Strategic thinking competency and business growth | |
| Author | Polboon Nuntamanop |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.SM-13-02 |
| Subject(s) | Business planning Strategic planning Business planning Strategic planning |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements forthe degree of Doctor of Philosophy in International Business |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This researchstudy aims to find new insights aboutstrategic thinking, answering aresearch questionof what constitutes the strategic thinking that drives strategy formulation and strategic actionsleading to business growth. To find new knowledge, the research applied Straussian grounded theoryresearch methodology. Using a purposive sampling approach, the sample cases include twelve business leaders of leading growth companies in their respective industries, representing eleven different industries in Thailand.Data were collected and validated using multiple sources and techniques: in-depth interviews, observations, an extensive review of literature, and companies’ related published documents. Multiple sources of data help reducing a weakness of the in-depth interview data inquiry method in terms of potential bias towards positive information.The empirical study confirms the links between business growth and strategic actions, strategic actions to strategies, and strategies to objectives. The study found that information play significant role in all steps of business management. Convertingtheinformation to meaningful directions and actions requires strategic thinking. The study found seven characteristics of strategic thinking:conceptual thinking ability, visionary thinking,analytical thinking ability, synthesizing ability, objectivity,creativity, and learningability. This set of abilities and skills is termed ‘Strategic thinkingcompetency’. The study concludes that ‘strategic thinking competency’ has an impact on strategy formulation and strategic actions, leading to business growth. The original value of the research is the development of the model of ‘Strategic Thinking Competency’ with seven characteristics consideringstrategic thinking from individual competency point of view. The result of this study, the model,offers a framework for developing strategic thinking competency of business leaders and for designing human resource development programs. A number of literatures indicate that better strategic thinking help improving efficiency and effectiveness of businesses. Recognizing a limitation of qualitative research method in terms of not having statistical significant and interpretation and a limited generalization of the model at this stage, further quantitative study of the model is encouraged.In addition, more insightful studies on the impact of other competency of business leaders on business performances would be useful. |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Publication code=SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kauranen, Ilkka (Co-Chairperson) ;Igel, Barbara (Co-Chairperson);Kauranen, Ilkka (Co-Chairperson) ;Igel, Barbara (Co-Chairperson); |
| Examination Committee(s) | Hadikusumo, B.H.W. ;Swierczek, Fredric W.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Crimson Consulting Co., Ltd., Thailand; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2013 |