Defining Strategic Flexibility

This article presents a review of the literature about the term strategic flexibility. It analyses various components and definitions of strategic flexibility and concludes by defining the term for the purpose of our doctoral research. Using previous research about strategic flexibility, this article discusses the many components and definitions of strategic flexibility. Rather surprisingly, strategic flexibility has been considered by research in a variety of academic disciplines such as strategic management, economics, organization, theory and marketing and therefore, there is a diverse array of views about how to define this term. Strategic flexibility is often discussed ‘alongside’ such terms as strategic choice, strategic manoeuvrability and strategic options. This article found that previous research had developed ‘operationalised’ definitions based upon the specific needs of their studies. Consequently, there has not been a ‘proven’, agreed definition of strategic flexibility. It is suggested that this article adds to our general understanding of the term by advancing a general definition of strategic flexibility.