armyxxii

LIBRARY

WAR , BATTLES , STRATEGY , TACTICS AND EVOLUTION
(This subdirectory will contain opensource material to kindle/foster newer thoughts , philosophies and possibilities in the area of WAR and STRATEGY.Why should we stick to older strategies , even if they are proven and same goes for tactics employed in smaller operations.We
should first understand the concept of WAR..the reasons behind it..the gradual evolution of strategies/tactics..the refinement to the present principles of WAR and combat guidelines..thereafter we must research newer battle configurations given newer battle environments/battlespace and more importantly the advent of assymetric advantage/hybrid enemies and information warfare.There are several other issues/points..now population centric warfare is becoming more common inhibiting the usage of full combat power to avert civilian casualties..and am looking at intelligence capability to deal with this and here i feel we should treat this capability like any other full fledged combat force with all the properties going with the ..say..a standard infantry combat regiment--the attributes configured to ''intelligence'' domain in intelligence parlance.I want readers to dream the impossible..to suspend logic if need be momentarily..break out of the ''experience-trap'' which channelises our problem solving and decision making along rigid streamlines..rigid in the sense they dont crisscross each other..i am right you are wrong dichotomy results..the Generalk insists this strategy IS the correct one or this COA is the best of all--i want readers tto exp-lore ''laterally'' cutting across established solution sets..am not speaking of brainstorming..am speaking of imagination propelled exploration of hitherto unknown scenarios of battle..but we can give it a semblance of reality by considering current players in battle..their attributes..be they the asymmetric enemy personnel or latest intelligence TTPs or a newer strategy/tactic employed or on the anvil of the enemy , or any other conceivable factor having a bearing , indirectly or directly on our strategy/tactics forcing us to go for adaptation..I will add morre content gradually).

Mike correctly pointed out in his comment to my last post, Strategy By Any Other Name, that I didn’t address the difference between strategy and tactics. Well let’s take a look now. First, I think there are really two questions here. One is “What is the difference between strategy and tactics.” and the other is “What is the difference between strategic and tactical thinking.” These are different questions with different answers. In this post I am going to address the first question “What is the difference between strategy and tactics?”

Strategy Versus Tactics

Strategies are thoughtfully constructed, broad courses of action that lead (or should lead – there are no guarantees with strategies) to the accomplishment of a mission or goal or the resolution of a significant business problem. Strategies lay out the accepted approaches to attaining a goal, defining the boundaries for appropriate action. While the directional component of a strategy is important, it is the boundary setting that sets the stage for appropriate action through tactics.

Tactics are the specific steps used to accomplish a strategy. There are generally multiple tactics employed to achieve a strategic goal. Tactics are smaller in scope than strategies with quantifiable objectives and clear deliverables. The problem with tactics arises when tactics are not aligned with strategy. Tactics can show up in three classes:

Strategy aligned tactics are activities that fit within the guardrails of the strategy. They play a large or small role in moving the strategy forward supporting the larger strategic objectives of the organization. Strategies typically require multiple tactics to come to fruition.

Strategy neutral tactics are day-to-day activities that must be done (or we think they must be done) to keep the business running. They may not help move the strategy forward but neither do they hinder progress.

Strategy negative tactics are activities that either slow strategy momentum or attempt to take the organization in a completely different direction. Most often workers employing these tactics do not have a clear picture of the strategy, pointing out why strategy articulation is so important. Occasionally employees purposefully employ negative tactics. This is a sign of lack of support for a specific strategic direction.

Strategy Versus Tactics

The bottom line:_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Strategy and tactics are tightly connected. Strategies without tactics are fantasy and tactics without strategy is chaos