Strategic Management Research Articles

Social dynamics of hyperbole – social media sentiment analysis for hype detection in emerging technologies: a conceptual approach

ABSTRACT This exploratory study introduces a sentiment-based framework for the social dynamics of hype around emerging technologies to support strategic investment decisions and contribute to innovation and strategic management research. Drawing on theories of herding behaviour and information cascades, we analysed social media sentiment of the Reddit discourse and investigated bubbles in representative financial assets across four emerging technology cases ‘Metaverse’, ‘Decentralized Finance (DeFi)’, ‘Non-fungible Token (NFT)’, and ‘Hydrogen Economy’ over one-year periods. Additionally, we compared results against measures of search volumes, news coverage, patent filings, and academic publications. We find two essential characteristics of the social dynamics of hype: intensifying positive sentiment and increasing conformity of sentiment towards a positive majority. Since hype can distort decision-making and hinder objective innovation assessments, this study offers practitioners a sentiment-based approach to navigate speculative hype and support decision-making.

The management accounting system design in family firms: the role of leadership and entrepreneurial orientation

Purpose This study aims to examine how the choice of chief executive officers (CEOs) and the strategic orientation influence the design of management accounting systems (MASs) in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) family firms. Specifically, the authors seek to examine the extent to which the leadership of nonfamily CEO and entrepreneurial orientation toward internationalization can explain the sophistication level of MAS. The study also investigates the indirect effect of MAS sophistication on the economic performance of SME family firms. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on upper echelon theory and the strategic management of family business literature, this study predicts the influence of nonfamily CEOs and international entrepreneurship on MAS sophistication. Survey data from 344 family firms were analyzed using multivariate statistical methods to test the hypotheses. Findings This study found empirical support for a positive influence of nonfamily CEO and international entrepreneurship on the level of MAS sophistication. Furthermore, the authors observed that the impact of appointing a nonfamily CEO on financial performance is contingent upon the implementation of a sophisticated MAS. However, the results did not support the hypothesized moderating effect of MAS sophistication on the relationship between international entrepreneurship and financial performance. Originality/value This paper provides empirical evidence on the impact of recruiting nonfamily CEOs and engaging in international entrepreneurship on MAS sophistication within SME family firms. Furthermore, the analysis confirms that the effect of appointing a nonfamily CEO on economic performance depends on the level of MAS sophistication.

A compartmental modelling methodology to support strategic decision making for managing the elective hospital waiting list; application in England's NHS.

Waiting list models can support improved strategic management of elective hospital care through estimating possible performance impacts resulting from different demand and capacity related interventions. Single-compartment models have previously been used to model the referral 'inflow' and treatment 'outflow' onto a waiting list, with some also considering the outflow of patients reneging from the waiting list before treatment. The conceptual simplicity of these models promotes scalability through aligning to various waiting list problems and routine data sources. However, these single-compartment models are only able to model waiting list size, and not waiting times. To address this, we extend the single-compartment model with reneging to consider a multi-compartment model, where each compartment represents the number of individuals awaiting treatment for progressively longer periods of time. This problem is formulated in discrete time and solved through a series of difference equations. Open-source code for implementing the model is made freely available. To illustrate the versatility of the methodology, the model is calibrated using routine data for the total England NHS waiting list as of year-end 2023 and used to project various scenarios over the following two years to year-end 2025. Model validation is performed through backtesting (running the model on past unseen data), with 0.4% and 4.7% MAPE attained on six and twelve month windows respectively.

Strategic management of barriers in the adoption of Construction 4.0: TOPSIS and 5W2H approach for sustainable development goal integration

Purpose This study aims to identify and rank the barriers to adopting Construction 4.0 and to evaluate the effectiveness of practical strategies for overcoming these challenges, focusing on sustainable development goals (SDGs), technological integration and safety considerations. Design/methodology/approach This research paper identifies barriers related to the adoption of Construction 4.0 in the construction industry through a literature review of peerreviewed journal articles and construction industry experts. The study uses the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to systematically evaluate and rank barriers to the adoption of Construction 4.0. Data were gathered through expert surveys, providing insights from experienced professionals within the construction industry. Then, the strategies were proposed and their effectiveness was evaluated. Also, these strategies were mapped with barriers and SDGs via the 5W2H (i.e., What, Why, Where, When, Who, How, and How Much) approach. Finally, a systematic framework for barrier management was proposed. Findings Results indicate that high initial cost and internal communication issues are the top-ranked barriers, followed closely by project management inefficiencies, lack of funding for innovation and lack of demand. Also, the effectiveness index value for the proposed eight strategies to mitigate the identified 34 barriers is 4.6, which falls between “high effectiveness” and “very high effectiveness.” The study proposes a barrier management framework, providing actionable strategies to address these high-impact barriers for smoother adoption of Construction 4.0. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to the perspectives of developing countries of construction sector professionals and focuses on a specific set of identified barriers. Broader generalizability may require further research across different countries or industries. Practical implications The findings provide actionable insights for construction managers, enabling them to prioritize and implement strategies that address skill gaps, promote technological integration and ensure safety compliance for the smooth adoption of Construction 4.0. Originality/value This research uniquely applies the TOPSIS approach to prioritize Construction 4.0 adoption barriers in the developing countries context, identifying and ranking critical barriers and proposing a decision-making framework that emphasizes sustainability, collaboration and skill development.

Strategic Risk Management in the Age of Cyber Threats: Implications for Financial Institutions

Purpose: This study sought to investigate strategic risk management in the age of cyber threats implicating financial institutions. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the cyber threats. Preliminary empirical review revealed that financial institutions failed to effectively integrate cybersecurity into their strategic risk management frameworks. Cyber risks were often treated as IT issues rather than strategic concerns, leading to reactive responses and a lack of leadership involvement. The study emphasized the need for a shift in how institutions approach cybersecurity, making it a core part of their overall risk management and strategic planning. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended integrating cybersecurity into enterprise risk management, adopting a proactive approach with real-time threat intelligence, and enhancing cross-departmental collaboration. It called for better employee training, clearer regulatory standards, and public-private partnerships. The study contributed to theory by highlighting cybersecurity as a systemic risk and offered practical steps to improve governance and resilience in financial institutions.

Strategic Planning: Intuitive-Anticipatory and Formal Planning System and the History of Strategic Planning: A Conceptual Approach

Strategic planning is interlinked with the entire fabric of management. It is a function and concern of managers at all levels in an organisation. The objectives of this paper is to review strategic planning to explore the conceptual foundations of strategic planning. This study adopts a qualitative method based on an extensive literature review. This study reveals that there are two types of management: that which is completed at the highest of an organisational structure is strategic management; everything else is operational management. Based on the extensive literature review, this study also tries to provide a better understanding regarding the term of strategic planning. It also explains the history of strategic planning from several perspectives.

Cross-Cultural Strategic Management Practices in Global Supply Chains

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore cross cultural strategic management practices in global supply chains. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to cross cultural strategic management practices. Preliminary empirical review revealed that cross-cultural strategic management practices were crucial for global supply chain effectiveness, enhancing communication, leadership, and decision-making. Companies that incorporated cultural intelligence experienced better cohesion and resilience, while those neglecting cultural factors faced inefficiencies. The study highlighted the need for standardized cultural frameworks, emphasizing culture as an underutilized strategic asset in global supply chain management. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory, Institutional Theory and Dynamic Capabilities theory may be used to anchor future studies on cross-cultural strategic management practices in global supply chains. The study recommended integrating cross-cultural competencies into strategic frameworks through leadership training, diverse teams, and adaptive technologies. It called for expanding strategic models to include cultural factors, promoting inclusive management structures, and advocating for policy support on cultural training.

A Comparative Study of Trust and Loyalty among Citizens towards Government and Private Financial Institutions

Trust and loyalty are crucial elements to the financial behaviour of the citizens in any economy. This study presents a comparative analysis of the levels of trust and loyalty exhibited towards government financial institutions and private financial institutions. Using theoretical frameworks and secondary data available, surveys and academic literature, this paper explores how citizens perceive public versus private sector banks. Key drivers of trust and loyalty such as transparency, reliability, service quality, technological efficiency, ethical practices and unexpected crisis handling are evaluated. The study will also explore how loyalty is developed over time and influenced by emotional attachment, previous experiences and the institutional performance etc. Findings show that while government institutions are trusted more for stability and safety security and government backing private institutions often gain customer loyalty through superior personalised product and service delivery and their agility. The paper concludes with suggestions for bridging the trust-loyalty gap across this sector and also highlights the implications for policy and strategic management.

The Influence of Religion on Electoral Politics in Ghana: The 2024 General Election

This paper looks at how religious affiliations and beliefs affect how people vote and which parties they support in the 2024 general elections in Ghana. It focuses on the important role that religious groups play in determining electoral results. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data. It includes surveys that measure voter preferences, interviews with well-known religious leaders, and a thorough analysis of election results based on religious demographics. The outcomes show that many voters base their choices on their religious beliefs, which greatly influences their party support and voting rates. Importantly, religious leaders are found to be major influencers, rallying backing for certain candidates and parties. This highlights the need for political groups to work with religious organizations in a strategic manner. These findings are especially relevant in the context of healthcare, as voter choices driven by religious beliefs can shape health policy goals and funding decisions. By shedding light on the connection between religion and election politics, this study not only deepens understanding of electoral behaviours in Ghana but also encourages a review of health policy frameworks that may be influenced by these political connections. Therefore, the research could improve political strategies, guiding healthcare advocates and policymakers on how important religious beliefs are in forming public opinion and health-related political goals.

International Comparisons and Implications for Regulatory Policy and Management of Artificial Intelligence

With the rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence is becoming an important grip on industrial innovation and an important driver of new quality productivity. However, technological progress also brings challenges such as ethical issues and security issues. The safety and controllability of AI technology is an important part of scientific and technological security, and effective governance and regulation of AI has become a global consensus, while the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom have been at the forefront of international regulation of AI. From a policy perspective, this paper systematically combs through the development of AI regulatory measures in the EU, the U.S. and the U.K., and compares their distinctive practices in the setting of regulatory agencies, regulatory scope and regulatory path. It is found that the AI regulatory models of the EU, the US and the UK have their own characteristics, but there are regulatory commonalities and common trends. Based on this, the paper puts forward countermeasure suggestions for China’s AI regulation, with a view to providing decision-making reference for the formulation of AI regulatory strategies.

Coupled Coordination and Influencing Factors of Tourism Urbanization and Resident Well-Being in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, China

Tourism urbanization has become an important pathway for promoting regional economic growth, optimizing urban spatial structures and enhancing residents’ quality of life, especially in the context of sustainable development. Balancing the relationship between tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being in China’s Central Plains Urban Agglomeration is a key objective for the promotion of sustainable regional development in the context of rapid tourism development. However, few studies have quantitatively explored the spatiotemporal coupling dynamics between tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being at the urban agglomeration scale, leaving a significant gap in understanding their integrated evolution. Therefore, in this study, we constructed an evaluation index system for tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being. Next, we explored the coupling relationship between tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being and its influencing factors in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration from 2005 to 2022 via the coupling coordination degree and random forest approaches. The study’s three major findings are as follows: (1) First, in terms of development level, the tourism urbanization of the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration from 2005 to 2019 generally showed a steady upwards trend, and the well-being of residents as a whole showed a steady development trend; however, there were significant regional differences in the level of development. The spatial differentiation between tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being was characterized by “high in the west and low in the east” and “high in the middle and low in the surroundings”, and the degree of spatial differentiation tended to gradually narrow over time. (2) In terms of the level of coupling coordination, the overall coordination between tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration increased annually and reached the stages of running-in and high coordination. (3) The key factors affecting the coupled coordination of tourism urbanization and residents’ well-being in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration differed significantly over time. The importance of the number of tourists, policy support, and fiscal balance ratio increased significantly over time, whereas the importance of the vegetation index and the distance to the nearest provincial capital city decreased. These findings have valuable implications for urban planning, governance optimization, and the formulation of sustainable development strategies, highlighting the need to strengthen resilience and promote synergistic growth between tourism development and residents’ well-being.

Swedish principals’ adaptive leadership in unprecedented times: Learnings from the pandemic experiences

This study examines Swedish principals’ perceptions of their learnings and leadership development and identifies lasting changes to their leadership practices. Data were collected through a digital survey involving 66 novice principals who had previously participated in the National Principal Training Programme. The qualitative inductive content analysis revealed four key themes: (1) development of adaptive leadership, (2) enhanced communication capabilities, (3) improved preparedness for the unexpected, and (4) development of digital leadership. Principals reported that their experiences fostered adaptive and trust-based leadership, collaborative decision-making, and strategic crisis management. Enhanced digital competencies streamlined operations but challenged social cohesion. The findings highlight how adaptive leadership was key to navigating uncertainty, maintaining organisational stability, and fostering innovation during crises. The study suggests that principals’ adaptive practices, initially developed in response to the pandemic, have become embedded in their leadership strategies, contributing to sustainable improvements in school practice. Implications for future research include exploring the long-term impact of these practices on educational outcomes, resilience, and leadership preparation programs across different national contexts.

What factors, processes, and consequences trigger emotions in strategic management? a systematic literature review

Abstract Strategic management shapes a companys’ future through strategic formulation. Its implementation, therefore success relies on humans with emotions, such as top managers, middle managers, or lower managers. Various factors can trigger emotions that have the power to impact strategic management. Despite its significance, past literature has poorly developed the field. To address this gap, the authors conducted a systematic literature review utilizing the Web of Science and Scopus databases, employing bibliometric techniques to analyze the role of emotions. This study, specifically aimed to uncover the underlying emotional triggers, their impact on strategic processes, and the consequences of such emotional impact. Through this research, five major themes emerged: human resources management, employee-customer relationship and customer experience, decision-making, crisis management, and family business management. The findings led to the development of an integrative framework, highlighting key insights and potential research directions. Ultimately, the research identifies gaps in the literature, paving the way for future investigations into emotions in strategic management.

Strategi Komunikasi Inovatif dalam Mengeliminasi Tuberkulosis di Wonogiri: Studi Kasus Mentari Sehat Indonesia

This study examines communication strategies used in tuberculosis control and increasing treatment compliance in Wonogiri Regency, by highlighting the implementation of community-based health services such as free sputum examination, TB treatment, integrated health post services, patient assistance, and cultural approaches. The communication strategies implemented include door-to-door visits, group communication in integrated health post forums, and local culture-based counseling involving community leaders as trusted communicators. Communication techniques are used to build trust and increase patient involvement in the treatment process. Verzosa's Strategic Communication for Development theory, which emphasizes the importance of systematic communication planning based on community needs. Using a qualitative case study method, data were obtained interviews with purposive sampling and participatory observation, then analyzed using data condensation techniques, data presentation, and drawing/verifying conclusions. Researchers used source triangulation by comparing information from various informants. The results of the study showed that the success elimination program was highly dependent on the active involvement of health cadres, interpersonal communication, and cultural sensitivity in delivering health messages. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of continued cross-level communication and periodic evaluation. Although this program was successful in Wonogiri, its implementation in other areas needs to be adjusted to local demographic and socio-cultural conditions, so further research is needed that covers a wider area for comparative evaluation and formulation of more adaptive health communication strategies.

A Research on Integrating the Vrio Model with Design Thinking: Enhancing Competitive Advantage and Innovation in Start-Ups

The increasing application of Design Thinking across various fields has highlighted its significant impact on entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of new business start-ups . This research examines how integrating Design Thinking with the VRIO model can enhance problem-solving and foster innovation in startups. By combining these two approaches, the study explores how they can strengthen business structures, boost market attractiveness, and secure competitive advantages for new start-ups. Despite growing interest, research on the combined use of Design Thinking and the VRIO model in entrepreneurship remains scarce. This study explores their unique contributions, focusing on how they enhance creativity, strategic resource management, and sustainable growth in startups. Through an analytical and qualitative approach, utilizing interviews with new entrepreneurs and secondary academic sources, the study demonstrates how these models can address business challenges and build lasting competitive advantages, ultimately strengthening startups in competitive markets.

Transformational Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management: A Case of Less Represented Groups in the Fixed Line Telecom Sector

Transformational Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management: A Case of Less Represented Groups in the Fixed Line Telecom Sector

Qualitative evaluation of Thailand's National Tobacco Control Strategy 2022-2027: Challenges and suggestions for policy implementation.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has been aligned with Thailand's National Tobacco Control Strategy (NTCS), which has been implemented for over three decades. However, policy evaluation is essential to improve its effectiveness. This formative evaluation study aims to identify challenges and provide suggestions for implementing the current NTCS 2022-2027 at both national and operational levels. Data collection for this qualitative research involved document reviews and in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyze data from 15 informants who were purposively selected based on their influential positions, expertise, and experience in NTCS implementation. Thailand's NTCS operates through both national and operational stakeholders. The findings revealed multifaceted challenges and suggestions across these levels, categorized into six key areas. First, the gaps in strategic coordination and prioritization reinforced the need to strengthen intersectoral partnerships to achieve tobacco control as a national priority. Second, problems with monitoring as well as evaluation and reporting processes highlighted the need for clearly defined key performance indicators and timelines. Third, role clarity-related gaps at the 'tobacco control focal point' revealed a need for capacity building and strategic management support. Fourth, policy dissemination was impeded by one-way communication modes, emphasizing the importance of two-way communication to foster stakeholder engagement. Fifth, centralized budget management hindered ready matching of resources with regional needs, urging the implementation of decentralized management. Finally, the lack of innovation in tobacco control challenges demonstrated the need for knowledge-sharing mechanisms. The evaluation offers important insights to strengthen NTCS implementation through enhanced coordination, systematic monitoring, capacity development, policy dissemination, allocation of adequate funds, and promoting innovations. These results contribute to the evidence base for effective tobacco control strategy by providing tangible recommendations for policymakers.

Rethinking Business Value: Why Innovation Must Be Customer Outcome-Oriented

such a discussion stems from the radical transformation in how the axiological essence of business activity is perceived in the context of digital transformation. The traditional paradigm, which links the effectiveness of innovation to internal growth metrics, is steadily losing relevance as attention increasingly shifts toward customer outcomes as the ultimate criterion of sustainability and meaningfulness of innovation. The objective of this article is to argue for a shift in evaluating corporate innovation activity through the lens of customer-centric outcomes, rather than viewing it solely in terms of technological advancement or financial indicators. The literature review reveals methodological discrepancies in how the concepts of “value” and “innovation” are interpreted, as well as the lack of a unified conceptual framework that could integrate behavioral, institutional, and digital dimensions of value creation. The absence of coherence in existing approaches complicates the practical application of research findings in strategic management. The analysis concludes that innovations which do not result in perceptible changes for the customer—whether behavioral, functional, or emotional—cannot be considered a sustainable source of business value. The scholarly contribution of this work lies in the systematization of conceptual approaches to value, as well as in identifying axiological conflicts present in the literature. The materials presented are intended to be of use to professionals in strategic management, business model developers, researchers in behavioral economics, and analysts working on product value and customer journey design.

Strategic Management for Sustainable Growth: A Case Study of Song Hong Garment

The Vietnamese textile and garment industry plays a crucial role in the national economy, contributing significantly to export turnover and employment. However, the industry faces intense competition from countries such as China, Bangladesh, and India, alongside rising demands for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance. This research examines the strategic management approach of Song Hong Garment, a leading Vietnamese garment manufacturer, as it seeks to enhance its competitive position through the development of a High-Tech & Green Facility. This paper employs strategic management analysis tools, including SWOT, SPACE Matrix, BCG Matrix, and QSPM, to evaluate the company’s competitive standing and recommend strategic actions for sustainable growth. The findings suggest that by prioritizing sustainable production and expanding its market reach, Song Hong Garment can maintain long-term profitability and industry leadership.

Advancing Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation and Strategic Management Through Nondestructive Testing at Toll Stations

In contrast to maintaining asphalt pavements, maintaining healthy and functional concrete pavements is a much greater challenge due to the especially brittle nature of concrete, which may require a more complex rehabilitation plan. Thanks to nondestructive testing, noninvasive on-site inspections can be carried out to assess a pavement’s condition, with the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) being the most representative example. In this study, five toll stations with concrete pavements in operation, for which no long-term monitoring protocols existed yet, were evaluated mainly with deflectometric tests using the FWD. The objective of the study was to propose a methodological framework to support responsible decision-makers in the strategic management of concrete pavements at toll stations. To meet this aim, a test campaign was organized to evaluate the pavement condition of individual slabs or lanes, assess the durability of the slabs, and determine the efficiency of load transfer across joints and cracks. As a key finding, pavement slab deflections were found to exhibit a considerable range; in particular, a range of 50–1450 μm for the maximum deflection of the FWD was observed. This finding stimulated a distribution fitting analysis to estimate characteristic values and thresholds for common deflection indicators that were validated on the basis of pavement design input data. Finally, the study proceeded with the development of a conceptual approach proposing evaluation criteria for individual slab assessment and the condition mapping of in-service concrete pavements.