Managing uncertainty: Navigating the “unknowns” – Exploring strategic postures to cope with different sources of uncertainty
Type
forthcoming
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract (De)
Do strategic decision-makers’ follow distinct pattern(s) in coping with different sources of uncertainty? We explore this question through an inductive study of multiple case studies in the context of the Volvo Ocean [Sailing] Race 2014-15. Drawing on managerial cognitive capabilities theory, our research identifies four distinct patterns of how strategic decision-makers perceive and cope with uncertainty, which we coin strategic postures: Explorer, Commander, Repressor, and Hedger. As expected by managerial cognitive capabilities theory, strategic decision-makers differed in the way they coped with uncertainty when their perception of it differed. Yet, even when they perceived similar sources of uncertainty, their coping strategy differed. This suggests that the way in which strategic decision-makers perceive and cope with uncertainty may be rooted more deeply in strategic decision-makers’ cognitive underpinnings than previously assumed. Our study also discusses important performance implications suggesting a strategic posture-context fit.
Language
English
HSG Classification
None
HSG Profile Area
None
Refereed
No
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
isabel.alpers@unisg.ch
Eprints ID
257182
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Name
Publication_Paper 1_Dissertation_Alexandria-16Jun19-IA-vf.pdf
Size
508.24 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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