The role of C-suite level strategic leaders in enabling adaptive strategy implementation

Abstract

The failure of strategies does not happen at the formulation phase but the implementation phase. The failure of strategy implementation is accounted for by lack of adaptation in implementation. The C-suite level strategic leaders have a role to play to play in drive successful strategy implementation through the phenomenon of adaptive strategy implementation. This study has explored the role of C-suite level strategic leaders through looking at the functions of strategic leaders, attributes they need to enable adaptation and the tools they could use to enable adaptation. This study was underpinned by the theory of dynamic capabilities. It was deemed relevant since it encourages managers to adapt to evolving business environments through sensing, seizing, and transforming phases. Furthermore, it embraces the managerial capabilities.

This was a qualitative study that conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with participants from different industries. The study interviewed participants with the private sector background, experience, and insights.

The core findings of this study indicated that C-suite level strategic leaders need to create enabling organisational culture, communicating strategy, enable collaboration and lead change and adaptation as their function. In addition, they need to have the ability to communicate strategy, changes in timely and transparent manner. Lastly on the tools, this study observed that there is a gap between academia and business on the use of strategy implementation tools.

The research contributed to the body of knowledge through presenting a five-step conceptual framework, implications to C-Suite strategic leaders, academia, and recommendations for further research. The implications to academia are an invitation to intensify research work on drivers of enabling organisational culture and strategy implementation tool. The implications to C-suite level are a call to value communication, communication skills and be the ambassadors of enabling organisational culture for adaptive strategy implementation