Strategy Research Colloquium (SRC)
Dr. Markus Kajanto will present his work titled "Forming Capability Beliefs: How Do Managers Understand What Their Organization Is Capable Of?
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Dr. Markus Kajanto works at Aalto University, Department of Industrial Engineering, Institute of Strategy and Venturing. Before the current academic focus, Dr. Markus Kajanto has a long career from Nokia (including heading the corporate strategy planning) as well as from McKinsey & Company.
Abstract
We conducted 50 interviews with informants in senior strategic positions to understand how managers form beliefs about organizational capabilities and how such beliefs influence strategy making. We identified four types of capability beliefs: (1) Retrospective narrative-based beliefs, (2) prospective goal-based beliefs, (3) observation-based composite beliefs, and (4) intuitive taken-for-granted beliefs. They are, respectively, associated with particular shortcomings: (1) gradual decline, (2) over-confidence, (3) trivialization, and (4) ignorance of opportunities. The shortcomings appear to be more intense when companies use internal rather than external benchmarks for evaluating their capabilities. Our findings contribute to the research on managerial mental models, capability development, strategy failures, and strategy practices.
The paper is co-authored with Prof. Timo Vuori and Prof. Henri Schildt.
Signing up
Please enroll by sending an email to Natalia Vuori by January 28th.
Coffee and snacks will be provided based on the number of enrolled participants.