Towards a Practical Model of Strategy-as-Practice

Strategy-as-Practice is a young research field concentrating on how the strategists actually do strategy. Not being content with the more traditional views of strategy, the central tenet to the field is an understanding that the strength of micro activities of strategy ñ commonly known as strategy practices ñ is what separates performers from non-performers. This paper is an attempt towards building a model that details some of the mechanisms, through which supra-organizational institutionalized practices shape the micro activities and in turn, how the micro activities shape the strategy process. The main merit of the model is viewing these links in unison. The link from the supra-organizational practices is modelled through applying the concepts of routines, strategy methods, strategy concepts and behavioural norms and beliefs. The link from micro activities to the strategy process is built by modelling the main functions strategy practices perform within the strategy process.