The Guiding Policy

...it channels action in certain directions without defining exactly what shall be done.

The guiding policy outlines an overall approach for overcoming the obstacles highlighted by the diagnosis. It is "guiding" because it channels action in certain directions without defining exactly what shall be done.

Kennan's containment and Gerstner's drawing on all of IBM's resources to solve customers' problems are examples of guiding policies.  Like the guardrails on a highway, the guiding policy directs and constrains action without fully defining its content.

ACTION POINT: Develop an outline to overcome the obstacles that are present by your diagnosis.