Good and Bad Strategy: The Rigor of Thinking According to Rumelt

This article provides a thorough analysis of Richard Rumelt's approach, which redefines strategy as a rigorous discipline of practical reason. The author exposes the pathologies of contemporary management, where "visions" and "transformations" often serve to avoid difficult choices. The text focuses on the structure of the "strategy core," encompassing a reliable diagnosis of the situation, clear guidelines, and a set of coherent actions. The reader will learn about the mechanisms of building advantage, such as link-chain systems and isolating mechanisms, and why cognitive asceticism is essential for identifying bottlenecks. Through the examples of Apple, Walmart, and Hannibal, the article demonstrates that good strategy is a precise design of action, not the poetics of ambition.