Enterprise Strategy Rhythm and Competitive Advantages: A Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Based on the review of 45 domestic and foreign articles from the perspective of time in the strategy management field, this paper makes a comprehensive study on the rhythm of the process of strategic activities. Firstly, the concept of strategy rhythm is defined, and the dynamic characteristics of the execution process of strategic activities are summarized as “strategy rhythm”. Secondly, from the speed and variability of time, it can be divided into four basic types of strategy rhythm: low speed and low variation, high speed and low variation, low speed and high variation, high speed and high variation. On this basis, the main causes of the strategy rhythm of enterprises are analyzed from managers, enterprises and the external environment, and the influence mechanism of strategy rhythm on the strategic effect is further analyzed from the two temporal dimensions of speed and variability, so as to form a research framework of strategy rhythm and competitive advantages. Finally, the future direction is put forward to lay the foundation for the further study of strategy rhythm.This paper mainly has four theoretical contributions: Firstly, from the perspective of time, it analyzes the process of strategic activities and defines the concept of strategy rhythm, which helps to analyze the problems in enterprise strategy management, such as why the same type of strategic activities in different enterprises have different effects, and why different enterprises in the process of strategy implementation present different growth patterns. Secondly, it classifies four basic types of strategy rhythm, which is helpful to have a fundamental cognition of strategy rhythm from the perspective of time, and to further understand the connotation of strategy rhythm and its influence mechanism on the construction of competitive advantages of enterprises. Thirdly, it sorts out the causes of strategy rhythm at the three levels of managers, enterprises and the external environment. The three reasons directly affect the process of strategic activities of enterprises, and to a large extent determine what kind of strategy rhythm enterprises use. By sorting out the main causes of strategy rhythm at three levels, this paper is conducive to further research on the formation of enterprise strategy rhythm. Finally, it discusses the theoretical explanation mechanism of strategy rhythm on competitive advantages. Through sorting out the explanatory theory of the influence of speed and variability on strategy results, it is helpful to deepen the understanding of the double-sided influence of speed and variability on enterprises. The analysis of theoretical explanation mechanism in this paper, on the one hand, is helpful for enterprises to understand their own time management ability in strategy management, that is, the ability to control strategy rhythm; on the other hand, it is helpful for enterprises to further explore the influence and mechanism of different types of enterprise strategy rhythm on their competitive advantages from different theoretical perspectives.