Competence Center Strategy Processes, AI and Decision Making Under Uncertainty

The first area of focus revolves around the comprehensive study of strategy processes in organizations. This includes a wide spectrum of topics such as strategic planning, strategy implementation, strategic change, and organizational renewal. We explore how consensus is built among stakeholders, how policies shape strategic outcomes, and how power dynamics influence strategy formulation and execution.

We recognize the critical role of adaptive strategy implementation as strategies often need to evolve in response to shifting external and internal conditions. Adaptive implementation focuses on the ability of organizations to monitor progress, learn from outcomes, and adjust strategies in real time, ensuring alignment with evolving opportunities and challenges. This dynamic approach enables organizations to remain agile and resilient in an unpredictable world.

We also delve into the roles and behaviors of organizational actors in shaping and implementing strategies, emphasizing the interplay of individual agency and systemic factors. Drawing from various theoretical perspectives—including organizational learning, theories of cognition, and power dynamics—we aim to develop and refine comprehensive models of strategy-building processes that capture both the structured and emergent aspects of strategic activity.

The second area of focus addresses the critical challenges of decision-making under uncertainty, a hallmark of contemporary organizational life. This stream investigates how organizations and their leaders make strategic decisions in the face of incomplete information, ambiguity, and rapidly changing conditions. A key element of our work is the examination of heuristics—rules of thumb or simplified decision-making frameworks—and their effectiveness in navigating uncertain environments.

An important theme in this area is the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in decision-making. As AI technologies continue to advance, they present unprecedented opportunities to enhance decision-making accuracy, speed, and adaptability. We explore how AI can complement human judgment, mitigate biases, and enable more robust and data-driven decision-making processes. This includes investigating how organizations can effectively integrate AI tools into their strategic and operational systems to improve outcomes.

Despite their differences, these two focus areas are not isolated; they intersect in multiple meaningful ways. For instance, the use of AI in decision-making can significantly influence how strategies are formulated, implemented, and adapted. Similarly, the adaptive strategy implementation framework is closely connected to decision-making under uncertainty, as organizations continuously revise their strategies based on new insights and real-time feedback.

By exploring these areas individually and in combination, the Competence Center seeks to provide actionable insights and innovative frameworks for organizations to adapt and create sustainable value in an increasingly uncertain and technology-driven world.