Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Understanding Failure in Organizational Strategizing*

Abstract

In this paper we develop a theoretical framework for understanding failure in processes of organizational strategizing. Drawing on an intensive, longitudinal field study of organizational decision making, we examine the attempts and ultimate failure of members of a British symphony orchestra to construct an artistic strategy for their organization. We argue that failure in organizational strategizing can be understood as resulting from the interplay of certain elements of organizational discourse and specific kinds of political behaviour. Specifically, we propose a model of organizational strategizing 'episodes' that comprises four distinct stages. We argue that for each stage, there are particular discursive and political factors that can lead to failure.