Introduction: What Is Strategy as Practice?

Abstract

Strategy as Practice (SAP) has emerged as a distinctive approach for studying strategic management, strategic decision-making, strategizing, strategy-making and strategy work (Jarzabkowski, Balogun and Seidl 2007; Johnson, Melin and Whittington 2003; Whittington 1996). In recent years, SAP research has become more popular than ever (Jarzabkowski, Seidl and Balogun 2022; Kohtamäki et al. 2022). SAP provides not only an organizational perspective into strategic decision-making but also a strategic angle for examining the process of organizing, and thereby it serves as a research programme and social movement for connecting contemporary strategic management research with organizational studies. This third edition of the Handbook offers an updated and forward-looking reflection about what we have learned and how to make the most out of this powerful perspective in future research.