Warfare and strategy during World War I reflected a general trend of what?

It reflected a general trend of Industrialization and mechanization.

Both Industrilization and Mechanization played an important role in World War I:

It allowed new technology to be produced faster than in the past. Vehicules were commonly seen in WWI for the first time. They were used not only to transport people but also to carry armament. The mass production of new weapons increased.

Warfare and strategy played a crucial role during the development of the First World War. During World War I new military strategies and modern tactics were conducted as a different type of warfare. Trenches warfare which was intended to protect soldiers from the enemy's attack became a new trend to fight the war. This war tactic started to be commonly used on the Eastern Front and the Western Front during WW1. In trench warfare, the two sides dug trenches in a battlefield so as to stop the enemy from advancing. Not only did soldiers protect themselves from the enemy's artillery but also used these trenches as shelter; the area between the opposing trench lines was fully exposed to fire from both sides.

Industrialization and mechanization reflected a new trend during those years (1914-1918) due to the development of military technology such as new weapons (grenades, poison gas, modern artillery, etc.). The development of warplanes, submarines and tanks provided armies with innovative tactics so as to control the battlefield. As a result, mass production in factories transformed standardised guns, bullets as well as uniforms. The introduction of new military technology allowed armies to act more effectively so as to achieve their military purposes.