Not only must a firm choose what to do but it
must also make it clear what it will not do. The
worst strategic mistake possible is to choose
something but also keep our options open by
doing other things as well. Imagine an
organisation where the CEO proclaims that “our
strategy is crystal clear: we will do ABC” and at
the same time the employees of the organisation
see the firm doing XYZ as well as ABC. In their
eyes, this means one of two things: either we don’t
really have a strategy; or top management is
totally confused. Either way, the organisation is
left demoralised and confidence in senior