"Amateurs talk strategy. Professionals talk logistics."

It's almost a truism that commonly cited quotes were never really said by the individual who is often credited with them.  Case in point is the title of today's post.  General Omar Bradley (famous World War II general, one of only five 5-star Generals in the history of the U.S. Army, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) is often credited with saying it, though he likely never did say the exact quote.  There was a passage in his autobiography, A Soldier's Story that is similar, "For military command is as much a practice of human relations as it is a science of tactics and a knowledge of logistics."

Former U.S. Marine Corps General Robert Hilliard Barrow (General Barrow was the 27th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1979 to 1983 and served for a total of 41 years in the Marine Corps) was interviewed by the San Diego Union Tribune on November 11, 1979 and apparently said, "Amateurs talk about strategy and tactics.  Professionals talk about logistics and sustainability in warfare."

Regardless of who said it, if anyone, it summarizes a really important point.  While there are many definitions of strategy, tactics, and logistics (and these three concepts, particularly strategy and tactics are often confused), here are my favorites.  "Strategy" describes the overall objective - the destination, if you will - and how a team is going reach that objective.  "Tactics" describe the specific actions that will be required to meet the overall objective.  "Logistics" describes the process by which the right people are placed in the right position at the right time to execute the tactics necessary to successfully achieve the strategic objective.

While "strategy" defines the long-term goals, "tactics" are much more concrete, specific, and detailed (in this context, the initiatives that will be completed to reach the objective).  The ancient Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.  Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."  But Sun Tzu also had an important comment to make about logistics.  He said, "The line between disorder and order lies in logistics."

Strategy, tactics, and logistics truly represent the sine qua non of leadership.  Management guru Tom Peters said, "Leaders win through logistics.  Vision, sure.  Strategy, yes.  But when you go to war, you need to have both toilet paper and bullets at the right place at the right time.  In other words, you must win through superior logistics."

King Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) reportedly was once leading his army on a campaign and stopped to make camp for the night.  As he prepared his orders, one of his aides stopped him and told him that the location for the army's camp lacked sufficient pasture for the army's horses and pack animals.  Philip II reportedly cursed and said, "O Hercules, what a life I lead if I am obliged to live for the benefit of my asses!"

During business school, I participated in a simulation called "The Beer Game."  The "Beer Game" was developed by an individual named Jay Wright Forrester at the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1960 and is probably the best illustration of the importance of logistics.  I first learned about the "Beer Game" in the book "The Fifth Discipline" by Peter Senge.  There are a number of simulations available for free online, but essentially individuals play the game as a brewer, a distributor, a wholesaler, or a local retail store.  The game's objective is simple in concept, but difficult in execution - keep up with the changing customer demand for beer.  By playing the game, individuals will learn firsthand the concept of the "Bullwhip effect".  If players master the art of supply chain logistics, they will win the game.  It's actually a lot of fun to play, and you learn a lot about logistics while doing so!

Logistics is just as important as strategy and tactics.  And the best leaders worry about logistics as much as, if not more than, strategy and tactics.