Strategy in theory; strategy in practice
Abstract
The practice of strategy is different from strategic theory. The latter was largely developed by professional soldiers from the experiences of the Napoleonic Wars, and compared the present with the past to establish general truths about war. It used history as its dominant discipline until 1945. The advent of nuclear weapons made history seem less relevant, and prompted the inclusion of other disciplines; deterrence theory also made strategic theory more abstract and distant from the practice of war. Since 9/11, the experience of war has forced strategy to become less theoretical and to do better in reconciling theory with practice.
Citation
Strachan , H F A 2019 , ' Strategy in theory; strategy in practice ' , Journal of Strategic Studies , vol. 42 , no. 2 , pp. 171-190 . https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2018.1559153
Publication
Journal of Strategic Studies
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0140-2390Type
Journal article
Collections
Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Strategy-in-practices : a process philosophical approach to understanding strategy emergence and organizational outcomes
Mackay, Brad; Chia, Robert; Nair, Anup (2020-06-20) - Journal articleEmergence of a firm’s strategy is of central concern to both Strategy Process (SP) and Strategy-as-Practice (SAP) scholars. While SP scholars view strategy emergence as a long-term macro conditioning process, SAP advocates ... -
Local decision-making and sustainable development : LSPs, Sustainable Community Strategies and LAAs
Sustainable Development Commission (Sustainable Development Commission, 2008-11-11) - ReportBy taking a sustainable development approach, local authorities and their partners can play a leading role in delivering integrated environmental, social and economic improvements at the local level. -
Revision of the RDAs’ Regional Economic Strategies and the integration of sustainable development
Sustainable Development Commission; Environmental Resource Management Limited (Sustainable Development Commission, 2002-09-01) - ReportThe SDC commissioned consultants Environmental Resource Management Ltd to undertake a study to explore how different English regions are approaching sustainable development in the review of their Regional Economic Strategies. ...