Strategic Thinking and Leadership

Abstract

Strategic thinking, a concept applied primarily to business, can be used in any organization seeking a competitive edge. With its focus on creativity and innovation, this less formal way of drafting a vision for an organization’s future differs from the linear process of developing a strategic plan. The literature on strategic thinking is divided into two camps that focus on strategic thinking as either a part of an organization’s strategic planning process or as a more holistic endeavor within the organization. Both sides agree, however, that it is organizational leaders who are responsible for implementing strategic thinking. In the face of competition and change that exists in today’s market, library leadership can take advantage of strategic thinking in order to move the library forward toward a new and more successful future.