STRATEGY AS PRACTICE IN THE STRUCTURATIONIST PERSPECTIVE: AN ESSAY ON ONTOLOGY OF STRATEGIC PRACTICE IN ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

The Strategy-as-Practice discipline appropriates other theories with converging ontological and epistemological assumptions to build its analytical body, thus this theoretical study offers a discussion on the appropriation of Structurationism Ontology that serves as one of the analytical theoretical structures of Strategy-as-Practice. The analytical procedure is guided by the central goal of discussing the ontological assumptions of Structurationism that support this perspective under the aegis of Strategy-as-Practice in the field of Organizational Strategy. For this purpose, the specific objectives are: a) to conduct a theoretical (albeit not exhaustive) review of Strategy-as-Practice; and b) to conduct a review of Giddens’ Theory of Structuration, followed by c) to offer a discussion on the theoretical/analytical specifics that Structurationism shown in studies of Strategy-as-Practice. The conclusion of the discussion shows adequate ontological agreement with the Structurationist assumptions adopted by the Strategy-as-Practice discipline in the investigation of strategic practice in organizations.