You must have heard the terms Strategy and Tactics is often in tandem with each other during your IAS Exam preparation.
The Great Chinese General Sun Tzu described the relation between strategy and tactics in the following manner: “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy are the noise before defeat”.
Strategy vs Tactics – Comparative Analysis
What is Strategy?
The strategy is a long term plan which one executes step by step to achieve a goal. It is the path which leads to the final success. Correct execution of a strategy results in the final outcome.
What is Tactics?
Tactics are small steps or concrete actions which one takes to achieve smaller goals or to complete an action. A good tactic has a clear purpose that aids your strategy.
Regardless of the interdependence of each other, there are fundamental differences between strategy and tactics.
For further information about the upcoming Civil Services Exam, candidates can visit the linked article.
Difference Between Strategy and Tactics
A strategy is based on detailed research while a tactic is more concrete. Given below is a tabulated difference between strategy and tactics. UPSC aspirants can refer to the table below for Strategy vs Tactics:
Differences between Strategy and Tactics
| Strategy |
Tactics |
| Strategy defines a person’s long-term goals and the steps needed to be taken to achieve them | Tactics are much more solid and are often oriented towards smaller procedures with a short time window |
| Strategists are Individuals who are in charge of resources in the organization. Strategists have a thorough knowledge of how a set of tactics work together in order to achieve pre-determined targets. | Tacticians are specialists in their respective domains that employ resources into processes that will achieve a specified number of goals. |
| A Strategy is responsible for the overall health of the organization | Tactics are responsible for the resources allocated |
| Duration of a strategy is long term and is inflexible in change. | The duration of tactics is short term and changes according to specific conditions |
| The ultimate outcome of a strategy is that it produces clear organizational goals, plans and key performance measurements. | The successful outcome of a tactic is clear outputs using, people, tools and time |
Now that you have learnt the differences between Strategy and Tactics, you can prepare better for the UPSC IAS Exams. To further aid you in your preparation, referring to the links given below will be of immense help:
- UPSC Exams: Crucial Strategy Articles
- UPSC Mains Exam Preparation Strategies
- Subject-Wise Preparation Strategy for UPSC Prelims
- 8 Important IAS Exam Strategy and Tips
- UPSC IAS Prelims Exam: 7 Strategies to Become an IAS Officer
Apart from the difference between Strategy and Tactics, UPSC aspirants can also get over 100 Difference Between Articles from different fields and subjects to prepare for the upcoming Prelims and Mains exam.
Difference Between Strategy and Tactics – Download PDF Here
Frequently Asked Questions on Strategy vs Tactics
Q 1. What is the basic difference between a strategy and tactics?
Q 2. Strategy and Tactics: are they interdependent?
Q 3. What are the key components of Strategy?
Ans. The key components include:
- A vision of what needs to be achieved
- Proper Planning to move ahead with the strategy
- Execution must be done well
- Achieving the goal
Q 4. Which among strategy and tactics is more important?
Aspirants can become familiar with the general pattern of the IAS exam by visiting the IAS Syllabus page. For more preparation materials they can refer to the links given in the table below:
Related Links
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