Strategy planning can be hard to unpack, but John Warden’s “Winning in FastTime” lays out an effective method for planning and executing rapidly.
This post contains affiliate links. I earn commissions when you buy through these links, at no cost to you.
Why should you read this review?
As both a former Army officer as well as management consultant, I have trained in many of the classical strategy planning methodologies. Additionally, as the owner of the EffectivExec, I am always looking for methods to tools to maximize my own personal effectiveness (while maintaining a high quality of life / recovery score). Every executive has some exposure to strategy (whether in development or execution) and understanding another methodology is absolutely helpful.
What is Winning in FastTime all about?
In a nutshell, “Winning in FastTime” is a re-application of the US military strategy planning method for the 1991 Gulf War into a business context. The lead author, John Warden, was the planning lead for the offensive and, by many accounts, ground breaking strategy from 1991 that lead to the rapid degradation of Iraqi electric and air defense capabilities. It was written by John Warden (retired Air Force officer and planner) and Leland Russell (career strategy consultant).
What is the thesis of Winning in FastTime?
“Winning in FastTime” lays out a narrative of the need to rapidly and cohesively conduct strategy planning and execution to stay ahead of competitors. The authors lay out their Prometheus strategy planning method for a structured approach to strategy development. which also uses an ‘open planning’ methodology to maximize input.
For former military officers of the last two decades, much of the language of this book will be very familiar. When I was in the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course and Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, we talked a lot about Centers of Gravity (the other COGS) and Measures of Effectiveness.
What is the Prometheus (strategy) Planning Method?
The strategy planning method laid out in this book (as well as on their Venturist website), breaks down into four imperatives (steps) that use their nine ” Promethic Laws” to drive the organization towards an end state.
Prometheus Strategic Imperatives (planning steps)
- Design the Future – figure out what the desired future (Future Picture) that the organization is trying to achieve. This should be specific and optimistic. The design phase is based on understanding the environment and then planning out the specific future that’s trying to be achieved.
- Target for Success – this step is all about figuring out the Centers of Gravity (5 ring approach) and the desired effects (Measures of Merit) needed achieve the future state. This phase is most similar to other planning methodologies like Porter’s Five Forces.
- Campaign to Win – this phase focused on effective implementation of the strategic plan by using ‘parallel campaigns.’ It also discusses organizing the team to impact the situation (not for legacy norms).
- Finish with Finesse – the final phase of this method is all about planning for the end of the product, service, or mission. This oft ignored phase is critical for having criteria for when to get out to maximize the profit from the situation.
Promethic laws (fundamental assumptions underpinning planning method)
I won’t list out the Promethic laws here, because it’s actually worth reading how John and the team came to these. But these ‘laws’ are really the main assumptions that sit below and inform the imperatives (above). I really like that the author laid these out because it shows the ‘why’ in how the system is constructed.
Additionally, I think it’s important to call out the concept of Centers of Gravity (COG). This is the idea that there are nodes within a system that have an outsized effect on the overall system. To rapidly and economically influence the system, some or all for of the COGs must be targeted. This concept of prioritizing influence to the COGs is very much in line with Military and McKinsey approaches (more below). In both contexts, planners must prioritize the most effective means because resources are always limited.
What are other strategic planning processes?
If you Google “strategy planning” or similar search strings, you’ll get alot of Porter’s 5 Forces, SWOT analysis, Balanced Scorecard, and OKRs. In my opinion, these frameworks are applicable to certain parts of the strategy process, but do not layout a full process for building and executing a strategy.
Military decision making process (MDMP)
- Receipt of Mission
- Mission Analysis
- Course of action (COA) Development
- COA Analysis
- COA Comparison
- COA Approval
- Orders Production, Dissemination, and Transition
McKinsey Problem Solving Method
The vaunted management consulting firm McKinsey & Company uses a six step problem solving method for tackling most challenges. Internally, there are many other frameworks (some specific to strategy work) but below is the most common. While the McKinsey problem solving approach is an excellent one, it’s not tailored to developing and executing a strategy. This is an important differentiation because, at it’s heard, that’s the economic service that the Firm offers to it’s clients. The Firm is not in the business of teaching other organizations to build strategies, it offers that development as a service.
- Define
- Structure
- Prioritize & Plan
- Analyze
- Synthesize
- Propose
Hoshin Kanri Planning Method
I’ve often described Hoshin Kanri as the Toyota Product System (TPS) approach to strategy planning. Fundamentally, it’s planning method that seeks to move from a specific vision down to the tactical steps that will be required to accomplish the goal. This method has a bit wider of a scope than Prometheus and features the vaunted “X-matrix” planning tool.
- Establish the organizational vision
- Develop strategic objectives
- Develop annual objectives
- Cascade goals throughout the organization
- Execute annual objectives
- Implement monthly reviews
- Conduct annual reviews
This method has more rigor around implementation tracking that many others do.
Overall review of “Winning in FastTime” strategy manual
Overall, the framework and method that “Winning in FastTime” lays out could be a very effective one for small to large businesses. While not really revolutionary anymore, the Prometheus method includes enough nuance to make it different but enough common sense to make it easily applicable. This book is a fast read and I’d recommend it to any executive that is searching for a way to formalize their strategy and execution process.
