Strategy facts for kids

Strategy is a big-picture plan to reach a goal. It's about what you want to achieve in the long run. The word first came from the military. It's from an ancient Greek word for a general officer who leads all the armed forces of a state.

When people talk about what to do right now, they often use the word tactics. A famous military thinker, Carl von Clausewitz, said that tactics are about using soldiers in a fight. Strategy, he said, is about using those fights to win the whole war. Today, "strategy" is used everywhere, like in "business strategy" or "game strategy".

What is Strategy?

Strategy is your main plan for reaching a long-term goal. Think of it as your roadmap to success. It's about deciding the big steps you will take.

Strategy vs. Tactics: What's the Difference?

Strategy and tactics are both about planning, but they work at different levels.

• Strategy is the overall plan. It's about the big picture and your main goal.
• Tactics are the smaller, detailed steps you take to follow your strategy. They are flexible and can change often.

For example, in a game, your strategy might be to win by capturing the opponent's flag. Your tactics would be the specific moves you make to get your players into position or defend your own flag.

When Do We Use Strategy?

You can use strategy in many parts of life, not just in the military.

• In chess, your strategy might be to control the center of the board. Your tactics are the specific moves you make with your pieces.
• In business, a company's strategy might be to sell products online. Their tactics would be how they advertise or deliver those products.
• Even in daily life, you use strategy. Your strategy for getting good grades might be to study every day. Your tactics would be how you organize your notes or what time you study.

Changing Your Strategy

A good strategy should not change too often. It's your main direction. However, sometimes your goal might become impossible to reach. If that happens, you might need to find a new goal. Then, you would create a new or adjusted strategy.

Sometimes, you can use the same tactics to reach a different goal. For example, in a game, you might still use similar moves even if your main goal changes.

See also

In Spanish: Juego de estrategia para niños