The big picture (image: jodigreen)
The big picture is a complete view of every piece of a business situation. Newly minted MBAs often get caught up in the tactics of their day to day roles, and don’t realize that the goal is to be able to step back and see the big picture. Understanding how your role fits into the overarching strategy of the organization allows you to progress to management roles more quickly.
For example, a manager might say, “Thanks for bringing this idea to my attention. Let’s step back and see the big picture for a second…yes, implementing a just-in-time production system will realize cost savings for inventory, a great story for sales and fresher products for customers. Great job.”
[...] usually contrast the term with the big picture, or strategic view. You might hear, “I don’t need to get down to the nitty-gritty with [...]