One of my main influences in the field of Strategy is Richard Rumelt. I have previously referenced his book Good Strategy / Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters (see Good Agile / Bad Agile), and now I am being inspired by The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists.
The Strategy Kernel
Rumelt’s language can be found in the descriptions I use for some of the TASTE X-Matrix elements. Specifically, I build on his idea of the Strategy Kernel, which he describes in Good Strategy / Bad Strategy. To recap:
- Diagnosis is understanding the critical challenge or opportunity being faced.
- Guiding policy is the approach to addressing the challenge or opportunity.
- Coherent actions is the work to implement the guiding policy.
In the X-matrix, I refer to guiding policies and coherent action directly. I describe Strategy as “the guiding policies which enable choice”, and Tactics as “the coherent actions we will take”. However, there is no explicit inclusion of diagnosis.
I generally resolve this by considering diagnosis as a step between Aspirations and Strategy. That is, a diagnosis is made of the challenges or opportunities faced in to achieve the Aspirations. Thus, the Strategies describe the approach to addressing the diagnosed challenges or opportunities.
The Crux
In Rumelt’s most recent book he focuses more on what he calls the Crux. In rock climbing, the crux is the most difficult section or move within a climbing route. As such, Rumelt defines The Crux as “the most important part of a set of challenges that is addressable, having a good chance of being solved by coherent action”. Therefore, the Crux, which he also refers to as the addressable strategic challenge, is the common theme across the Strategy Kernel parts.
This has made me wonder whether the Crux should be made more explicit on the X-Matrix, rather than the Diagnosis. They are, after all, two sides of the same coin. The Crux is identified as a result of the Diagnosis. Following this line of reasoning, it makes sense that Aspirations can be framed in terms of The Crux. Thus, rather than Aspirations being “the results we hope to achieve”, they become “the challenges we hope to overcome”. These challenges are the obstacles or opportunities that need to be addressed to make progress towards the True North.
This is something I will be experimenting and exploring more in the future, and will update the X-Matrix template if I find it helps with the visualisation of Strategy Deployment.