From germination to propagation: Two decades of Strategy-as-Practice research and potential future directions

Over the last two decades, Strategy as Practice (SAP) has developed from an embryonic, fringe perspective on strategy to a consolidated field of research. The 2007 special issue Human Relations ‘Strategizing: challenges practice perspective’ played pivotal role in bringing this fruition. Reflecting broad SAP aim ‘let thousand flowers bloom’, we employ plant-based metaphor, distinguish three phases development SAP, each associated with different types agenda work. In initial Germination Phase, scholars did agenda-seeking work establishing new concepts and differentiating other fields A Blossoming Phase agenda-setting followed, community articles that identified defending boundaries field. As became established, it entered Harvesting characterized by agenda-confirming using lenses explain core organization. Based these reflections, considering many public critiques note appears be transition Propagating offers exciting potential cross-pollinate within across areas.