Strategy...?

What is a strategy?
Planned out action to make, or possibly make, a situation easier or work to ones advantage.
How can you recognize one in action?
*at work?
I work at the journal times newspaper in the packaging center, putting the ads into the middle of the paper. The supervisors plan out which ads will drop first so that the line will run smoother and the paper wont look like shit. They also plan who will drive and help drivers depending on number of bundles and time between each load. Its basic planning, but strategy non the least.
*in sports?
When I was on the swim team, the coach had to plan out who to put in what races based on our opposing team. Due to the fact that we weren't the best, we had to know which swimmer was kick ass on the other team and what races they were most likely going to swim, then we put all of our good people in other races to avoid that hassle and get more points.
*personally?
I lie a lot, probably boarding complusive liar actually. Point being, I lie because I am good at it. I make sure I have a lie set out before I need it. I make a background story based on true facts that are happening, most of the time it is just the time period that they are happening in that is off. I also have a believable excuse/activity that I have done before and isn't completely pulled out of the blue. Everything is believable, and I have this strategy down so well, that I don't have to plan them out and go off the top of my head when need to.
What does it mean that something/someone is strategic?
Basically, they are able to plan out crap easily and efficently. They are good at making plans and following through, thinking two steps a head and all that other non sense. Like a chess player or a Risk player person.