System Dynamics and Strategy: Towards Compelling Behavioural Theories of Strategic Dynamics

摘要

There are increasing opportunities for work at the intersection of system dynamics and strategy to make important contributions to mainstream strategy thinking and practice. Strategy scholars are calling for and need theories (models) to explain the dynamics of strategy phenomena to complement the large volume of work that has examined cross-sectional differences among firms and industries. There is also a burgeoning behavioural movement in strategy to incorporate realistic cognitive assumptions in managerial decision making in place of the optimizing assumptions of perfect rationality. Scholars working at the intersection of system dynamics and strategy are well positioned to build compelling behavioural theories of strategic dynamics that penetrate the strategy mainstream. However, there are other competing ideas and methods and there are significant challenges to overcome. This article lays out the promising opportunities and, we hope, helps point the way for future research.