---
title: Strategy Formation and Positioning — RGM Training
url: https://realgrowthmatters.com/training/growth-leadership/strategy-formation-and-positioning/
updated: 2026-06-10
source_html: https://realgrowthmatters.com/training/growth-leadership/strategy-formation-and-positioning/
---

[Home](../../../index.html) › [Training](../../index.html) › [Growth Leadership](../index.html) › Strategy Formation and Positioning

RGM° · Training

# Strategy Formation and Positioning

Explicit choice of where to play and how to win. Inputs, frameworks, output, communication.

### What you will learn

1. [Why strategy formation matters](#why)
2. [Strategy inputs](#inputs)
3. [Frameworks](#frameworks)
4. [Strategy output](#output)
5. [Communication](#communication)
6. [Advanced playbook](#advanced)
7. [Mistakes](#mistakes)
8. [Checklist](#checklist)

## Why strategy formation matters

Strategy is the explicit choice of where to play and how to win. Marketing strategy connects business goals to programs, channels, and messages. Without explicit strategy, programs drift toward inertia.

## Strategy inputs

- Business goals and constraints.
- Customer research.
- Competitive landscape.
- Market trends.
- Internal capability assessment.
- Resource availability.
- Time horizons.

## Frameworks

- Roger Martin's strategy choice cascade.
- Porter's Five Forces.
- SWOT (use carefully).
- Jobs to be Done.
- Blue Ocean Strategy.
- OKR cascading.

## Strategy output

- Where-to-play decision.
- How-to-win positioning.
- Key strategic priorities (3–5 max).
- Channel mix decisions.
- Resource allocation.
- Capability development plan.
- Measurement framework.

## Communication

- Strategy document.
- Executive alignment.
- Team cascading.
- Visual communication.
- Recurring reinforcement.
- Resistance management.

## Advanced playbook

- Annual strategy formation cycle.
- Quarterly strategy reviews.
- Roger Martin choice cascade.
- External advisor input.
- Customer council input.
- Competitive intelligence integration.
- Strategy document maintained.
- Cross-functional alignment formalized.
- Resistance management discipline.
- Pre-mortem on strategic bets.

## Mistakes

- Strategy implicit.
- Too many priorities.
- Cross-functional alignment skipped.
- Customer research absent.
- Competitive intelligence weak.
- External advisor input missing.
- Resistance management ignored.
- Strategy document static.
- Quarterly reviews skipped.
- Pre-mortem absent.

## Checklist

- Annual strategy cycle
- Quarterly strategy reviews
- Roger Martin choice cascade
- External advisor input
- Customer council input
- Competitive intelligence
- Strategy document maintained
- Cross-functional alignment
- Resistance management
- Pre-mortem discipline

## Sources and further reading

- Roger Martin, "Playing to Win"
- April Dunford positioning
- Geoffrey Moore strategy
- Andrew Chen growth strategy
- Lenny Rachitsky case studies
- Reforge strategy curriculum
- HBR strategy research
- MarketingWeek Mark Ritson
- Adam Grant Originals
- Tom Critchlow strategy
- Lego Strategy talks
- First Round Review strategy

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Part of the [Growth Leadership](../index.html) series.