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Writer's pictureCharlie McBroom

Mintzberg’s 5Ps – An Approach Strategy Planning

Henry Mintzberg's 5Ps of strategy provide a holistic approach to strategic planning, encouraging organizations to consider multiple dimensions for well-rounded strategies:

  1. Plan: Traditional strategic planning involves setting goals and means to achieve them. However, planning alone is insufficient for comprehensive strategy.

  2. Ploy: Ploy strategies actively respond to competitors and external factors, aiming to influence actions. They require industry expertise and strategic insight.

  3. Pattern: This approach identifies successful historical patterns in business behavior, providing a proven path to strategic advantage.

  4. Position: Strategy as position focuses on how a company positions itself in the market, aiming for differentiation and competitive edge.

  5. Perspective: This perspective views strategy as an internal matter, shaped by the organization's culture and stakeholder perceptions.

Businesses of all sizes can find value in Henry Mintzberg's 5Ps of strategy. This framework offers a holistic approach to strategic planning that encourages a broader perspective. It's not just for small businesses; it's for any business looking to make the most of their resources and adapt to changing markets.


The 5Ps help companies avoid narrow thinking and consider various dimensions, including planning, competitive strategies, historical patterns, market positioning, and internal perspectives. This flexibility is invaluable in today's fast-paced business world.

Additionally, the model fosters creativity and adaptability. Businesses can use it to craft strategies that not only respond to market shifts and competition but also leverage their unique strengths, whether that's a proven pattern of success or a distinctive market position.


In a nutshell, the 5Ps of strategy provide businesses with a structured yet flexible way to make well-informed, well-rounded decisions, contributing to their success and growth.

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