Strategizing as Practising: Strategic Learning as a Source of Connection

Abstract

As strategy research has been exploring the dynamic, social and situated nature of the strategy process, so has the role of learning increasingly been recognised as a central feature of strategizing practice. This paper contributes to our understanding of the dynamics of strategizing practice by focusing on the strategic role of learning to integrate the multiple micro and macro forces affecting strategizing practice. In particular the analysis draws attention to the performative nature of practices which underpins their fluid and temporal character. By introducing the notion of practising, to capture this characteristic the focus is less on the reproduction and institutionalisation of practices and more on their multiple forms of representation as these are performed in action and interaction with others in the social context. The analysis of practising strategizing leads to a new conceptualisation of strategic learning as a context of strategizing practise and also positions strategic learning as a strategizing practice itself. It is argued that strategic learning is integral to strategizing practice due to its capacity to connect.