Strategic Practices: An Activity Theory Perspective on Continuity and Change

abstract   This paper draws upon activity theory to analyse an empirical investigation of the micro practices of strategy in three UK universities. Activity theory provides a framework of four interactive components from which strategy emerges; the collective structures of the organization, the primary actors, in this research conceptualized as the top management team (TMT), the practical activities in which they interact and the strategic practices through which interaction is conducted. Using this framework, the paper focuses specifically on the formal strategic practices involved in direction setting, resource allocation, and monitoring and control. These strategic practices are associated with continuity of strategic activity in one case study but are involved in the reinterpretation and change of strategic activity in the other two cases. We model this finding into activity theory-based typologies of the cases that illustrate the way that practices either distribute shared interpretations or mediate between contested interpretations of strategic activity. The typologies explain the relationships between strategic practices and continuity and change of strategy as practice. The paper concludes by linking activity theory to wider change literatures to illustrate its potential as an integrative methodological framework for examining the subjective and emergent processes through which strategic activity is constructed.     

Social Change: Measurement and Theory*

Societal change, which takes a variety of directions and forms and in no way can be assimilated or reduced to a single dimension, is often accompanied by a perception of insufficient understanding and lack of control. There is a frustrated need for mastering complexity and instability, separating the voluntary from the involuntary, the intended from the unintended, opportunities from risks, getting to the real causes and dominating the uncertain implications of social change. Social change catches us unprepared and confused. In this context statistics are generally considered a fundamental instrument of knowledge, but also part of the problem! In the public debate and in the specialized literature, the ability to measure social phenomena through current statistics and indicators is increasingly questioned. Data-it is claimed-are lacking, particularly longitudinal data; their quality (accuracy, relevance, timeliness, comparability, etc.) should be improved; indicators do not provide early warning signals, policy performance evaluation, and a precise indication of outcomes. Statistics cannot be used as a reliable and timely basis for decision making by individuals, organizations, governments, and for understanding these decisions. In some cases, statistics have been accused of giving a misleading and false picture of reality: do we measure the real extent of social exclusion and unemployment? Do we fully capture the quality of life and the degradation of the environment? Mismeasurement has been deemed by some commentators as being responsible for the wrong focus in inflation and stabilization policies, science and technology, unemployment and poverty. The productivity paradox, the informal economy, failure to measure welfare and the quality of urban life are instances where statistics do not seem to provide complete and satisfactory answers to the demand for information and knowledge. Our paper illustrates how, quite independently of measurement techniques and data production processes, the inadequacy of the conceptual framework may explain mismeasurement in relation to complex (multidimensional) and dynamic social phenomena. It is then to social theories, explanations and interpretations that statisticians need to turn, in order to come to grips with the new challenges in social measurement. We will develop this thesis looking at a few cases where measurement issues can be connected to both theoretical and empirical difficulties. The statistical gap which reveals itself in the mismeasurement or difficult measurement of social phenomena is closely interconnected with the social science gap. Only close collaboration between statisticians and social scientists can bring about continuous advancement in social science and quality improvement in social statistics.     

实物期权理论在战略转换中的应用探讨

在高度不确定的动态竞争时代,通过战略转换(strategic change)维持战略柔性(strategic flexibility)是企业应对变化的一种有效方式.而获得战略柔性的有效途径是在战略管理中引入期权的思想和方法.实物(不动产)期权作为一种定量分析工具,在企业战略中具有重大的潜在应用价值.本文通过分析期权思想与战略管理的联系,尝试将期权思想应用于战略转换中,构建了战略转换的期权模型.     

西方积累的社会结构理论研究的最新趋向

积累的社会结构(Social Structure of Accumulation,简称SSA)理论是激进政治经济学领域最重要的理论创新之一,该理论有着坚实的马克思主义经济学渊源。西方激进主义经济学者对该理论的研究成果众多,创新不断。本文将该理论研究的最新趋向归纳为三点:一是西方激进主义学者开始从宏观的角度重新思考和构建或者说是界定一种新的可以认知资本主义发展的SSA理论框架;二是西方激进主义学者开始对SSA的形成;三是发展中的机制和要素进行探讨和西方激进主义学者开始从积累的社会结构角度解读中国模式,并且对西方激进主义学者在这三个方面的研究方法和研究进展进行了深入评析,希望能对国内学者在认识和研究SSA理论时提供一些方向性的研究素材。     

The Strategic Integration of Assessment and Development Practices: Succession Planning and New Manager Development

Christopher Mabey and Paul Iles review various dimensions of the ‘strategic’ integration of human resource policies and explore ways in which such integration might be promoted through a career management focus. the argument is illustrated with reference to the use of development centres in the National and Provincial Building Society and a new management development programme at Rank Xerox respectively. Christopher Mabey is Head of the Centre for Human Resource and Change Management at the Open University Business School and Paul Iles is Professor of Human Resource Development at the Liverpool Business School and Director of its Centre for Human Resource Development.     

基于平衡计分卡理论的企业社会责任战略管理研究

本文借助平衡计分卡理论将企业社会责任融入企业战略管理规划中。通过分析平衡计分卡四个层面与企业社会责任四项指标的结合,与此同时阐述了企业实施社会责任战略管理的合理性与必然性,为企业进行社会责任战略管理提供理论基础。     

中小企业战略管理系统的建立和完善

中小企业的健康成长对国民经济的可持续发展具有重要意义。本文将首先阐述企业战略管理系统的含义和影响因素,然后揭示目前中小企业在战略管理方面存在的问题,进而介绍企业战略管理系统的建立程序,根据不同企业规模和发展阶段,设计不同的企业战略管理系统,以达到提高企业生产效率,促进社会经济平稳健康发展的目的。     

企业战略管理理论演进的内在逻辑与实现路径分析

企业为什么能够盈利以及怎么获得超过行业平均利润的经济租金是战略管理领域研究的基本永恒问题,企业所拥有资源和能力如何与其所处环境相匹配成为其解决思路。通过回顾相关理论,概况总结了企业战略管理的三个发展阶段：古典战略理论、新古典战略理论与产业创新战略理论。在此基础上,以企业是否动态权变适应环境,划分企业战略管理为静态战略管理和动态战略管理阶段,进而总结出企业动态战略的运作模式,认为战略管理的最终目的就是为了向顾客传递价值并吸引那些有需要和有购买力的顾客。     

The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Practices and Global Social Responsibility

The present study explored whether there was a correlation between global social responsibility and transformational leadership using the Global Social Responsibility Inventory and the Student Leadership Practices Inventory existed. The findings showed a positive correlation between transformational leadership and global social responsibility. Specifically, four of five variables on the Student Leadership Practices Inventory, an instrument that measures transformational leadership, correlated with global social responsibility (prosocial behavior) as measured on the scale of Global Social Responsibility Inventory.     

Research in the Strategic Theory of the Firm: 'Isolationism' and 'Integrationism'

It has been increasingly often argued that strategy research should aim for a 'strategic theory of the firm', that is, a theory explains the existence, boundaries, organization and competitive advantage of the firm within a unified theoretical framework. This paper discusses two archetypal strategies in research in the strategic theory of the firm, namely 'isolationism' and 'integrationism'. While the former is representative of the positions that either the knowledge-based view or the modern economics of organization can develop into full-blown strategic theories of the firm, the integrationist strategy stresses that progress is more likely to emerge from a combination of insights and research procedures from both the knowledge-based view and the modern economics of organization. The paper argues in favour of integrationism. In addition, the paper presents some novel criticisms of both the knowledge-based view and the modern economics of organization.     

Quantum Theory and Social Economics:

A bstract . The holistic approach of quantum theory is investigated as a tool for social economists to analyze and to interpret socioeconomic reality and paradigms. The link between quantum theory and the social economist's approach to socioeconomic reality, i.e. , the "what is," rests on the premise that each element of the socioeconomic universe relates to the whole system and vice versa. In other words, the meaning of each part is to be found in its implicit reflection of the whole of reality; it has no meaning exclusive of the whole. In terms of quantum theory, investigations of microeconomic processes are interwoven with the macroeconomic frame of reference of the observer. The very act of observation is to be considered as an integral part of the observed system.     

基于组织论视角的企业战略审计分析

从组织论和战略审计的基本理论出发,结合我国企业经营管理的实际,对战略审计的主体和审计流程进行了分析和探讨。     

Trending Now: Digital Leadership Education Using Social Media and the Social Change Model

The current article examines social media applications as a tool for positive social change. The number of users on applications from Facebook to Twitter and Instagram continues to increase in all demographics. These tools are being integrated into our daily activities and challenging boundaries, roles, and even possibilities globally. Currently, there exists a gap in developing competent leaders capable of leading change using social media. Education leaders and leadership education programs can adapt the values of the Social Change Model to reflect and apply digital competencies to their practice. Digital leadership requires reflection on online self‐awareness and congruence, grappling with the controversy that comes with cyber civility and how to be a digital citizen prepared to inspire positive social change.     

动态环境下企业战略理论发展的启示

本文对动态环境下的五种典型战略管理理论（企业生态系统演化理论、战略联盟、战略风险管理、边缘竞争理论以及“战略转折点”理论）的发展进行了梳理和剖析,讨论了这些理论的贡献及适用条件。在此基础上,分析了这些理论自身及相互关系中尚未厘清的问题,提出了进一步研究的方向和启示。     

西方资本结构理论的新发展:一个理论综述

资本结构理论是现代公司财务理论研究中十分重要的部分。西方资本结构理论研究的目的在于从理论上解释决定企业资本结构的主要因素,揭示企业资本结构与企业市场价值及企业财务行为的内在关系,为企业投融资决策提供理论基础。从20世纪70年代开始,以产权理论、代理理论、信息不对称理论及产业组织理论为核心的新资本结构理论,突破了MM定理研究框架的束缚,开拓了资本结构理论研究的一个更为广阔的领域。本文对自20世纪70年代中期以来西方资本结构理论的新发展作一综述,以期为转轨时期的我国公司的投融资决策提供一些有益的启示和借鉴。