When I first started to speak publicly about the importance of aligning business information systems with corporate strategy I very quickly found that few people knew the meaning of the word "strategy" and I could NOT define strategy in one concise phrase.
I started to research and came across Iain Peters who introduced me to the work of Professor Malcolm McDonald, http://www.malcolm-mcdonald.com/
Iain also trained me in the use of Malcolm's Exmar strategic marketing planning software
From Malcolm's work I learned the definition of strategy as "doing the right things" and tactics as "doing things right" resulting in Malcolm's Strategy-Tactics matrix which is still the most apposite and concise definition of strategy I know.
Malcolm states that when an organization does the RIGHT things WELL viewed from the customers perspective then that organization will THRIVE -- my goal is to help my clients to use systems in such a manner that they enable the organization to thrive -- I have spent the last few decades learning how to do this with methods that are radically different to and better than the norms in the Business Systems industry.
My corporate logo is derived from this matrix.
and my dictum "assisting clients to thrive with integrated business information systems" derives from this.
My focus on enabling "thrive decision making" and related concepts are also strongly related to the work of Professor McDonald.
My strategic planning methods also owe their origin to Malcolm's methods, see http://www.james-a-robertson-and-associates.com/Strategy.aspx for more information
My overall approach has been significantly influenced by Malcolm's thinking and clear definitions for over 23 years and his influence is gratefully acknowledged, I would also like to acknowledge Iain Peters who introduced me to Malcolm's work and to Malcolm