Tackle Problems – On and Off the Battlefield – With Strategy

By Dr. Mel Deaile
Faculty Member, Military Studies Program at American Military University

When the term ‘strategy’ is mentioned, most people probably conjure up images of military generals huddled around a map making decisions on the movement of troops in order to defeat an enemy. While this is an example of military strategy in action, the basic idea behind forming a strategy can help tackle problems in all aspects of life.

What is strategy? Famed military strategist Carl Von Clausewitz claimed strategy was “the use of engagement for the purpose of war.”[1] Since Clausewitz wrote primarily about war it would make sense that his definition would focus strictly on military operations.

Another famous strategist, Sun Tzu, stated, “To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”[2] Sun Tzu’s idea about strategy comes closer to the true essence of strategy, which is about thinking and problem solving.

Richard Rumelt, a professor of business and a corporate consultant, offers the best definition of strategy, “(it) acknowledges the challenges being faced and provides an approach to overcoming them.”[3] As Sun Tzu noted in military operations and Rumelt notes in business, strategy is about thinking and solving problems before taking action.
Strategy, which is truly problem-solving, involves a considerable amount of critical thinking. There are three components to the process; only one involves taking action.

• Diagnosis (dissecting the problem)
• A guiding policy (solution to the problem)
• Coherent actions (steps to solve the problem).[4]

Although military history offers multiple case studies of where this process succeeded and failed, the approaching football season illustrates this process even better. During football season, Americans watch their favorite teams succeed or fail on the gridiron. It is important to realize the preparation that goes into each play.

By some conservative estimates, the action in a football game is approximately 15 minutes of true aerobic activity in a 60 minute game (four 15 minute quarters). Teams run plays lasting 5-10 seconds and then take 40 seconds to reset the ball, shuffle in players, and call a new play.

However, the thought that goes into each minute of play is enormous. Coaches pour over hours of film on each opponent diagnosing weakness and strength. They devise a coherent strategy and practice it over the course of a week only to see it executed for a few minutes each Sunday.

Too many times in life, the first thought is to take action when faced with a problem. What life teaches, however, is that thinking about the true source of the problem, devising a plan, and then acting can lead to success on the battlefield, on the athletic field, or in everyday life.
Courses within the American Military University Military Studies program look at the various aspects of the strategy-making and execution process.  While course readings and examples come from military history, students will find the learning and lessons of history apply beyond the classroom to their everyday attempts strategically solve complex problems.
About the Author:
Mel Deaile is an associate professor in the Military Studies program.  He received a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering from the US Air Force Academy. He holds master’s degrees from Louisiana Tech University, the Army’s Command and General Staff College, and the Air Force’s School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.  In 2007, he graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a PhD in American History.  His dissertation focused on organizational culture in Strategic Air Command during the initial decades of the Cold War. Col Deaile is a veteran of Desert Storm, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and has flown combat missions in the B-52 and B-2 bombers.