Can you tell me the difference between tactical and strategic business decisions/plans etc..?

The dictionary gives the following as the definitions.

User Comments

  1. Some of the confusion exists because, in reality, the terms are adopted from historical military use and applied to business management. A basic starting point is that strategy implies a long-range view or outlook in the planning cycle. Tactics, by contrast with that definition, would mean short-term actions that support or facilitate achieving the long-range strategic objectives.

    "Strategy is a pattern, that is, consistency in behavior over time. A company that perpetually markets the most expensive products in its industry pursues what is commonly called a high-end strategy, just as a person who always accepts the most challenging of jobs may be described as pursuing a high-risk strategy."
  2. Strikes me as similar ! But I am suppose to compare/contrast between a particular strategic vs. tactical decision. Thank-you
  3. See the book "Strategy Safari - A Guided Tour Through The Wilds Of Strategic Management" by Henry Mintzberg, Bruce Ahlstrand and Joseph Lampel. ISBN 0-684-84743-4 published by The Free Press
  4. a plan, procedure, or expedient for promoting a desired end or result.
  5. Strategy- a plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result.
  6. Tactics- a system or a detail of tactics.