GOOD STRATEGY - THE VIEW FROM BELOW

In most Companies, strategies are subjected to rigorous quality tests from above; that is, by top management. Yet, the view from below-from the point of view of those working tower dawn in the organization-is, we believe, equally important, though neglected. In this article we id entify the key difficulties associated with prevailing stereotypes of strategy, the sources of much disenchantment with strategy and the qua lities that people would look for ina 'good' strategy. We then outline an approach to strategy that wi II ensure that it passes the quality test defined by the managers and employees who have to implement it. I n conclusion, we spell out the role that senior management has to play in ensuring that their company's strategy looks just as good when vie wed from below as from above. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.