It takes a management team about two days to define and map driving forces. Because mapping requires the team to think deeply about the issues confronting the business, many of the insights it gains are counterintuitive. Nevertheless, when mapping is complete, the implications for strategic action usually become obvious to the entire team. Rather than rush quickly into strategy making, however, I have found it better for managers to ensure that all affected parties in the company understand and agree on the driving-force maps. That often means taking a break for three or four weeks. During that time, managers who were not part of the process can be included, maps can be altered to reflect new input, and data can be collected where necessary. This process is particularly necessary in global corporations, where managers on the scene may see the world quite differently from strategists at headquarters. When a management team is united in its understanding of the problems to be tackled, agreeing on and implementing solutions is much more straightforward. Creating this shared understanding is always a good investment