Understanding how the strategy formation process interacts with the management of complex work

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse how the strategy formation process takes place studying the relevance of the integrative perspective and the use of the variables rationality, implication and vision, and verifying the relationship between an integrative strategy formation process and the management of work and the consequences of this relationship in terms of performance. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopted a qualitative methodology, specifically a simple case analysis, following a six‐stage process: establishing the research objectives, the theoretical research framework, unit and the level of analysis, selecting the study cases and a pilot case, and ellaborating the protocol for the case study analysis. Findings – An integrative strategy formation process that combines with certain equilibrium rationality and emergence facilitates a more effective management of work, specifically of complex work. When the organisation permits a greater degree of participation, it is facilitating an improvement in organisational results (particularly with respect to professional works – administrative or engineering that add more complexity). Originality/value – The paper highlights the importance of the fit between an integrative strategy formation process and the management of different types of work, considering that a better fit drives to better results.