Sithulisiwe (Thuli) Mazwi

Towards a more holistic approach to strategy

Country of Origin: Zimbabwe

Supervisors: Dr Petia Sice, Dr Jim Platts (Cambridge University), Shelagh Keogh, Prof Maia Angelova

Title of work:Towards a more holistic approach to strategy

Description:

The aim of this research is to develop a holistic approach to strategy looking at strategy as a dynamic pattern.

This research proposes to study and develop an approach to understanding strategy as a dynamic pattern, using insights and tools from social network analysis, complex systems theory, actor network theory, systems thinking, dissipative systems theory and complex responsive processes to model the evolution of local interactions and the emergence of the strategy pattern. This will contribute to understanding the major features of the social network of interactions that influence its behaviour and thus allow making tangible recommendations for effective intervention.

Current strategy theories are based on a few common assumptions on what organisations are.  These assumptions bring to question if these theories are different perspectives of the phenomena of strategy as the fable of seven blind men and an elephant.  Do we then need a more holistic strategic approach?