Strategic Renewal and Organizational Change Dynamics
Summary
Strategic renewal encompasses the processes by which organisations redefine their competitive direction, regenerate core capabilities and adapt structures in response to evolving environmental conditions. It is underpinned by both deliberate choices—such as leadership‐driven transformation programmes—and emergent dynamics arising from shifts in technology, regulation or market demand. At its heart lie the tensions between continuity and change: path-dependent legacies can constrain innovation even as agility becomes essential for long-term viability. Successful renewal hinges on effective governance of renewal initiatives, the orchestration of internal coalitions and the alignment of resources to new strategic imperatives. Simultaneously, organisational change dynamics examine the micro- and macro-level interactions that drive transitions, from the mobilisation of change agents and power relations to the sequencing of interventions and feedback loops. Together, these research streams illuminate how firms navigate turning points, balance stability with renewal and architect processes that sustain competitiveness across waves of disruption.
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Strategic Renewal and Organizational Change Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in strategic renewal and organizational change dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Strategic renewal: The process by which an organisation reorients its strategy, resources and structures to achieve long-term competitiveness.
Organisational change dynamics: The patterns and mechanisms through which transformation initiatives evolve, including power relations, sequencing and feedback effects.
Proactive renewal: Deliberate, forward‐looking change efforts aimed at reshaping strategic direction before crisis occurs.
Path dependence: The influence of historical choices and established routines on current strategic options and change feasibility.
Contingency perspective: An analytical approach that links the design of change programmes to specific situational factors and organisational contexts.
References
- What do we talk about when we talk about strategic renewal: a systematic literature review of 40 years of research. Central European Management Journal (2023).
- Strategic renewal: Can it be done profitably?. Long Range Planning (2022).
- Why do firms launch corporate change programs? A contingency perspective on strategic change. Scandinavian Journal of Management (2023).
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