“Strategy Is Not Enough” by By Richard Brennan (BaselineMag.com, 11 November 2009). Please put aside the IT slant of the article for a moment and lend Mr. Brennan your eye. Also, for those who are not sports fanatics, please pardon his football analogy.

While the best football organizations have a clear strategy, they also have the capabilities to execute on that strategy. You can’t be a passing team without the ability to throw, catch and block. Even if you have the best quarterback in the league, without the other skills to complement him, you are not going to win many games. It is the identification of a clear strategy (we are going to be a passing team); the identification of key capabilities required to execute that strategy (block, catch, throw); and the tactics or plays with which to develop those capabilities that lead to success.

The key idea here is right. The right strategy; for the right team; using the right tools; at the right time; being managed in the right way. Contrary to popular belief, none of these operate in a vacuum. There is more to success than a brilliant strategy and/or raw talent.

On the other hand, those who understand the holistic nature of these challenges, as well as the need for ongoing and relentless motivation, are the ones who hold the trophy and drink the champagne. To stick with the sports analogy — the journey to success is an iron man marathon, not a 50 yard dash. Yes, there are times when a sprint is necessary. We have all been there. Just don’t be fooled into thinking that such an approach is the rule. It is the exception.

A “hail Mary pass” may create a lot of excitement for a few minutes, but a single play rarely wins the Super Bowl. Neither will a single (IT) project that’s not backed by capabilities drive business success. Having the right capabilities in place is what wins in both football (and IT).