Why does the success of a strategy depend so much on how well it is implemented?

In business, as in anything else, a strategy or a plan is
simply a set of words unless it can be carried out in an effective way.  Because of
this, a strategy will only be able to succeed if it is implemented
well.

Let us imagine that a firm creates a beautiful plan
for cutting its costs by getting workers to accept more flexible work rules.  This plan
may look wonderful on paper, but the management will still need to get the workers to
buy in to it.  If management implements this plan poorly, they can antagonize the
workers and the workers will not give the plan their whole-hearted support.  In such a
case, the plan will fail.  This is an example of why a strategy needs to be implemented
well.

Plans are necessary, but plans on their own cannot
cause success.  Instead, plans must be implemented well if they are to
succeed.