Navigating Complexity in Strategic Management: The Role of Leadership, Innovation, and Foresight

Purpose: This literature review explores the evolving field of strategic management by focusing on three core themes: strategic decision-making, leadership and organizational effectiveness, and innovation through foresight. It aims to clarify how modern organizations combine analytical methods, leadership dynamics, and anticipatory strategies to navigate complexity and improve performance in uncertain environments Methodology: Using a qualitative integrative review approach, the study synthesizes insights from peer-reviewed articles, conceptual models, and empirical research published from 2013 to 2025. The interdisciplinary sources spanning strategic management, behavioral economics, organizational studies, and foresight facilitate a comprehensive examination of emerging strategic frameworks, emphasizing thematic integration and future-oriented practices. Findings: The review identifies a shift from rigid, traditional strategic models toward dynamic, hybrid approaches that merge rational analysis with behavioral insights, intuition, and foresight. Transformational leadership is highlighted as pivotal for fostering strategic agility, innovation, and resilience. Organizations that embed adaptive learning and cultivate responsive cultures are shown to achieve superior strategic outcomes. Additionally, digital technologies and cognitive tools such as game theory and fuzzy logic enhance decision-making precision and responsiveness. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The review advances theory by proposing an integrated framework that unites cognitive science, leadership theory, and foresight for improved strategic decision-making under uncertainty. Practically, it identifies key leadership skills and organizational processes that enable adaptability and innovation. From a policy standpoint, it calls for support in leadership development, digital adoption, and institutionalizing foresight capabilities. Overall, the findings advocate for adaptive, ethically grounded, and future-focused strategic models suited to the demands of a rapidly changing global context.