How strategy is shaped beyond the C-suite

Strategy is often presented as something decided at the top of any organisation, with plans set by senior leaders and others expected to execute them. It’s a view that can overlook where many of the most valuable ideas and insights come from.

Professor Christian Stadler’s bestselling book, Open Strategy: Mastering Disruption From Outside the C-Suite, introduced the Open Strategy approach to the business world. The approach challenges traditional assumptions by involving a broader range of perspectives in how strategy is developed.

Instead of relying solely on senior executives, Open Strategy uses a system in which people far removed from the boardroom are involved in crafting detailed plans and making strategic decisions. It treats strategy as an open process, shaped by different viewpoints and informed by a wider understanding of the organisation and its environment. 

This thinking is not confined to theory. Christian’s work with organisations applies the same principles in practice, and those experiences are brought directly into the classroom. Students explore how businesses have used Open Strategy to rethink their approach, including how they gather insight, test ideas, and make decisions.

He also works closely with companies, helping them to craft strategy based on the same techniques that are taught at WBS. Guest speakers also play a role in bringing this to life. For example, the Head of Strategy from a global luxury watchmaker recently shared how these methods influenced their organisation’s strategic direction, giving students a direct view of how the approach works in practice.

Which means students develop a more practical understanding of strategy. They learn how to involve the right voices, how to build stronger ideas, and how to shape strategy in ways that reflect the complexity of real organisations.

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