Here is a really great link on strategic design and implementation.
http://www.simbotics.org/files/first...Strategies.pdf
I was fortunate enough to get to see Karthik present this material at the Championship. READ IT.
Have your team review it, in a meeting. Take time to understand his Golden Rules. They are the pitfalls of most unsuccessful robots. I can't stress how great it is that a Championship caliber team like 1114 is willing to share information like this.
For many teams, the most important thing to remember is the difference between staying comfortable, stretching, and over-reaching. Staying in your comfort zone will often limit your potential. Over-reaching will often end falling flat on your face. Stretching is the balance. Just like with sports, the more often you stretch, typically the farther you can stretch, and the better you will know your limits.