Strategic Decision Making From the Viewpoint of Systems Thinking

2017 ◽  
pp. 98-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejana Zlatanović ◽  
Jelena Nikolić
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Factors Affecting

Growing complexity and diversity of strategic decisions indicate the need for applying the appropriate holistic tools in strategic decision-making. Thus, the paper deals with the process of strategic decision-making from the viewpoint of systems thinking, with emphasis on the role of values and context in strategic decision-making. The main purpose is to show how systems thinking, through selected systems methodologies, can help decision-makers involve different perceptions and values in the process of strategic decision-making, as well as take into account context in which the strategic decisions are made. Considering the key internal and external factors affecting strategic decision-making (characteristics of decision-makers, organizational characteristics and environmental characteristics), Soft Systems Methodology as interpretive systems methodology and Organizational Cybernetics as functionalist systems methodology have been selected. The way in which they can be combined, aimed at improving effectiveness of strategic decision-making, has been presented.

Critical Systems Perspective of Strategic Decision Making

2020 ◽  
pp. 55-80
Author(s):  
Jelena Nikolić ◽  
Dejana Zlatanović
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Critical Systems Thinking ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Critical Systems ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Factors Affecting

Growing complexity and diversity of strategic decisions indicate the need for applying the appropriate holistic tools in strategic decision making. Thus, the chapter deals with the process of strategic decision making from the viewpoint of critical systems thinking, with emphasis on the role of values and context in strategic decision making. The main purpose is to show how systems thinking generally and critical systems thinking particularly can help decision makers involve different perceptions and values in the process of strategic decision making, as well as take into account context in which the strategic decisions are made. Considering the key internal and external factors affecting strategic decision making, the authors have selected three systems methodologies stemming from different paradigms: soft systems methodology as interpretive, team syntegrity as emancipatory, and organizational cybernetics as functionalist systems methodology. The way in which they can be combined, aimed at improving effectiveness of strategic decision making, has been presented.

Analysis and Intuition in Strategic Decision Making

2011 ◽  
pp. 1531-1542
Author(s):  
Zita Zoltay Paprika
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Managerial Skills ◽  
Research Scholarship ◽  
Empirical Tests

Many management scholars believe that the process used to make strategic decisions affects the quality of those decisions. However, several authors have observed a lack of research on the strategic decision-making process. Empirical tests of factors that have been hypothesized to affect the way strategic decisions are made are notably absent (Fredrickson, 1985). This article reports the results of a study that attempts to assess the effects of decision-making circumstances, focusing mainly on the approaches applied and the managerial skills and capabilities the decision makers built on during concrete strategic decisionmaking procedures. The study was conducted in California between September 2005 and June 2006 and it was sponsored by a Fulbright research scholarship grant.

scholarly journals Analysis and intuition in strategic decision making. The case of California

2007 ◽  
pp. 60-67
Author(s):  
Zita Zoltayné Paprika
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Managerial Skills ◽  
Research Scholarship ◽  
Empirical Tests

Many management scholars believe that the process used to make strategic decisions affects the quality of those decisions. However several authors have observed a lack of research on the strategic decision making process. Empirical tests of factors that have been hypothesized to affect the way strategic decisions are made notably are absent. (Fredrickson, 1985) This paper reports the results of a study that attempts to assess the effects of decision making circumstances focusing mainly on the approaches applied and the managerial skills and capabilities the decision makers built on during concrete strategic decision making procedures. The study was conducted in California between September 2005 and June 2006 and it was sponsored by a Fulbright Research Scholarship Grant.

Analysis and Intuition in Strategic Decision Making

2011 ◽  
pp. 20-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zita Zoltay Paprika
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Managerial Skills ◽  
Decisionmaking Process ◽  
Research Scholarship ◽  
Empirical Tests

Many management scholars believe that the process used to make strategic decisions affects the quality of those decisions. However, several authors have observed a lack of research on the strategic decisionmaking process. Empirical tests of factors that have been hypothesized to affect the way strategic decisions are made are notably absent (Fredrickson, 1985). This article reports the results of a study that attempts to assess the effects of decision-making circumstances, focusing mainly on the approaches applied and the managerial skills and capabilities the decision makers built on during concrete strategic decision-making procedures. The study was conducted in California between September 2005 and June 2006 and it was sponsored by a Fulbright research scholarship grant.

An Application of Soft Systems Methodology to Supply Chain Management

2007 ◽  
pp. 254-285
Author(s):  
Ross Smith ◽  
David Mackay ◽  
Graeme Altmann ◽  
Lucas Merlo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
The Uk

This chapter reflects upon techniques that might facilitate improved strategic decision making in a supply chain management (SCM) environment. In particular, it presents the integration of a selection of techniques adapted from an approach to systems-based problem solving that has emerged primarily in the UK over the last 20-30 years—the soft systems methodology (SSM). The results reported indicate that SSM techniques can complement existing SCM decision-making tools. In particular, this chapter outlines a framework for integrating some SSM techniques with approaches based upon the supply-chain operations reference-model (SCOR) .

Understanding how the contextual variables influence political behaviour in strategic decision-making

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Said Elbanna ◽  
Ioannis C. Thanos ◽  
Vassilis M. Papadakis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Behaviour ◽  
Practitioner Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enhance the knowledge of the antecedents of political behaviour. Whereas political behaviour in strategic decision-making (SDM) has received sustained interest in the literature, empirical examination of its antecedents has been meagre. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a constructive replication to examine the impact of three layers of context, namely, decision, firm and environment, on political behaviour. In Study 1, Greece, we gathered data on 143 strategic decisions, while in Study 2, Egypt, we collected data on 169 strategic decisions. Findings – The evidence suggests that both decision-specific and firm factors act as antecedents to political behaviour, while environmental factors do not. Practical implications – The findings support enhanced practitioner education regarding political behaviour and provide practitioners with a place from which to start by identifying the factors which might influence the occurrence of political behaviour in SDM. Originality/value – The paper fills important gaps in the existing research on the influence of context on political behaviour and delineates interesting areas for further research.

scholarly journals Knowing Yourself and Knowing the Others

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-139
Author(s):  
Xiu-bao Yu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
External Information ◽  
Basic Information ◽  
Resources And Capabilities

AbstractThis chapter introduces the basic information for the need of strategic decision-making, including internal key information of the organization, external information. Strategic decision makers are required to conduct analysis and have a deep understanding of the industry trend and of the organization resources and capabilities.

scholarly journals Housing associations diversifying into market renting: local contexts and (re)interpretation shaping strategic decision making

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-20
Author(s):  
Julie Clarke ◽  
Rachel Kirk
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Housing Association ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Housing Associations ◽  
Commercial Activity ◽  
Hybrid Organisations

Within the context of housing associations as fluid third sector hybrid organisations, this article examines the dynamics of strategic decision making in relation to diversification into the market rented sector. A convergence of factors shaped an agenda for associations to engage with such commercial activity, crystallising debates about opportunities versus tensions and the remit of organisations. Qualitative research with senior housing association professionals operating in northern England illustrates the significance of external local and internal organisational contexts in making and justifying decisions; this is highlighted within an emergent typology of organisational responses. Depending on interpretation, the interplay between social and financial justifications varied, including legitimising activity within a broader social purpose. The potential for (re)interpreting parameters illustrates the importance of understanding the variety and complexity of interacting dynamics that influence the strategic decisions of third sector hybrid organisations and what they deliver at the local level.

Varieties of systems thinking: The case of soft systems methodology

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter B. Checkland ◽  
Michael G. Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document