Comments on: A Plan Versus a Strategy: Is There a Difference?

By: Yathiesh

Yathiesh — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:24:49 +0000

I Guess The Explaination in the main article is clear

As Per My understanding Plan – has Definite Resources , Definite Path and Assumed Obstacles (Risk ) to Reach the Goal .

Startegy on the other hand is how you use the resouces and Manaqe the Obstacles to Reach the Goal – Successfully , with less problems .

So Strategy is input to plan .

By: naeem abbas

naeem abbas — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:52:54 +0000

This question was asked me in an interview. I said that the means of pursuing goals is called strategy.

By: Abdul fattah solangi

Abdul fattah solangi — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:53:34 +0000

well narrated!

By: Vince

Vince — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:29:09 +0000

To a degree I agree with the article on the difference between plan and strategy.
One of the definitions of ’strategy’ in a dictionary is this: “a plan, a method, or series of maneuvres for obtaining a specific goal or result”. In this sense a strategy is designed like a plan as it shows the route from A to B (the goal).

However I would use the word “strategic” when it’s a long term “plan” or vision. I think that’s where the term strategic planning comes from (i.e. plan for the long term). By nature long term future cannot be accurately predicted therefore a strategy is the high level trajectory whereas a plan is a set of clearly defined steps to be executed.

By: John K.

John K. — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:29:48 +0000

A chess player has to use strategy and planning and it is very important to know the subtle difference between the 2 words.

Chess strategy involves considering all your options, then formulating a plan based on the assessment.

Strategy must be used when you have many options to consider. When you decide what to do, then it becomes a plan. For eg, do I give up my knight or bishop, play to open a file for my rooks? Find a good square for my queen, is my king safe = strategy.

Using the above I can come up with a plan, Plan A to defend my king. But I could have chosen to open a file, Plan B for my rooks, or plan C, interplay between bishops and knights.

You notice I use A and B etc, in order to prioritise that which is more important.

And that is planning and strategy as I see it.

By: Gajanan M

Gajanan M — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:19:54 +0000

Hi,
I think the clear diffrence would be: strategy is dynamic in nature where as plan is static.
A plan is something like Reaching from point A to B via C as it is predecided and fixed (Purpose is defined and finalised) where as strategy is something like Reaching point B with a purpose earlier or with less energy consumption etc. that is keeping a purpose here routs may change (IF C is closed try D or E whichever seems profitable)

By: ajay

ajay — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:45:28 +0000

i highly disagree with all the things posted into this page until now, from main article to comments. (although at start i was wondering but as i think more, i found it wrong).
a strategy is actually a part of plan (so apart from this, these 2 things r different and so can’t be compared). A plan might have many more things other than strategy. A plan that only (or mainly) contain strategy can be called strategic plan (this is the reason for using strategy and plan synonymously sometimes).

By: seema

seema — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:04:17 +0000

hello jon,
thank you so much for your clarifying the difference between planning and strategy. it had helped me a lot.

By: jon

jon — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:13:44 +0000

I come up with better definitions for words as a hobby. (I am an aspiring writer- that explains it) The difference between planning and strategizing intrigued me. This is what I came up with, that satisfied me. Both are a set of pre-decided upon actions to accomplish a goal. However, a plan is for a specific, one-time event. A strategy is for something that you think will occur repeatedly.

For example, you come up with a strategy to deal with stress. You might employ this strategy every day of your life. However, you will come up with a plan to win the game. Your plan might consist of several strategies you have employed before. But this group of strategies and actions, is what makes up your plan for this one specific game.

Sometimes, if a plan works well, you might repackage it as a “strategy.” So, lets say you develop a plan to get an attractive woman- debbie- out on a date. You buy her flowers, compliment her, and ask her out. This was your plan, and it worked. Now, the next time you want to get a different girl to go out on a date, you use the same plan that you used on Debbie. It then becomes a strategy.

I hope this cleared it up for you guys, because it sure cleared it up for me. Jonathan A. Jones.

By: Haneefuddin Syed

Haneefuddin Syed — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:42:32 +0000

Well said..! per my understanding ..a plan will have a designed road map from point A to point B with “known/identified” obstacles. However, a Strategy is a flexible plan “method for achieving an end” with unknown obstacles and identified ways to overcome.

Please let me know if I got that right.