#STRATEGY as DECEPTION

 In 1987 Mintzberg wrote about the 5P’s (Not to be confused with Porter’s 5 Forces) of #strategy. The #5P are Plan Ploy Pattern Position Perspective Recently, I spoke about #strategicethics and some seemed dismayed by my intimation of strategy as deception.

I even compared it to Chess.

For many, they locked in to that one theme, so let’s talk about it here Strategy as a Ploy. Remember, whether you like it or not you are competing for resources every day. From the food you eat, the real estate you occupy, even the air you breathe is air I cannot consume. We are competing for that air...actively or inactively. It doesn’t matter how you feel about that, you’re in the game with me.

We can choose alliances. Heck you can choose, or attempt anyway, to ally with the entire world. You can ally to stop the game, and to share resources. But if I don’t play along...well. Game on! So, if you are playing, and deception is one way to garner more resources, shouldn’t you at least understand that aspect? If nothing else, to prevent yourself from being deceived? Give me an example of how you compete for scarce resources ethically...

COMMENTS:

1. “...to name is to take a stand. And if naming is political...” (or strategic) “..., there can be no neutral facts, no pure description to convey to others as neutral information” - Deborah Stone Every time we ascribe a word to a thing, we put our bias on that thing. We apply meaning. Meaning is persuasive.
2. Hurricanes every week and we doubt climate change. Why? Because we now have a world where we MUST doubt everything.
3. Persuasion is ploy. Your choice whether you use that as education or propaganda. To teach is to persuade, and even then you get a little bias on me. When you tell me that science is fact based and uncolored by science, I have to ask. Who found the science? Who designed the experiment? Who came up with the conclusion?
4. I could add Strategy as provocateur! Utilizing provocative statements and even antics to create interest. Doesn’t this also drive business? Negative or positive press is still press? Agree?

#bluecollarphilosopher