Advancing eco-social strategic management: a whole systems lens

Abstract This conceptual paper builds on understandings of social–ecological systems to advance a systems-based, holistic eco-social (ecological and social or social–ecological, SES) lens for the field of strategic management by taking a whole systems perspective that adds to the field’s currently dominant corporate centric orientation. It particularly focuses on how core strategic management frameworks need to shift to accommodate such a whole systems perspective moving beyond the field’s current firm-centric orientation. The paper examines the ways in which eco-socially informed core strategy frameworks, including SWOT analysis, the five forces framework, the resource-based view of the firm and dynamic capabilities framework, balanced scorecard, and PEST(LE) analysis, need to and can take a whole systems approach and encompass eco-social not just profitability, market share, and competitive advantage considerations, to ensure the wellbeing of all humans and the rest of nature.