Title: Powerful individuals and their dominant role in organisations: time for reflexivity

Authors: Nol Groot

Addresses: Open University, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT, Heerlen, The Netherlands

Abstract: When we look how managers discuss strategy, we discover that they are interested in making better choices on future strategic issues than before. Most theories focus on decisions about the content of strategy or describe the social processes involved in making decisions in daily practice. What is often not talked about regarding the outcome of these processes is the dominant role of the powerful individual. The outcome pursued by the powerful individual can lead to great success, but also to undeniable disaster. If the strategy is successful, there is appraisal. If the strategy fails, then who is to blame? In this paper, the author proposes that the powerful individual should develop a better reflexive understanding how to deal with own strategic mishaps, using a reflective narrative approach. Talking about these reflective experiences with others can be helpful to better understand the (repetitive) consequences of one's own strategic choices and social interdependencies.

Keywords: powerful individuals; dominant roles; organisational roles; reflexivity; strategy; daily practice; success; disasters; blame; reflexive understanding; experience; narrative; strategic choices; interaction; subjective; research method; uncertainty; surprises; social interdependencies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2016.079337

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2016 Vol.17 No.4, pp.514 - 527

Received: 28 Feb 2015
Accepted: 01 Oct 2015
Published online: 27 Sep 2016 *

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