our message is failing. We cannot fight on all fronts. We are cannibalizing races that we must win and probably can win in order to help a national campaign that is almost certainly lost. In these final 10 days, our goal should be: senators first.

Whether this is the right way to go or not for McCain and Palin, I was struck by the timeless statement: Our resources are limited, and our message is failing. We cannot fight on all fronts. This battle scenario is not unique to a political campaign – there are people in many companies who might feel the same way, particularly in the midst of a financial crisis. For every person that wants to focus those resources, there will be another whose position is to press forward – just do what we can, don’t adjust the strategy, just stay the course.

[I’ll need to follow up on this topic (tonight maybe) to find some gems from the strategic management literature that provide advice in this situation. There is plenty to choose from.]