Strateegia

Strateegia is the set of plans and decisions that determine long-term direction and resource allocation to achieve goals within a given environment. It contrasts with tactics, which are concrete actions to win battles or implement steps.

The term derives from the Greek strategia, from stratēgos, "general," and is widely used across languages, with local spellings such as strategia or strateegia. In Estonian, strateegia is the standard term for strategic planning.

In military affairs, strateegia refers to overall campaigns and the use of forces to defeat an opponent. In business and management, it means defining mission, competitive position, markets, and long-term goals, plus how to allocate capital and human resources to reach them. Public policy and nonprofit sectors also apply strategic planning to guide programs.

Common components include setting aims, environment analysis (external and internal), identification of strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, resource assessment, risk management, and adaptability. Strategy is dynamic and may be revisited as conditions change.

The process typically involves strategic planning (formulating and selecting a course of action), implementation (allocating resources and executing plans), and evaluation (tracking performance and adjusting as needed). Classic references include military theorists and modern corporate strategists.