Participation Research and Open Strategy

Abstract

In this chapter we focus on participation in open strategy. We examine how the issue of participation has been dealt with in previous strategy literature and elaborate on how research on open strategy can be linked with and advance this body of work. We identify three main views on participation in strategy research: participation as an inherent part of the strategy process, participation as enabled or constrained by practices, and participation as an issue of subjectivity. We then elaborate three distinctively different approaches to participation that might inform our understanding of inclusion in open strategy: open strategy as limited participation, open strategy as co-creation of strategies, and open strategy as 'deep engagement' defining the rules of the game. Based on these approaches, we discuss their implications on open strategy research and suggest a research agenda for future studies of participation in open strategy.

Making connections: Harnessing the diversity of strategy‐as‐practice research

“…In hierarchical organizations, it is important not to applaud limited participation initiatives with incautious talk of 'democratizing strategy' (Stieger et al, 2012). The issue of inclusion and exclusion needs critical investigation, with special attention to actual decision and participation rights and the various ways in which social and organizational practices limit participation (Vaara et al, 2019). As Dobusch et al (2019) found in their analysis of Wikimedia's open strategy initiative, participation can be highly unequal even in non-hierarchical organizations.…”

Becoming a strategist: The roles of strategy discourse and ontological security in managerial identity work

“…As Neeley and Leonardi (2018) have shown for inclusive initiatives using social media, participants in open strategy can easily face confusion, embarrassment, and discouragement. The result may be an effective withdrawal from apparently open strategy processes: employee participation risks ending up as merely "ceremonial," an exercise in "open-washing" (Vaara et al, 2019). We have examined managers, not lower level employees.…”

Revisiting Scenario Planning and Business Wargaming From an Open Strategy Perspective

“…Technology and, in particular, software technology has been described as a key enabler in OS (Vaara et al 2019). The usefulness of applying SP and BW online is one of the main points so far.…”

“…To understand in more detail the dimension of participation, it is useful to highlight various approaches to participation in OS (Vaara et al 2019):…”