Revisiting structuration and strategizing: Toward a Strong Structuration Theory approach

This paper critically reviews Giddens’ structuration theory and re-assesses its applicability for strategizing research. We claim three main contributions. First, our review of Giddens’ Theory of Structuration highlights why it cannot be operationalized in the way he explained it. We support this finding by reviewing eight exemplar studies of strategizing using Giddens’ structuration theory. Second, we introduce and describe Stones’ (2005) notion of Strong Structuration Theory, which addresses much of the criticisms of Giddens’ work. And third, we demonstrate, by outlining a current, ongoing strategizing research project, how a strong structuration theory approach to strategizing can be operationalized. Stones’ strong structuration theory aligns ontological, epistemological and methodological challenges, providing for a reinforced structuration approach to strategizing research.