Future empirical research into strategic thinking: does past research provide a definitive foundation?

Gallimore, Kevin (2007) Future empirical research into strategic thinking: does past research provide a definitive foundation? [Conference or Workshop Item] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This paper considers the literature relating to strategic thinking to assess to what extent that literature can be used as a definitive foundation for future research. It explicitly does not aim to provide a definition of strategic thinking. Rather it aims to establish why an attempt to offer such a definition is misguided. Since perhaps the simplest interpretation of strategic thinking is thinking about strategy, the extent to which strategy can be considered a definitive concept is first considered. The literature relating more specifically to strategic thinking is then considered. It is concluded that strategy cannot be considered a definitive concept because the attributes associated with the concept lack clarity and stability. It is further concluded that strategic thinking cannot be considered a definitive concept since the literature fails to provide clear and stable attributes for the concept, or defines strategic thinking in terms of other concepts that are themselves not definitive.