Business Strategy Terms

noun a position of agreement or alliance

• The company's success can be attributed to the strong alignment between its goals and its employees' efforts.
• We need to make sure everyone is on the same page and in alignment with the project timeline.
• Let's get our ducks in a row and make sure everything is in alignment before the big presentation.
• Finding alignment between your mind, body, and spirit is essential for overall well-being.

adjective relating to or characterized by anticipation; serving to anticipate

• The anticipatory anxiety before the exam was palpable among the students.
• I couldn't sleep last night because of all the anticipatory excitement for the trip tomorrow.
• I'm feeling hella anticipatory about the concert tonight!
• The anticipatory thrill of starting a new chapter in life is like a rollercoaster ride.

noun A large-scale commercial enterprise, typically characterized by extensive resources, high revenue, and significant influence in the market.

• Big business plays a significant role in the global economy.
• Big business is all about making big bucks.
• Big business is where the real money is at.
• Big business is like a giant machine that never stops running.

noun a physical block used in construction

• The concept of DNA as the building block of life is widely accepted in the scientific community.
• In coding, variables are like the building blocks that you use to create your program.
• These basic math skills are the building blocks for more advanced concepts in algebra.
• Trust is the building block of any strong relationship.

noun a powerful tractor with a broad upright blade at the front for clearing ground

verb to demolish or clear away with a bulldozer

• The city council decided to bulldoze the old building to make way for a new development.
• They're going to bulldoze that abandoned house down the street.
• Let's bulldoze through this project and get it done quickly.
• The new CEO came in and bulldozed through all the old policies to make way for a fresh start.

noun the quality of being shrewd and clever in a deceptive way

• Her business success was attributed to her canniness in negotiating deals.
• His canniness in finding the best deals saved him a lot of money.
• I admire her streetwise canniness when it comes to making quick decisions.
• The detective's canniness in solving the case was unmatched.

verb to plan or scheme to achieve a particular goal or purpose

• The engineer had to contrive a new solution to the complex problem.
• She managed to contrive a way to sneak into the concert without tickets.
• He always knows how to contrive a plan to get what he wants.
• The author had to contrive a happy ending for the characters in her novel.

noun the process of distinguishing or contrasting things

verb to recognize or express the difference between things; distinguish

• It is important to differentiate between fact and opinion when conducting research.
• I can't differentiate between these two brands of headphones; they both sound the same to me.
• I can never differentiate between the twins - they look exactly alike!
• Her unique style of painting really helps her differentiate herself from other artists.

noun A person, thing, or influence that provides the energy and direction for something to happen or develop

• Innovation has been the driving force behind the company's success.
• Passion is the driving force that keeps me going every day.
• Money is the driving force for most people in this industry.
• Love was the driving force that pushed him to achieve his dreams.

noun the outside limit of an object, area, or surface; a point at or close to the edge

verb move gradually or hesitantly towards an ending or a specified point

adjective having a sharp or distinct quality

adverb used to indicate a margin or limit

• The company is always looking for ways to stay on the cutting edge of technology.
• I love living on the edge and trying new things.
• That new video game is totally on the edge, everyone's playing it.
• She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure of what to do next.

noun The end result is the final outcome or conclusion of a process or event.

• The end result of the research project was a groundbreaking discovery.
• In the end, the result of the experiment was pretty cool.
• The party was a blast, and the end result was a night to remember.
• Just like a puzzle, each decision we make contributes to the end result of our lives.

verb to happen or occur as a result of something else

• After the initial debate, a series of discussions will ensue to reach a consensus.
• Once the party starts, chaos will ensue as everyone tries to grab a drink.
• If you don't study for the exam, failure will ensue.
• When emotions run high, a heated argument is likely to ensue.

verb to establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely

• The new policy aims to entrench the company's position in the market.
• We need to entrench ourselves in the industry by building strong relationships.
• Let's entrench ourselves at the front of the line for the concert.
• His beliefs were deeply entrenched and difficult to change.

adjective showing prudence and foresight; thrifty; economical

• She was very forehanded in her financial planning, always saving for unexpected expenses.
• I like to be forehanded with my chores so I don't have to rush at the last minute.
• He's so forehanded, always thinking ahead and being prepared for anything.
• Being forehanded in decision-making can lead to better outcomes in the long run.

noun a situation where someone is excluded or ignored

verb to exclude or ignore someone, especially in a social or business setting

• The company attempted to freeze out their competitor by offering lower prices.
• I heard they're trying to freeze out the new guy from the group.
• Don't freeze me out, I want to join in on the fun!
• The cold weather seemed to freeze out all motivation to go outside.

noun a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage

• The politician's gambit to gain support from the opposing party was well-thought-out.
• His gambit to ask his crush out on a date was nerve-wracking.
• She pulled a risky gambit by skipping class to go to the concert.
• His decision to invest all his savings in the stock market was a bold gambit.

adjective showing care or attention; mindful

adverb in a heedful manner

• It is important to be heedful of the rules and regulations in place.
• Make sure you're heedful of the time so we don't miss the bus.
• Yo, you gotta be heedful of your surroundings in this neighborhood.
• Being heedful of your thoughts can lead to a more peaceful mind.

verb to delay or postpone something

adverb in a manner that delays or postpones something

• The company decided to hold off on making any major decisions until they had more information.
• Let's hold off on going to the beach until the weather clears up.
• I think we should hold off on buying those concert tickets until we know for sure we can go.
• Sometimes it's best to hold off on expressing your feelings until you've had time to think things through.

noun the process of putting a decision or plan into effect; execution

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The implementation of the new policy will require careful planning and coordination.
• We need to figure out how to make the implementation of this project run smoothly.
• Let's get the ball rolling on the implementation of our new marketing strategy.
• The implementation of her ideas transformed the company into a thriving business.

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc., as in 'in with'

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in 'in with'

• The new policy states that all employees must check in with the receptionist upon arrival.
• Make sure to check in with me before you leave the office.
• I'll hit you up later to check in with you about the party.
• It's important to constantly check in with yourself to ensure you're on the right path in life.

verb to make as large or great as possible

• In order to maximize profits, the company decided to implement cost-cutting measures.
• If you want to maximize your chances of winning, you should practice more.
• Dude, you gotta maximize your gains at the gym by lifting heavier weights.
• She always tries to maximize her potential by pushing herself to do better.

noun a person who works for a secret organization or government agency

adjective in effect; functioning or having effect

• The operative procedure was successfully carried out by the skilled surgeon.
• The operative did a great job fixing my computer.
• The operative is always on top of things, never missing a beat.
• Trust is the operative word in any successful relationship.

noun a person or thing that is no longer in contention or competition

adjective not in contention or competition

• Due to his injury, he is now officially out of the running for the championship title.
• She didn't make the cut, so she's out of the running for the lead role.
• He didn't impress the coach, so he's totally out of the running for the starting position.
• After missing the deadline, his chances of winning the contract are now out of the running.

adjective describing a quality or characteristic that can be demonstrated or carried out

• The task is performable within the given time frame.
• I think the project is performable if we work together.
• I'm not sure if that's performable, but we can give it a shot.
• His dream of becoming a professional athlete seemed performable after years of hard work.

noun a series of games or matches to determine a champion

verb compete against an opponent in a playoff

• The two teams will compete in a play off to determine the winner of the championship.
• We're going to have a play off to see who's the best at ping pong.
• Let's have a play off to settle this once and for all.
• The debate between the two politicians turned into a play off of words.

noun a set of tactics or strategies for achieving a goal

• The company's new marketing playbook outlines the strategies for the upcoming product launch.
• I need to check the playbook to see what tasks are assigned to me.
• Let's ditch the playbook and just wing it for this project.
• She used her own playbook to navigate through the challenges of starting her own business.

noun price cut

• The company decided to implement a price cut in order to attract more customers.
• I heard there's a price cut at the store, let's go check it out!
• Yo, did you hear about the sick price cut at that store?
• The price cut was like a breath of fresh air for the struggling business.

noun a financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent in buying, operating, or producing something

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• Businesses can profit by implementing cost-saving measures.
• You can profit by selling those old textbooks online.
• I heard you can profit by flipping sneakers on the resale market.
• We can profit by learning from our mistakes and growing as individuals.

noun a careful thought or consideration of a matter or issue

• The board will take your request for reconsideration into account before making a final decision.
• You might want to ask for reconsideration of your grade before the end of the semester.
• I'm gonna need a serious reconsideration on my outfit for tonight's party.
• Sometimes it's good to give yourself a moment of reconsideration before jumping into a new project.

verb to withdraw or move away from a place or situation

• The soldiers were retreating from the battlefield after suffering heavy casualties.
• The team decided to retreat when things started to go south.
• We booked it out of there once we saw the cops retreating.
• Her confidence was retreating as the interview went on.

noun a map showing roads or highways

• The company presented a detailed road map for their upcoming product launch.
• We need to come up with a road map for our road trip next weekend.
• Let's sketch out a road map for our project so we don't get lost along the way.
• Setting goals is like creating a road map for your future success.

noun intelligence or good judgment

adjective having or showing intelligence

• Her impressive academic achievements showcase her exceptional smarts.
• He always relies on his street smarts to navigate through tough situations.
• She's got some serious smarts when it comes to coding.
• His book smarts may be lacking, but he has a lot of practical knowledge.

noun a temporary solution or measure

adjective used to describe something that is temporary or serving as a temporary solution

• The government implemented a temporary stopgap measure to address the issue.
• We'll just have to come up with a quick stopgap solution for now.
• Let's just slap a stopgap fix on it and hope for the best.
• Using humor as a stopgap for dealing with stress is not a long-term solution.

adjective relating to the identification of long-term goals and the means of achieving them

• The company developed a strategic plan to increase market share.
• We need to come up with a strategic approach to tackle this issue.
• Let's be smart about this and think of a strategic move.
• In chess, every move should be strategic to win the game.

noun a person who is skilled in devising plans and strategies

• The company hired a renowned strategist to develop a comprehensive marketing plan.
• My friend is a brilliant strategist when it comes to playing chess.
• That guy is a real strategist when it comes to getting out of doing work.
• She was a master strategist in navigating the complexities of office politics.

noun a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim

adjective relating to or characterized by a careful plan or method

• The company implemented a new marketing strategy to increase sales.
• We need to come up with a game plan to win this project.
• Let's brainstorm a plan of attack to tackle this problem.
• Life is like a game of chess, you need to have a strategy to win.

verb to develop or become clear or definite; to start to have a particular form or structure

• As the project progressed, we began to see the final design take shape.
• Once we started adding the decorations, the party really started to take shape.
• After a few practice sessions, the dance routine finally began to take shape.
• The plan for the new business venture is starting to take shape in my mind.

verb to sell something for a lower price than a competitor

• The company decided to undersell their competitors in order to gain market share.
• I think we can undersell them if we offer a better deal.
• Let's lowball them and undersell the competition.
• She always undersells her own abilities, but she is actually very talented.

adjective describing someone or something that is proactive, assertive, or taking the lead in a situation

• The front-footed approach taken by the company in addressing customer complaints was commendable.
• She always takes a front-footed approach when dealing with difficult situations.
• I like to be front-footed and tackle challenges head-on.
• His front-footed attitude towards life helped him overcome many obstacles.

verb to surpass in thinking or outsmart through cleverness or intelligence

• In order to succeed in business, one must constantly strive to outthink their competitors.
• I always try to outthink my opponents when playing chess.
• I'm going to outthink them and come out on top.
• She was able to outthink her fears and take a leap of faith.

noun a way out or exit from a place or building

• Please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.
• Let's get out of here through that exit over there.
• We gotta bounce, find the exit and let's dip.
• Finding the exit in this situation will lead to a resolution.

noun a word that functions as the name of a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• I kindly suggest you take down a notch your aggressive tone during the meeting.
• Hey, maybe you should take it down a notch and stop yelling.
• Dude, you need to chill out and take it down a notch.
• She needs to take down a notch her ego and be more humble.

noun a person or thing that wins or has won

verb to be victorious in a competition or contest

adjective describing the act of taking all, usually in a competitive context

• In a competition, the winner takes all the prizes and recognition.
• When it comes to this game, it's winner takes all, so give it your best shot!
• It's a winner take all situation, so make sure you come out on top.
• Life can sometimes feel like a winner take all scenario, where only the strongest survive.

noun a person or entity who is beaten to the market

verb an action word that describes the act of getting to the market before someone else

preposition a word that shows the relationship between 'beat' and 'somebody', indicating that 'somebody' is the target of the action

• Our company was able to beat our competitors to market with the latest technology.
• We totally beat them to market with our new product!
• We totally smoked the competition and beat them to market!
• In the race to launch a new product, our team managed to beat everyone to market.

noun a situation in which someone does something better than someone else in order to gain an advantage or to show that they are better

verb to gain an advantage over someone by doing something better than they have done

• She always tries to one-up her colleagues by showcasing her superior knowledge.
• He's constantly trying to one-up his friends with his latest gadgets.
• I see you trying to one-up me with that new hairstyle!
• The company is always looking for ways to one-up their competitors in the market.

noun A long, sturdy pole used to support a tent or canopy.

• The architect recommended using a tent pole to support the structure of the temporary shelter.
• I forgot to pack the tent pole for our camping trip, so we had to get creative with setting up the tent.
• Make sure you bring the tent pole or else we won't be able to pitch the tent properly.
• The successful launch of the new product acted as a tent pole for the company's overall sales growth.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this context, 'act' is a noun as it refers to a deed or action.

verb A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. In this context, 'act' is a verb as it denotes the action being taken.

adverb A word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In this context, 'on' and 'upon' can also function as adverbs to provide more information about how the action is being carried out.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this context, 'on' and 'upon' are prepositions that indicate where the action is directed.

• It is important for the government to act upon the recommendations of the expert panel.
• I told him to act on his instincts and make a decision.
• Just act on it and stop overthinking!
• She knew she had to act upon her feelings before it was too late.

noun A game is a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.

article A is an indefinite article used before singular nouns when the noun is unspecified.

• The team played a game of chess to improve their strategic thinking skills.
• We're just playing a game of basketball at the park, wanna join?
• Let's skip class and go play a game of hooky instead.
• Life is like a game where you have to strategize and make the right moves to succeed.