Kaltenbrunn Determinants of the Performance of Strategic Initiatives

2009
ISBN: 978-3-8349-8326-8
Verlag: Betriebswirtschaftlicher Verlag Gabler
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 83 Seiten, eBook

Foreword Since the first studies by Bower and Burgelman in the early 1980's on the phenomenon of strategic initiatives, the use of strategic initiatives in the strategic management of diversified organizations now is omnipresent. Strategic initiatives are seen as efficient answers of management teams for pressing challenges. By making use of strategic initiatives, managers can proceed flexibly and with entrepreneurial vigor from broad ideas toward specific commitments. Managing initiatives is perceived as a complex challenge by most managers. Empirical studies show that about 70% of all strategic initiatives fail to reach their goals. This statistic shows us, that successful management and implementation of strategic initiatives requires a multitude of diverse managerial skills. To date, the complexity of strategic initiatives is most often not fully taken into account in strategic management research. Almost all studies investigating strategic initiatives have concentrated either on the external or internal organizational context or have solely identified contextual factors that undermine the successful implementation of strategic initiatives. This underscores the fact that most prior research on the relationship between the organizational context and strategic initiatives is too narrow and suggests the need for a more holistic approach.

While working as a capital investment controller in Munich, Dr. Wolfgang Kaltenbrunn (born in 1979), completed his doctoral thesis at the University of St. Gallen under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Günter Müller-Stewens at the Institute of Management at the University of St. Gallen.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kaltenbrunn, Wolfgang

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Foreword;6
2;Preface;8
3;Contents;9
4;List of figures and tables;11
5;List of abbreviations;12
6;Abstract;13
7;Abstract in German;14
8;1 Introduction;15
8.1;1.1 Research objectives;18
8.2;1.2 Research questions and research methods;19
8.3;1.3 Theoretical perspective;21
8.4;1.4 Assumptions and premises;23
8.5;1.5 Ontology, human nature, and epistemology;25
8.6;1.6 Structure of the PhD thesis;27
9;2 Prior research;29
9.1;2.1 Literature on strategic initiatives;30
9.2;2.2 Literature on organizational context;34
9.3;2.3 Strategy-making: Linking organizational context and strategic initiative performance;38
10;3 Theoretical model and hypotheses;43
10.1;3.1 Hypothesis concerning the centralization of leadership;45
10.2;3.2 Hypothesis concerning decision-making rationality;46
10.3;3.3 Hypothesis concerning initiative member involvement;47
11;4 Methodology;50
11.1;4.1 Methodological approach;50
11.2;4.2 Data collection, survey instrument, and measures;53
11.3;4.3 Analytical strategies;60
11.4;4.4 Summary of the statistical results;68
12;5 Conclusions;69
12.1;5.1 Implications for theory development;69
12.2;5.2 Implications for managerial practice;71
13;Appendixes;73
13.1;Appendix A: Tables;73
13.2;Appendix B: Methodical approach of contextualist analysis;78
13.3;Appendix C: Questionnaire surveys;80
14;References;87

Prior research.- Theoretical model and hypotheses.- Methodology.- Conclusions.

Über Autor(innen)

While working as a capital investment controller in Munich, Dr. Wolfgang Kaltenbrunn (born in 1979), completed his doctoral thesis at the University of St. Gallen under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Günter Müller-Stewens at the Institute of Management at the University of St. Gallen.