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Defining Strategic Flexibility

  • Strategic Flexibility
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Abstract

This article presents a review of the literature about the term strategic flexibility. It analyses various components and definitions of strategic flexibility and concludes by defining the term for the purpose of our doctoral research. Using previous research about strategic flexibility, this article discusses the many components and definitions of strategic flexibility. Rather surprisingly, strategic flexibility has been considered by research in a variety of academic disciplines such as strategic management, economics, organization, theory and marketing and therefore, there is a diverse array of views about how to define this term. Strategic flexibility is often discussed ‘alongside’ such terms as strategic choice, strategic manoeuvrability and strategic options. This article found that previous research had developed ‘operationalised’ definitions based upon the specific needs of their studies. Consequently, there has not been a ‘proven’, agreed definition of strategic flexibility. It is suggested that this article adds to our general understanding of the term by advancing a general definition of strategic flexibility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, W.A., 6009, Australia

    Norman Roberts & Gary J. Stockport

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  1. Norman Roberts
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  2. Gary J. Stockport
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Correspondence to Norman Roberts.

Additional information

Norman Roberts is a doctoral student at the University of Western Australia Business School. He obtained his Post Graduate Diploma of Business Administration in 2003; an MBA International in 2004; and then a Master of Management Research in 2007. His research interests focus on business strategy, strategic flexibility and company performance.

Gary J. Stockport is Professor in Strategic Management and Director of the Executive MBA (EMBA) Program within The University of Western Australia (UWA) Business School. Gary is also Visiting Professor at Danube University Krems in Vienna, Austria. In 2007 he was awarded the Commendation for Excellence in Teaching (Postgraduate Coursework) from UWA Business School. Professor Stockport has consulted for a number of organizations all over the world and he is globally experienced on teaching on specialist and generalist Executive Programs. This includes running Executive Programs for BHP Billiton in Australia and South Africa.

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Roberts, N., Stockport, G.J. Defining Strategic Flexibility. Global J. Flexible Syst. Manage. 10, 27–32 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03396553

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