Strategiad

Strategiad is a term used to describe a systematic, narrative-oriented approach to strategy development and execution. It treats strategy as an ongoing practice rather than a fixed plan, emphasizing iterative cycles of sensemaking, option generation, and alignment across stakeholders.

The term is relatively new and without a universally accepted definition. It has appeared in academic and practitioner discourse to distinguish a narrative and iterative dimension of strategizing from more rigid, purely analytical methods. In this usage, strategiad highlights how stories, context, and leadership communication shape decisions as much as formal models do.

Core concepts associated with strategiad include strategic narrative, which is a coherent storyline that links goals, actions, and outcomes; decision loops that incorporate rapid feedback and revision; and scenario thinking, which explores multiple plausible futures to test robustness and flexibility. Governance structures and facilitation practices that enable agile strategy—such as inclusive workshops and cross-functional alignment—are also emphasized.

Methods and tools often employed in strategiad encompass scenario planning, roadmapping, narrative mapping, and decision matrices. Practitioners combine qualitative insights with data analysis and are encouraged to use iterative cycles of planning, action, review, and adaptation. Emphasis is placed on stakeholder engagement, organizational learning, and the capacity to pivot when environments change.

Applications of strategiad span business, public policy, non-profit leadership, and even game design, where the goal is to improve adaptability and coherence across diverse actors. Critics argue that the concept can be vague or overemphasize storytelling at the expense of rigorous optimization; proponents counter that it fosters alignment, resilience, and timely responses in dynamic settings. See also: strategic management, scenario planning, narrative analytics.