Towards an understanding of strategy-as-systemic practice (SASP): a system-theoretic view of strategy-as-practice

Purpose Over the past two decades, strategy-as-practice (SAP) has emerged as a pivotal area in contemporary strategy research. However, its evolution has led to diverse research streams and interpretations, creating complexity and fragmentation within the literature. To address this issue, this paper aims to propose a holistic framework that applies systems thinking to provide a more coherent and comprehensive understanding of SAP. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews, synthesises and integrates key literature in SAP and systems theory to develop a conceptual theoretical framework. Findings The framework systematically conceptualises the structural dynamics of SAP through key components: input, process, output, feedback loop and external environment. In addition, the authors derive theoretical propositions using logical reasoning based on the system-theoretic approach. Originality/value This study contributes to SAP research by offering a systems-theoretic perspective that enhances theoretical development in the field. This paper concludes with a discussion of the framework’s implications, along with directions for future research.