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Choice, chance, and inevitability in strategy

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  • Mark de Rond
  • Raymond‐Alain Thietart

Abstract

We propose a theory to manage the uneasy relation between strategic choice, chance, and determinism (or inevitability). To do so, we locate arguments in intellectual history that have a clear bearing on this relation. We introduce and defend four conjectures that outline the relationship between each of them and their comparative significance. The paper thus aims at achieving three objectives: (a) to articulate a philosophically sustainable theory of strategic choice that corroborates experience (without being induced by it); (b) to synthesize what remains one of the most sustained debates in strategy, namely the nature, role, and relation of choice, chance and determinism; and (c) to contribute to developing a foundation for multilevel research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark de Rond & Raymond‐Alain Thietart, 2007. "Choice, chance, and inevitability in strategy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 535-551, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:28:y:2007:i:5:p:535-551
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.602
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Shi & Brian L. Connelly & Jeremy D. Mackey & Abhinav Gupta, 2019. "Placing their bets: The influence of strategic investment on CEO pay‐for‐performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(12), pages 2047-2077, December.
    2. Derbyshire, James & Wright, George, 2017. "Augmenting the intuitive logics scenario planning method for a more comprehensive analysis of causation," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 254-266.
    3. Abatecola, Gianpaolo, 2014. "Research in organizational evolution. What comes next?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 434-443.
    4. Bohnsack, René & Kurtz, Hannes & Hanelt, André, 2021. "Re-examining path dependence in the digital age: The evolution of connected car business models," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    5. Raghu Garud & Arun Kumaraswamy & Peter Karnøe, 2010. "Path Dependence or Path Creation?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(4), pages 760-774, June.
    6. Gianpaolo Abatecola & Gabriele Mandarelli & Sara Poggesi, 2013. "The personality factor: how top management teams make decisions. A literature review," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 17(4), pages 1073-1100, November.
    7. Daniele Tumidei & Constantinos Alexiou & Michael Bourne, 2021. "A choice and inevitability framework in strategic management: empirical evidence of its real-life existence," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1729-1766, August.
    8. Santos, Susana C. & Caetano, António & Brochado, Ana, 2023. "Why am I so successful? Self-presentation and deliberative attributions of success in entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    9. Jean‐Philippe Vergne & Rodolphe Durand, 2010. "The Missing Link Between the Theory and Empirics of Path Dependence: Conceptual Clarification, Testability Issue, and Methodological Implications," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(4), pages 736-759, June.
    10. repec:hig:fsight:v:17:y:2023:i:4:p:80-91 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Ursula Weisenfeld, 2009. "Serendipity as a Mechanism of Change and its Potential for Explaining Change Processes," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 20(2), pages 138-148.
    12. Ohid Yaqub, 2016. "Serendipity: Towards a taxonomy and a theory," SPRU Working Paper Series 2016-17, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    13. Perren, Lew, 2013. "Strategic discourses of ‘competitive advantage’: Comparing social representation of causation in academia and practice," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 235-246.
    14. Raymond-Alain Thietart, 2016. "Strategy dynamics: Agency, path dependency, and self-organized emergence," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 774-792, April.
    15. Eric von Hippel & Georg von Krogh, 2016. "CROSSROADS—Identifying Viable “Need–Solution Pairs”: Problem Solving Without Problem Formulation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 207-221, February.
    16. Jan-Erik Vahlne & Jan Johanson, 2017. "From internationalization to evolution: The Uppsala model at 40 years," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(9), pages 1087-1102, December.
    17. Manuel Hensmans & George Yip & Gerry Johnson, 2011. "Traditions of Renewal - How four traditions linking emotion and cognition in different ways allow for strategic renewal ahead of one’s time," Working Papers CEB 11-020, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    18. Markus A. Fitza, 2017. "How much do CEOs really matter? Reaffirming that the CEO effect is mostly due to chance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(3), pages 802-811, March.
    19. Horner, Sam & Jayawarna, Dilani & Giordano, Benito & Jones, Oswald, 2019. "Strategic choice in universities: Managerial agency and effective technology transfer," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(5), pages 1297-1309.
    20. Jerker Denrell & Christina Fang & Chengwei Liu, 2015. "Perspective—Chance Explanations in the Management Sciences," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 923-940, June.

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