Non-receptive organizational contexts and scenario planning interventions: A demonstration of inertia in the strategic decision-making of a CEO, despite strong pressure for a change

This study presents a single-case analysis of an unsuccessful scenario planning intervention within an organization. Our analysis utilises corporate documents produced prior to a scenario-based intervention, pre-scenario-development interviews with members of the top management team, and knowledge o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inFutures : the journal of policy, planning and futures studies Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 26 - 41
Main Authors O’Keefe, Matthew, Wright, George
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2010
Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects
Chief executive officers
Contingency planning
Decision making
Intervention
Strategic management
Studies
Upper management
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Summary:This study presents a single-case analysis of an unsuccessful scenario planning intervention within an organization. Our analysis utilises corporate documents produced prior to a scenario-based intervention, pre-scenario-development interviews with members of the top management team, and knowledge of post-intervention events. We conclude that, even in the face of strong, orchestrated pressure for a re-think of a fragile strategy, the aspirations of the CEO were dominant. Our case analysis illustrates that inertia in strategic decision making can be extreme—more extreme than the extant literature has recognised. Critical voices can go unheard. We end with consideration of issues to do with facilitating the early recognition that a strategizing intervention can stall.
ISSN:0016-3287
1873-6378
DOI:10.1016/j.futures.2009.08.004