We explain what a tactic is and the use of the term in sports, military and business. Also, differences between tactic and strategy.
What is the tactic?
When we speak of tactics, we mean a method specific with which we can achieve a objective. It also designates the art wave discipline practice that teaches, in a certain area of life or knowledge, to choose the appropriate method for a certain purpose.
In other words, when talking about tactics, we refer to the possible methods to obtain a result, generally from the evaluation of the conditions at the moment. But when we speak of tactics, in the singular, we can also refer to the ability to choose or to apply these methods.
Thus, there are tactic in numerous contexts different, such as the military, sports or even business, as we will see later, but always with the same sense.Those who specialize in a tactic, for example, learn to apply a specific method to something, but those who know tactics have many possible methods to deal with a particular situation.
The word tactics is of Greek origin, coming from taktikós, coming in turn from the verb tassein, "tidy". Hence, a tactic generally involves an orderly set of steps or actions to deal with something.
Tactic and strategy
Tactics and strategy are two terms often used interchangeably, but whose meanings are easily distinguishable. As we have seen, a tactic is a method of obtaining a result, generally applicable to the concrete, to the perceptible.
Instead, a strategy is a plan, a way of applying a set of preconceived notions, which can be, in themselves, tactics. In this way, strategies are usually global, comprehensive, complete, while tactics are usually specific and specific.
For example, we may have to apply a set of tactics to comply with what a strategy dictates. On the other hand, if our strategy fails, it is possible to improvise some tactics that give us time to think of a new plan: diversionary tactics, in that case.
Sports tactic
In the world of sports, It is common to speak of tactics to refer to the methods used by different athletes or players to deal with a situation based on their own abilities. Thus, different tactics can be part of a sports strategy, and athletes can use them at their discretion.
For example: in a match of footballEach team has a strategy defined in advance and that has to do with their strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of their rivals. But each player knows some individual tactics, and the manager himself has prepared them to execute some collective tactics. Depending on the occasion, they will be able to put them into practice, such as looking for the free kick, wasting time, etc.
Military tactic
Military tactic takes into consideration given situations.
The military field is not very different in terms of tactics from the previous case. With the exception that the military tactic constitutes a discipline in itself, part of the military strategy. The tactic in this case has to do with the use of the necessary means of action to defeat the rival in a warfare, that is, in the war.
For this, the tactic takes into consideration the given situations: the army's situation, its available resources, the enemy's position, and therefore has its own army or a part of its own army, in a specific way.
In this it is distinguished from strategy, which is carried out by the planning ranks in the rear: the soldiers have the tactics learned and exercised to face a specific situation in a victorious way.
Business tactic
Taking the military tactic as metaphor, in the world of business Tactics are the methods put into practice in a given situation, as part of a planning major (that is, business strategy). For example, a business strategy may include aggressive tactics (unfair competition, Subliminal publicity, dumping).