The Core Insight
Every problem, every opportunity, every decision can be viewed at four distinct altitudes—each revealing different patterns, risks, and possibilities.
Think of it like altitude: Same terrain, different views. Each reveals what others hide.
The Four Resolution Levels
Strategic Resolution (10,000-foot view) — The Big Picture
SEES: Market forces, competitive dynamics, long-term trends, paradigm shifts
ASKS: “Where is the market going?” • “What game are we really playing?” • “What’s the 10-year trajectory?”
Structural Resolution (1,000-foot view) — The Architecture
SEES: Business models, organizational design, system architecture, value chains
ASKS: “How should we organize?” • “What’s our business model?” • “How do the pieces fit?”
Operational Resolution (100-foot view) — The Machine
SEES: Processes, workflows, resource allocation, team coordination, metrics
ASKS: “How do we execute this?” • “What’s the workflow?” • “Who does what by when?”
Tactical Resolution (Ground level) — The Execution
SEES: Specific tasks, immediate actions, individual decisions, concrete steps
ASKS: “What do I do right now?” • “What’s the next step?” • “How do I solve this specific problem?”
The Power of Resolution Fluency
The goal isn’t to pick one resolution—it’s to move fluidly between all four.
Strategic without tactical = vision without execution.
Tactical without strategic = busy but not effective.
This is part of a comprehensive analysis. Read the full analysis on The Business Engineer.
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