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Militaries around the world recognize that modern warfare will increasingly be fought and won by the individual soldiers on the ground. Centralized command and control can only help shape the battle-space for the warfighter but ultimately victory or defeat will be determined by the decisions of the foot soldier at the front.
Business is no different. Today’s customers no longer accept "standard" products and services. They expect, and in many cases demand, the best service at the lowest price, delivered immediately. Traditional head office decision-making is too slow and far removed from the "action" making it difficult for businesses to effectively meet customer demands.
To enable their soldiers to fight effectively away from centralized control and decision making, militaries equip their soldiers with the following three tools:
- Understanding Commander’s Intent. In combat, the enemy and you continual react to each other’s actions. Hence, all battle plans are "correct" until the first bullet is fired. Thus, understanding the Commander’s Intent is key to coordinating the actions of every soldier on the ground once things deviate from the plan. Business is no different. To ensure alignment of all employee’s actions towards achieving the business' objectives, managers must communicate their strategy and…
