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Listen "#33 General Rules, Specific Cases: Rethinking Strategic Clarity"
Episode Synopsis
Episode Overview:
In this episode, I speak with Jeffrey Roberts, a strategist and organizational researcher who works at the intersection of theory, practice, and decision-making. We discuss how organizations really make strategic choices, and why the hardest part of strategy is often defining the real problem. Jeffrey shares insights on sense-making, systems thinking, and what it means to “muddle through” complexity rather than trying to find the perfect plan.
If you’re interested in strategy, foresight, or how leaders can turn data and uncertainty into better decisions, this conversation is for you.
About Jeffrey Roberts:
Jeff is a Partner in the UK Strategy3 & UK Data Labs practices. A specialist in corporate strategy, organisation design, and business transformation he works with clients to identify commercial growth opportunities and organise to capture them.
He has worked across geographies and sectors helping clients to invent and activate new markets, build novel business models, grow into new categories, value future opportunities, introduce products, define and defend their political interests, transform their operating models, and redesign their organisations for improved performance.
His 20+ year career includes management consultancy and in-house roles (BAT: business transformation and strategy).
He was named by Rethink Retail as a Top Retail expert for 2023, 2024, & 2025.
He holds a PhD in Sociology and frequently lectures on strategy, organisations, and quantitative methods.
Follow Jeffrey’s work here:
LinkedIn
Substack
Books mentioned:
Abbott, Andrew Delano. Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.
Hammond, Richard. Friction/Reward: Be your customer's first choice. Pearson, 2019.
Final note:
If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with your network or leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts, it really helps us grow the conversation.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational and discussion purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Listeners should consult a qualified advisor before making any business or investment decisions.
In this episode, I speak with Jeffrey Roberts, a strategist and organizational researcher who works at the intersection of theory, practice, and decision-making. We discuss how organizations really make strategic choices, and why the hardest part of strategy is often defining the real problem. Jeffrey shares insights on sense-making, systems thinking, and what it means to “muddle through” complexity rather than trying to find the perfect plan.
If you’re interested in strategy, foresight, or how leaders can turn data and uncertainty into better decisions, this conversation is for you.
About Jeffrey Roberts:
Jeff is a Partner in the UK Strategy3 & UK Data Labs practices. A specialist in corporate strategy, organisation design, and business transformation he works with clients to identify commercial growth opportunities and organise to capture them.
He has worked across geographies and sectors helping clients to invent and activate new markets, build novel business models, grow into new categories, value future opportunities, introduce products, define and defend their political interests, transform their operating models, and redesign their organisations for improved performance.
His 20+ year career includes management consultancy and in-house roles (BAT: business transformation and strategy).
He was named by Rethink Retail as a Top Retail expert for 2023, 2024, & 2025.
He holds a PhD in Sociology and frequently lectures on strategy, organisations, and quantitative methods.
Follow Jeffrey’s work here:
Substack
Books mentioned:
Abbott, Andrew Delano. Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.
Hammond, Richard. Friction/Reward: Be your customer's first choice. Pearson, 2019.
Final note:
If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with your network or leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts, it really helps us grow the conversation.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational and discussion purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Listeners should consult a qualified advisor before making any business or investment decisions.
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