Abstract:

The aim of the paper is to contribute to the research on strategic thinking through identification of strategic thinkers’ types and their potential impact on the process of strategy formulation in an enterprise. The aim has been realized by answering the following research questions: RQ1. What is the basic understanding of the strategic thinking concept?; RQ2. What are the features of the strategic thinkers orientation and their thinking style, distinguishing them from other kinds of leaders?; RQ3. What are the differentiating characteristics within the strategic thinkers population?; RQ4. Which methodology might be proposed to effectively examine strategic thinking and strategic thinker types? The method that has been used is a systematic and critical literature review of the strategic thinking concept. The methodology proposed for the next research step involves a qualitative approach with purposive sampling by means of semistructured in-depth interviews conducted amongst 18 strategic thinkers selected on the basis of specific inclusion criteria. Ultimately, a quantitative study with a large-n and randomized research sample is planned to be implemented. The overarching findings are as follows. Firstly, the strategic thinking concept significantly complements the strategic management field. Secondly, strategic thinking is involved in the two sub-realms in strategic management, namely Mintzberg’s and Porter’s. Thirdly, strategic thinking is at most perceived as an individual activity leading to changes at the organizational level and it reveals the premises of strategic leadership embedded in the strategic management field. Moreover, there are two main features distinguishing strategic thinkers from other leaders: a strategic long-term orientation and a reflective thinking style. Additionally, selected exemplary differentiating features of strategic thinkers have been investigated, namely: the acceptance of uncertainty and changes, influencing future, processing information and decision making, collectivity as well as frequency and intensity of the strategic thinking disposition. They will be the basis for development of strategic thinkers’ typology The findings fill the research gap in the management science concerning a lack of specific differentiating hallmarks of strategic thinkers and revise the current knowledge in the strategic thinking realm, Identifiable characteristics of strategic thinkers can be a good predictorof managers roles and capabilities in the process of formulating a strategy and responding to the environmental conditions. The differentiating features of strategic thinkers selected at the first research stage will contribute to the development of the state of the art within strategic thinking both theoretically (identifying a typology of strategic thinkers) and methodologically (enhancing multi-level studies).