Strategic management involves analyzing, formulating, implementing, and evaluating strategies to achieve organizational goals. It includes strategic thinking, analysis, formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Mintzberg defined strategy as "a pattern in a stream of actions over time." He described five aspects of strategy: plan, ploy, pattern, position, and perspective. A plan is a purposely formulated course of action. A ploy is a tactic to outsmart competitors. A pattern is consistent actions that have worked in the past. Position is how an organization relates to its competitive environment. Perspective is an organization's culture and collective thinking.