Elmer Fly Steensen
Aarhus School of Business, University of Aarhus
Abstract
The strategy concept is used in management literature to represent, among others, written and oral formulations and narratives, management’s intentions and the general behavioural pattern among the staff of organisations. Based on a review of how the strategy concept has been applied and defined in strategic management literature from the 1970s till today, the article discusses a collective model of five different types of strategy: joint strategy, hidden strategy, false strategy, non-intended strategic potential and realised strategy. It is discussed which mutual relations exist among the types of strategy, and how the strategy of an organisation is comprised internally. Various proposals are put forward as to how management can apply this typology as an inspiration for the process of developing and implementing strategies in organisations and enterprises.
