The article Transforming Corner-Office Strategy into Frontline Action, which can be found in the HBR article set, describes the concept of a strategic principle.

A strategic principle is a statement that helps employees align their actions with the strategic direction of the company while simultaneously empowering them to innovate and take risks.

The ability of frontline employees to execute a companys strategy without close central oversight is vital as the pace of technological change accelerates and as companies grow rapidly and become increasingly decentralized. To drive such behavior, a company needs to give employees a mandate broad enough to encourage enterprising behavior but specific enough to align employees initiatives with company strategy.

A strategic principle is distinct from a mission statement (which is discussed in chapter 7). A mission statement broadly encapsulates an organizations aims, aspirations, and core values. A strategic principle more explicitly gives guidance to employees to help them make strategically consistent choices.

For this discussion, draft a strategic principle for an organization of your choice, such as the organization you chose for your SWOT analysis. Then, describe a scenario, real or imaginary, in which that strategic principle guides the actions of an employee. For example, you can describe a situation in which a customer service representative, marketing manager, or frontline employee must independently make a decision in which they are empowered by the strategic principle to act in a manner consistent with the strategic direction of the company. You can also imagine yourself and your company and the situations you face. How would you apply your strategic principle?