Discipline of Strategy Execution: Sensemaking and Territory

Abstract

A very rich literature in the field of leadership focuses mainly on styles and methods of effective operations. Researchers have come a long way — from theories linking effective leadership with personality characteristics and charisma, through situational and evolutionary leadership theories and concepts of transformation leadership, to have recently returned to the conclusion that personality features indeed play an important role after all. The latest statement was born thanks to the concept of emotional intelligence.¹ It is very difficult to define the essence of leadership and the features of good leaders, but it is possible to clearly define their role and the tasks, for which they are responsible. Regardless of personality or leadership style, company leaders constitute an indispensable and fundamental link in four interactive processes showed in Figure 3.1:

• 1) interpretation and sensemaking of environmental context,

• 2) defining goals and priorities,

• 3) defining company boundaries,

• 4) building a business model.