Patterns in Strategy Formation - 1504 Words

A critical summary of the article â€Å"Patterns in strategy formation† written by Henry Mintzberg, published in Journal Management Science Vol. 24, No. 9, (1978) A short overview The paper,†Patterns in strategy formation†, outlines a new kind of description to the much misunderstood process of strategy formation in organizations. After giving a short summary of the theme, the author, Henry Mintzberg, describes the term â€Å"strategy† and shows how the definition leads to the choice of a research methodology. Following this, he details the four steps of research methodology. With to completed, major studies about two organizations (Volkswagenwerk and the United States government in Vietnam) Mintzberg analyzes three central themes. The first†¦show more content†¦Patterns of strategic change According to Mintzberg, patterns of strategic change are never steady, but rather irregular and ad hoc, with a complex intermingling or periods of change, continuity. Even so, he recognizes some patterns in strategy formation that may enable organizations to understand better their strategic situations. The first pattern is the life cycle of an overall strategy, based on four phases: conception, elaboration, decay and death. The author illustrates that the case of Vietnam represents the classic strategic life cycle. The second pattern is the presence of periodic waves of change and continuity within the life cycle. This second pattern suggests that strategies do not commonly change incrementally. Rather, change takes place in spurts, each followed by a period of stability. Mintzberg notes, that nowhere is the change-continuity cycle better demonstrated than in the stepwise escalation of the Vietnam metastrategy. According to the author, the reason for the periods of change and contin uity is that human do not react to phenomena continuously, but rather in discreet steps, when changes are large enough to be perceived. In a similar manner, strategic decision processes in organizations are not continuous, but irregular. Based on both studies, Mintzberg notes, that there are dangers in incremental changes. He argues thatShow MoreRelatedThe Strategy As An Intendant Plan1364 Words   |  6 PagesThe Strategy can be defined as an intendant plan designed to achieve a particular long term goal. However, Mintzberg suggests that in a business context a strategy is more than just a plan. He suggests that â€Å"it is a pattern that is found in a stream of actions, a market position, and the organisation s perspective† (Pearsall, 2001). In 1985 Walters and Mintzberg introduced the idea of a strategy as consisting of two elements: emergent strategy and deliberate strategy. This view was supportedRead MoreTen Schools of Thoughts of Strategic Management1641 Words   |  7 PagesTOPIC: TEN SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT TEN SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 1. The Design School. 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