Richard Rumelt 在《好战略，坏战略》这本书中将战略定义为了问题解决，他认为好战略的内核包括了以下四个要素（以古巴导弹危机时肯尼迪总统的演讲为例）：
1. Diagnosis：界定或描述挑战的本质
This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites are now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.
2. Guiding policy：应对挑战的政策
Our unswerving objective, therefore, must be to prevent the use of these missiles against this or any other country, and to secure their withdrawal or elimination from the Western Hemisphere.
3. Action plan：落实政策的行动步骤
To halt this offensive buildup a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation or port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back.