All or nothing? Strategizing practices and outcomes in strategy tool development processes

Gary T. Burke, Carola Wolf

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputConference publication

Abstract

This study analyzes strategy tool development inside organizations, invoked as a response to pluralistic and ambiguous environments. Drawing on an extensive ethnographic study conducted at a multidivisional engineering and construction company we advance theory related to strategy tools-in-use. We explain the strategy tool development process, detailing constitutive practices such as ‘articulating’, ‘challenging’, ‘debating’ and ‘modifying’, that drive this process and unpack the unintended affordances of strategy tool creation. We argue that these affordances, which emerge throughout the tool development process, serve as enablers of collaborative strategizing by creating reflective and discursive spaces for strategy work. The paper sheds new light on the value of toolmaking and how this activity can help organizations navigate complex strategic problems.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2017 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2017
PublisherAcademy of Management
Volume2017-August
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2017
Event77th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2017 - Atlanta, United States
Duration: 4 Aug 20178 Aug 2017

Publication series

NameAcademy of Management Proceedings
PublisherAcademy of Management
Number1
Volume2017
ISSN (Print)0065-0668
ISSN (Electronic)2151-6561

Conference

Conference77th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta
Period4/08/178/08/17

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