Looking for theories in strategy studies

Luca Zan

Scandinavian Journal of Management, 1990, vol. 6, issue 2, 89-108

Abstract: This paper focuses on the need for critical reflection on the theoretical/methodological characterization of that broad area of research referred to here as "strategy studies". The aim is to point out some of the features of this field that distinguish it from other scientific ambits (in particular from prevailing approaches in economics and organizational theory). The thesis I shall seek to demonstrate is that two main limitations can be identified in the evolution of thinking on this subject: the strong prescriptive vein and the so-called "rationalism". The first calls for a revision in terms of descriptive theories of what is usually put in normative/prescriptive terms. From the analysis of the pivotal concept of the field -- strategy -- the underlying conception of the firm as a unique entity emerges as the most important theoretical contribution common to strategy studies. The second certainly calls for a closer examination and a deeper discussion of methodological issues. Rather than "rationalism", what emerges is a curious methodological contradiction in this field: intentionalism -- or "constructivist rationalism" -- in representing organizational processes (the dynamics of decision-making), applied to a conception which is in itself to a large extent evolutionary.

Keywords: Strategy; decision-making; theory; of; the; firm; complexity; interactionism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1990
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/095652219090018C
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:scaman:v:6:y:1990:i:2:p:89-108

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/872/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... me/872/bibliographic

Access Statistics for this article

Scandinavian Journal of Management is currently edited by Janne Tienari

More articles in Scandinavian Journal of Management from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().