More about this Program



About the Strategic Choice Cascade


The "Strategic Choice Cascade" is a framework proposed by Roger L. Martin and A.G. Lafley in their book "Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works". 

The Strategic Choice Cascade is a model that guides businesses through making strategic choices to help them win in their chosen markets. The model consists of five integrated and sequential questions to work through.

Here are the five questions in the strategic choice cascade:

  1. What is our winning aspiration?
    • This is the overarching objective or purpose of the organization. It’s the definition of what winning looks like for the organization.
  2. Where will we play?
    • This question involves choosing the playing field — the specific markets, customer segments, or geographies where the organization will compete. It’s about making clear choices about where to compete and where not to.
  3. How will we win?
    • This question involves defining the strategy and approach the organization will take to achieve its winning aspirations in the chosen markets, segments, or geographies.
  4. What capabilities must be in place?
    • This question focuses on the unique skills, assets, and capabilities that the organization needs to develop or maintain to execute its strategy effectively.
  5. What management systems are required?
    • This final question involves creating the systems, measures, and organizational structures that will enable and support the chosen strategy and capabilities.

Each step in the cascade informs the next. 

The sequence is designed to ensure that choices are made in a coordinated and integrated way, aligning the organization’s approach to winning in its chosen markets, while ensuring that it has the capabilities and management systems needed to execute its strategy effectively.

About this program

In the constantly changing business landscape, creating a strong and adaptable strategy is essential for long-term success. This comprehensive program has been meticulously designed to facilitate the successful realisation of the Strategic Choice Cascade. 

This program aligns seamlessly with each stage of the Cascade, offering tailored activities and deliverables to clarify, focus, and add actionable insights to your strategic planning.

1. Winning Aspiration:

In the initial phase, our program addresses your organization’s fundamental winning aspiration. By unifying your management team’s vision, we lay a strong foundation for the successive steps. A well-defined winning aspiration acts as a guiding north star, illuminating the path forward.

2. Competitive Market Positioning:

The next step aligns with the “Where will we play?” question of the Cascade. Our program aids you in meticulously analyzing your market position, comprehending competitors’ strategies, and carving a unique value proposition. This analysis and visualization assist in making informed decisions about where and against whom to compete.

3. Business Model Roadmap:

Aligned with the “How will we win?” stage, this phase ensures that your business model is set up for success. The creation of a Business Model Roadmap outlines the trajectory of your business, ensuring alignment with your competitive positioning and winning aspiration.

4. Strategy Map:

Moving to capabilities, our program delves into identifying and visually mapping key objectives and the relationships between the key objectives. This crucial step assures that your organizational capabilities align with your strategic goals, addressing the question, “What capabilities must be in place?"

5. Action Plan:

Concluding with management systems, our program ensures the detailed allocation of roles, responsibilities, and objectives, ensuring every team member is equipped and aligned for strategic execution, answering “What management systems are required?”