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Becoming Aware of the Unknown: Decision Making During the Implementation of a Strategic Initiative

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  • Ronald Klingebiel

    (Warwick Business School, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom)

  • Arnoud De Meyer

    (Singapore Management University, Singapore 188065)

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes the decision-making process involved in adapting preconceived courses of action during the implementation of a strategic initiative. We observe that the type of decision-making process hinges on the nature of managers' emerging awareness of future events. When managers become aware of new uncertainty, the process involves selectiveness, deliberateness, and diligence. By contrast, when managers become aware of new certainty, the process conforms to the problem-solving adhocracy and decision-making messiness emphasized in prior literature. We summarize our findings in a framework, proposing that decision-level differences in awareness and uncertainty can explain the observed variation in strategic decision-making processes during implementation. We also discuss implications for theory on procedural rationality and analytical comprehensiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Klingebiel & Arnoud De Meyer, 2013. "Becoming Aware of the Unknown: Decision Making During the Implementation of a Strategic Initiative," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(1), pages 133-153, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:24:y:2013:i:1:p:133-153
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1110.0726
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    1. Kunisch, Sven & Keil, Thomas & Boppel, Michael & Lechner, Christoph, 2019. "Strategic initiative portfolios: How to manage strategic challenges better than one at a time," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(4), pages 529-537.
    2. Geovana Alves de Lima Fedato & Vanessa Martins Pires & Guilherme Trez, 2017. "The Future of Research in Strategy Implementation in the BRICS Context," Brazilian Business Review, Fucape Business School, vol. 14(3), pages 288-303, May.
    3. Norbert Steigenberger & Hendrik Wilhelm, 2018. "Extending Signaling Theory to Rhetorical Signals: Evidence from Crowdfunding," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 529-546, June.
    4. Lee, Kangsan & Jeong, Daeyoung, 2023. "Too much is too bad: The effect of media coverage on the price volatility of cryptocurrencies," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
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    7. Adrian Hauser & Fabian Eggers & Stefan Güldenberg, 2020. "Strategic decision-making in SMEs: effectuation, causation, and the absence of strategy," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 775-790, March.

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