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The Double Edge of Ambiguity in Strategic Planning

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  • Chahrazad Abdallah
  • Ann Langley

Abstract

While the communications and strategy literatures have suggested that ambiguity embedded in texts such as strategic plans many enable the accommodation of divergent perspectives and contribute to building consensus and commitment, little is known about the consequences of such ambiguity for the consumption of strategy discourse or for the enactment of planned strategy. In a case study of strategic planning in a cultural organization, we identify three forms of ambiguity embedded in the strategy text, and show how these features generate different forms of consumption among organization members. We find that strategic ambiguity initially plays an enabling role as participants engage in enacting their respective interpretations of strategy. However, over time, the mobilizing effects of strategic ambiguity lead to internal contradiction and overextension. The study contributes by exploring empirically the double-edged nature of strategic ambiguity, and by identifying the underlying mechanisms by which its paradoxical consequences emerge. We show that while ambiguous strategy discourse enables strategic development and change, it may contain the seeds of its own dissolution contributing to cyclical patterns of strategy development and reorientation.

Suggested Citation

  • Chahrazad Abdallah & Ann Langley, 2014. "The Double Edge of Ambiguity in Strategic Planning," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 235-264, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:51:y:2014:i:2:p:235-264
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/joms.12002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    6. Mohamed Laid Ouakouak, 2018. "Does a strategic planning process that combines rational and adaptive characteristics pay off ? Evidence from European firms," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 43(2), pages 328-349, May.
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    9. Kari Jalonen & Henri A. Schildt & Eero Vaara, 2018. "Strategic concepts as micro‐level tools in strategic sensemaking," Post-Print hal-02312245, HAL.
    10. Marion Varlet & Florence Allard-Poesi, 2015. "Les Conditions de Performativité du Discours Stratégique Analyses et apports d'Austin, Searle, Butler et Callon," Post-Print hal-01490627, HAL.
    11. Charis Vlados & Dimos Chatzinikolaou, 2019. "Strategy Perception and Implementation on Less Developed Business Ecosystems Micro and Small Enterprises: The Service Sector of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace," Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(2), pages 27-63, December.
    12. Rogerio Morais & José Dirnece Tavares Paes, 2020. "Analysis Of Factors Supporting Swot In Organizational Strategic Planning," Management Strategies Journal, Constantin Brancoveanu University, vol. 48(2), pages 38-51.
    13. Kari Jalonen & Henri Schildt & Eero Vaara, 2018. "Strategic concepts as micro‐level tools in strategic sensemaking," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(10), pages 2794-2826, October.
    14. Gary T. Burke & Carola Wolf, 2021. "The Process Affordances of Strategy Toolmaking when Addressing Wicked Problems," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(2), pages 359-388, March.
    15. Marc Fréchet & Hervé Goy, 2017. "Does strategy formalization foster innovation? Evidence from a French sample of small to medium-sized enterprises," Post-Print hal-01623788, HAL.
    16. Gazi Islam & Marie Holm & Mira Karjalainen, 2022. "Sign of the times: Workplace mindfulness as an empty signifier," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) halshs-01958800, HAL.
    17. Schuler, Benedikt Alexander & Orr, Kevin & Hughes, Jeffrey, 2023. "My colleagues (do not) think the same: Middle managers’ shared and separate realities in strategy implementation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    18. Kirsti Malkamäki & Esa Hiltunen & Eeva Aromaa, 2021. "The Role of Trust in the Strategic Management Process: A Case Study of Finnish Grocery Retail Company Kesko Ltd," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 10(1), pages 21-34, April.
    19. Lund, Anne Kamilla, 2019. "Leading knowledge-workers through situated ambiguity," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    20. Charlotte Croft & Gerry McGivern & Graeme Currie & Andy Lockett & Dimitrios Spyridonidis, 2022. "Unified Divergence and the Development of Collective Leadership," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 460-488, March.
    21. Rogério Morais, 2019. "Analysis Of Factors Supporting Swot In Organizational Strategic Planning," Management Strategies Journal, Constantin Brancoveanu University, vol. 44(2), pages 66-78.
    22. Julia VINCENT PONROY & Patrick LÊ & Camille PRADIES, 2019. "In a Family Way? A Model of Family Firm Identity Maintenance by Non-Family Members," Working Papers 2019-015, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    23. Winston Kwon & Ian Clarke & Eero Vaara & Rowan Mackay & Ruth Wodak, 2020. "Using Verbal Irony to Move on with Controversial Issues," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 865-886, July.
    24. Gazi Islam & Marie Holm & Mira Karjalainen, 2022. "Sign of the times: Workplace mindfulness as an empty signifier," Post-Print halshs-01958800, HAL.

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