Sensemaking and Sensegiving in Strategy Formation Considering Open Strategizing Practices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5020/2318-0722.2024.30.e14678Keywords:
meaning creation; strategy formation; open strategizing; strategy as practice; case study.Abstract
By seeking to understand strategy through the lens of practice, we seek to elucidate the need to create and give meaning, that is, to practice sensemaking and sensegiving in the strategy formation process. The objective of this study was to understand how the sensemaking and sensegiving occurs in the strategy formation process considering open strategizing practices. Qualitative, descriptive research was carried out, through a case study, in an organization in the process of structuring a business school. Data collection took place through semi-structured interviews, document analysis and direct observations. For data analysis, narrative analysis and analysis of behavioral patterns were carried out, after defining the constitutive and operational elements of the study. The main results showed that among the deliberate, emergent and integrative strategies, the latter occurs in a more accentuated way, together with the construction of narratives and meaning creation. When managers create and build meaning, influence and give meaning to the strategy, include and promote the participation of people, sharing and communicating the strategic process with transparency, the strategy seems to produce results that are more consistent with the company’s objectives. As a theoretical contribution we have the advancement and evolution of knowledge in the strategy area, especially with regard to the meaning creation and the open strategizing. As a practical contribution we present the importance of managers (senior and middle management) involving different stakeholders, explaining the importance of creating and assigning meaning to strategic practices.
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