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DiagnoseChallengeMedium

Strategy in Use

Compare stated strategy with recent resource, customer and exception decisions.

45–60 min8–16

Purpose

Reveal the operating strategy expressed by actual choices rather than presentation language.

Output: Stated-versus-operating strategy map

Materials

  • Recent decision cards
  • Stated strategy
  • Choice pattern canvas

Preparation

  • Select six to ten recent resource, customer or exception decisions.
  • Remove personal data and write each case in comparable form.

Facilitation steps

1

Predict

10 min

Read the stated strategy and predict the choices it should produce.

2

Inspect

20 min

Classify actual decisions by customer, value, capability and trade-off.

3

Compare

15 min

Identify where stated and operating strategy agree or conflict.

4

Choose a correction

10 min

Name one rule, resource or exception process to change.

Observe

  • Does status influence how exceptions are explained?
  • Are repeated decisions treated as isolated cases?

Debrief

  • What strategy do our decisions reveal?
  • Which exception is actually a recurring rule?
  • What should change first?

Transfer to work

Use the identified decision rule in the next real allocation or customer exception.

Treat repeated exceptions as evidence about the operating system, not as anecdotes to dismiss.

Failure modes

  • The exercise judges individual leaders rather than decision patterns.
  • Examples are too old to influence current work.

Accessibility

  • Use text cards in addition to any visual canvas.
  • Allow anonymous selection of sensitive examples.