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CASE STUDY Strategy has had a variety of definitions

applied to it. Alfred Chandler (1963, p


13), for example, considers strategy to be:
‘… the determination of the long-run
Strategic thinking: intelligent opportunism goals and objectives of an enterprise and
the adoption of courses of action and the
and emergent strategy – the case of allocation of resource necessary for
carrying out these goals’. On the other
Strategic Engineering Services hand, Michael Porter (1996, p 64)
suggests that ‘Competitive strategy is
about being different. It means deliber-
ately choosing a different set of activities
Steven Pattinson to deliver a unique mix of value.’ Firms
must possess the necessary capabilities to
enable them to reconfigure, renew and
Steven Pattinson is Senior Lecturer in Business & Management and Business redeploy resources and capabilities
Placement Coordinator at Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley constantly in order to capture changing
TS1 3BA, UK. E-mail: s.pattinson@tees.ac.uk. opportunities more effectively (Foss et al,
2011; Lau et al, 2004). Competitive
strategy, therefore, explores how firms
operate to improve their performance
The Case Study section of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and (Lechner and Gudmundsson, 2014). For
most people in business, ‘strategy’ is
Innovation serves two purposes. First, the case studies presented are con-
viewed as a way to explain the things
cerned with problematical issues that are pertinent to students of
they do (Thompson et al, 2014); it is a
entrepreneurship. Thus they constitute appropriate teaching and learning plan, a conscious decision or an intended
vehicles on a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. Each course of action that is premeditated and
case study is accompanied by a set of guidelines for the use of tutors. Second, deliberate (Graetz, 2002).
it is envisaged that those engaged in entrepreneurial activities will find the
cases both interesting and useful.
Abstract: This case study focuses on strategic thinking and opportunistic
Strategic thinking, intelligent
approaches to business growth and diversification. It begins by examining
opportunism and emergent
the recent purchase of ‘Quickcover’, a remote-controlled sports pitch
strategy
covering system, by engineering company Strategic Engineering Services The purpose of strategic thinking, it has
and the company’s current dilemma – whether to continue to develop this been suggested, is to: ‘discover novel,
type of product, or sell it and concentrate on its existing engineering services imaginative strategies which can re-write
business. In recent years, Strategic Engineering Services has moved away the rules of the competitive game; and to
from traditional heavy engineering and diversified into related areas such as envision potential futures significantly
different from the present’ (Heracleous,
engineering services, oil and gas industry recruitment, plant and equipment
1998, p 485). Strategic thinking is an
hire, instrument calibration and project management. The case considers the essential prerequisite to firms’ survival
relationship between strategic thinking and entrepreneurial approaches to (Beaver and Ross, 2000). More recently,
opportunity recognition, exploring the concept of intelligent opportunism as strategic thinking has been related to the
an approach that enables entrepreneurs to develop emergent strategies and innovative aspects of a firm’s strategic
take advantage of new opportunities. It explores these concepts in the context planning (Harrison and St John, 2013).
of the current dilemma of Strategic Engineering Services. However, Mintzberg and Waters (1985)
recognize that not all strategy is con-
Keywords: intelligent opportunism; emergent strategy; strategic thinking; sciously planned, referring to ‘emergent
effectuation strategy’ that is often developed intui-
Learning outcomes: The case (a) gives students the opportunity to gain tively by entrepreneurs rather than as the
result of rational planning (Hill et al,
insights into how entrepreneurs identify, evaluate and pursue new opportuni-
2014).
ties; (b) enables students to consider the validity of the concept of ‘intelligent
The notion of emergent strategy is
opportunism’; (c) provides an opportunity for students to examine how the closely linked to the theory of ‘effectua-
concept of ‘intelligent opportunism’ fits with the emergent view of strategy tion’ (Sarasvathy, 2001): that is, the
often adopted by entrepreneurs; and (d) allows students to engage in a notion that entrepreneurship is a way of
broader theoretical discussion about entrepreneurial approaches to strategy thinking, reasoning and acting that
development. focuses on the identification and exploita-

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Vol 17, No 1, 2016, pp 65–70 doi: 10.5367/ijei.2015.0212 65


Case Study: Strategic thinking

tion of business opportunities from a leaders can influence strategic decision were supplied to many firms in various
broad general perspective, which making (Haycock, 2012). industries in the north of England,
Sarasvathy (2004) describes as the All information gathered for the case including the steel and petrochemical
‘essential agent’ of entrepreneurship. study should be considered to have been industries. The business was very
Entrepreneurship is, therefore, associated disclosed in a relationship of trust, and successful and the company quickly
with opportunity recognition and has participants have the right to expect that grew. By the early 1980s, SES employed
been defined as the: ‘examination of it will not be divulged without their around 60 people. Due to the changing
how, by whom, and with what effects permission. At the request of the nature of the heavy engineering sector in
opportunities to create future goods and organization, and for commercial the late 1990s, the SES Group changed
services are discovered, evaluated and reasons, all confidential data pertaining the shape of its business. This included
exploited’ (Shane and Venkataraman, to the organizations and its products have divesting itself of most of its activities in
2000, p 218), and the ability to recognize been presented in an anonymous way, heavy fabrication, heavy machining and
opportunities is widely viewed as a key observing ethical standards. manufacture of large water and sewage
step in the entrepreneurial process (Tang pumping systems, to allow
and Khan, 2007). The purpose of a focused commitment to the company’s
strategic thinking, on the other hand, is to Strategic Engineering Services technical pedigree and the emerging
clarify the future, allocate and manage Robert Stewart, the MD of Strategic renewables, oil and gas and marine
resources and manage change Engineering Services Ltd (SES), was engineering sectors.
(Thompson et al, 2014). However, to considering whether he should concen- During this time, the company had
create the most value, entrepreneurial trate on strengthening the engineering expanded into related areas such as
firms also need to act strategically, and services part of the business, where the welding, fabrication and engineering
this calls for an integration of both company had a strong reputation in the maintenance. Again, these new activities
entrepreneurial and strategic thinking market, or whether he should invest more were very successful, and a separate
(Hitt et al, 2001), as Zahra and Nambisan time and money in the firm’s latest company, Strategic Site Maintenance Ltd
(2012, p 219) explain: ‘Strategic thinking product. Robert had purchased a new (SSM), was established in 1992 to deal
and the entrepreneurial activities … product, ‘Quickcover’, because he saw with the site services side of the busi-
influence one another in a cycle that an opportunity to improve on the original ness. SSM is an engineering and
perpetuates and even sparks innovation’. design of the product as well as to contracting services company providing
The question is, how can these two diversify the company’s existing a wide range of engineering services to
concepts be successfully combined? portfolio by expanding its range of customers in the UK and overseas. This
The concept of ‘intelligent opportun- products and services. As he explains: includes fabrication and construction
ism’ refers to the idea that, although projects to oil and gas, marine and
strategic thinking is inherently concerned ‘If I see an interesting business I will petrochemical industries. SSM also
with shaping and reshaping strategic consider buying it if it complements provides recruitment services specifically
intent, there must be room for flexibility our existing portfolio … by providing designed to serve a wide range of
(Hamel and Prahalad, 1989), thus services and products this prevents us specialist trades, technical and engineer-
allowing entrepreneurs to consider new putting all our eggs in one basket, so ing personnel working in all sectors of
opportunities. Intelligent opportunism to speak.’ industry.
involves entrepreneurs being open to The success of the site services
new experiences that allow them to take In Robert’s view, diversification was business meant a move to larger premises
advantage of emergent strategies that are, essential to the long-term financial with additional space, better undercover
arguably, more relevant in a rapidly success of SES, but his fellow directors facilities and the cranage required for
changing business environment and can would need convincing. heavy lifting and carrying out large-scale
be considered a form of ‘opportunistic’ maintenance contracts. A large (10-acre)
strategy (Liedtka, 1998). Intelligent site that used to be an old steel foundry
opportunism therefore acts as a locus for provided an ideal location for the
Company background
combining opportunity recognition and growing business. This site remained the
emergent strategies, as Liedtka (1998, p Formed in 1972, the SES Group is a home of both SES and SSM up until the
123) explains: ‘within this [type of] privately owned group of companies mid-1990s. At this time, the traditional
intent-driven focus, there must be room providing engineering products and machining market was starting to dry up
for intelligent opportunism that not only services throughout Europe, as well as in as more UK firms began outsourcing this
furthers intended strategy but that also the Middle East and Far East. The sort of work to companies in Eastern
leave open the possibility of new original firm, Strategic Engineering Europe and the Far East. SES recognized
strategies emerging’. Intelligent oppor- Services Ltd (SES), was founded by Eric the need to branch out into new areas of
tunism is about adopting a flexible Stewart, who had trained as a machinist business and had already started to
approach to strategy in order to take making steel components such as nuts, diversify into new and related areas of
advantage of emerging strategies and bolts and steel casings. Eric used a small engineering, such as plant and equipment
new opportunities and, by being ‘intelli- bank loan to buy his own lathe and hire, instrument calibration and project
gently opportunistic’, entrepreneurial started making these components, which management.

66 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Vol 17, No 1


Case Study: Strategic thinking

Diversification A new opportunity Questions

By the mid-1990s, SES was established More recently, SES has acquired a new (1) To what extent can Robert’s
as a holding company for a number of company as part of its portfolio, decision to purchase Quickcover,
subsidiary trading companies that were Quickcover Ltd, which manufactures a and the subsequent introduction of
set up to run each of the company’s unique remote-controlled sports pitch Stadiumcover, be viewed as
growing and increasingly diverse covering system. This system is designed intelligent opportunism?
business interests. At the same time, the to fit any size of outdoor sporting venue, (2) How does Robert’s proposed
strategic decision (Hendry, 2000) was providing protection from the elements. approach to diversification fit with
made to sell the original machining part A motorized roller system is operated by the notion of emergent strategy?
of the business, which was becoming a simple remote control, which at the (3) What risks might this new opportu-
unprofitable, and also to sell the press of a button travels across the field, nity present for the long-term
premises, which were now too large for automatically deploying a weatherproof strategic success of Strategic
its existing needs. The company moved cover in less than 10 minutes. SES was Engineering Services?
into brand new premises on a local initially contracted to fabricate the roller (4) In addition to identifying new
business park in rural Northumbria, system on behalf of Quickcover. opportunities, how else might
where it was now able to concentrate on However, Robert Stewart, the MD of intelligent opportunism support
its portfolios of businesses. SES was TestCal, saw the product as potentially strategic and/or entrepreneurial
now represented by three distinct very lucrative and bought the company. thinking?
subsidiary companies, each run as The firm now manufactures, installs and
separate businesses by Eric’s three maintains the system under the brand
sons: name Quickcover. The product is used by Acknowledgments
a range of sporting venues including This case was made possible through the
• Strategic Site Maintenance Ltd (SSM) football, rugby, cricket, athletics, generous cooperation of Strategic
– established in 1992 and run by American football, baseball, tennis and Engineering Services Ltd. The names of
Simon Stewart, SSM is a specialist hockey facilities. More recently, SES has the company and all individuals men-
engineering, construction and also developed a variation of the product, tioned in the case have been changed.
technical recruitment business. The ‘Stadiumcover’, for use at equestrian and The organization has exercised its right
company provides recruitment other similar outdoor arenas. to confidentiality in order to protect its
services to a broad range of sectors market position and maintain its com-
including nuclear and power genera- petitive advantage, particularly in
tion, construction, the chemical Summary relation to its new product development
industry and the onshore/offshore oil strategy. The case is intended as a basis
and gas industries both within the UK The decision Robert and his fellow
for class discussion rather than to
and internationally. It also provides directors now face is whether they
illustrate either effective or ineffective
project management services for should continue to pursue their current
handling of management situations. The
fabrication and construction projects approach and invest in developing a
author wishes to acknowledge the
in the oil and gas, marine and strategy for manufacturing and selling
financial support of Enterprise Educators
petrochemical industries. both the Quickcover and Stadiumcover
UK through its Enterprise Education and
• MobileCAL Ltd – established in products, or sell this part of the business
Research Project Fund. He also acknowl-
1992 and run by David Stewart, and focus on their already well estab-
edges Dr Jonathan M. Scott for his
MobileCAL offers mobile calibration lished and successful engineering
comments on an initial draft of this case.
and testing of equipment. The services business. Robert’s ability to
business provides a mobile service influence this decision may hinge on his
covering the whole of the UK. Its ability to persuade his fellow directors to References
services include calibration, load accept his plan. This case is helpful
testing, portable appliance test- because it offers a unique insight into Beaver, G., and Ross, C. (2000), ‘Enter-
prise in recession: the role and context
ing (PAT), exhaust and dust how entrepreneurs develop emergent
of strategy’, International Journal of
extraction, air quality testing and strategies to take advantage of new Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Vol 1,
certification. opportunities. It also advances our No 1, pp 23–31.
• TestCAL Ltd – established in 1997 theoretical understanding of the relation- Chandler, A.D. (1963), Strategy and
and run by Robert Stewart, TestCAL ship between strategic thinking and Structure: Chapters in the History of
American Enterprise, MIT Press,
is a test equipment specialist provid- entrepreneurial approaches to opportu- Boston, MA.
ing a range of calibration services nity recognition. The case highlights the Foss, L., Iakovleva, T., Kickul, J., Oftedal,
including equipment hire, on-site concept of how intelligent opportunism E.M., and Solheim, A. (2011), ‘Taking
calibration laboratories and sales of can be used to explain the ways in which innovations to market: the role of
strategic choice and the evolution of
test and measurement equipment. It entrepreneurs develop emergent strate-
dynamic capabilities’, International
also provides hire services throughout gies in order to take advantage of new Journal of Entrepreneurship and
the UK. opportunities. Innovation, Vol 12, No 2, pp 105–116.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Vol 17, No 1 67


Case Study: Strategic thinking
Graetz, F. (2002), ‘Strategic thinking neurship: entrepreneurial strategies for from economic inevitability to entrepre-
versus strategic planning: towards wealth creation’, Strategic Management neurial contingency’, Academy of
understanding the complementarities’, Journal, Vol 22, No 1, pp 479–491. Management Review, Vol 26, No 2, pp
Management Decision, Vol 40, No 5, pp Lau, T., Man, T.W.Y., and Chow, I. (2004), 243–263.
456–462. ‘Organizational capabilities and Sarasvathy, S.D. (2004), ‘Making it
Hamel, G., and Prahalad, C.K. (1989), performance of SMEs in dynamic and happen: beyond theories of the firm to
‘Strategic intent’, Harvard Business stable environments’, International theories of firm design’, Entrepreneur-
Review, Vol 70, No 3, pp 63–78. Journal of Entrepreneurship and ship Theory and Practice, Vol 28, No 6,
Harrison, J.S., and St John, C.H. (2013), Innovation, Vol 5, No 4, pp 221–229. pp 519–531.
Foundations in Strategic Management, Lechner, C., and Gudmundsson, S.V. Shane, S., and Venkataraman, S. (2000),
Cengage Learning, Boston, MA. (2014), ‘Entrepreneurial orientation, firm ‘The promise of entrepreneurship as a
Haycock, K. (2012), Strategic thinking and strategy and small firm performance’, field of research’, Academy of Manage-
leadership’, Library Leadership and International Small Business Journal, ment Review, Vol 25, No 1, pp 217–226.
Management, Vol 26, Nos 3–4, pp 1– Vol 32, No 1, pp 36–60. Tang, J., and Khan, S.A. (2007), ‘Dynamic
23. Liedtka, J.M. (1998), ‘Strategic thinking: interactions between alertness and
Hendry, J. (2000), ‘Strategic decision can it be taught?’ Long Range Plan- systematic search: a yin and yang
making, discourse, and strategy as ning, Vol 31, No 1, pp 120–129. perspective on opportunity recognition
social practice’, Journal of Management Mintzberg, H., and Waters, J. (1985), ‘Of and innovation’, International Journal of
Studies, Vol 37, No 2, pp 955–978. strategies deliberate and emergent’, in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Vol 8,
Heracleous, L. (1998), ‘Strategic thinking De Wit, B., and Meyer, R., eds, No 3, pp 175–187.
or strategic planning?’ Long Range Strategy: Process, Content, Context: An Thompson, J.L., Scott, J.M., and Martin, F.
Planning, Vol 31, No 3, pp 481–487. International Perspective, West (2014), Strategic Management:
Hill, C., Jones, G., and Schilling, M. Publishing, St Paul, MN, pp 12–21. Awareness and Change, 7 ed,
(2014), Strategic Management: An Porter, M.E. (1996), ‘What is strategy?’ Cengage Learning, Boston, MA.
Integrated Approach, Cengage Harvard Business Review, Vol 74, No 6, Zahra, S.A., and Nambisan, S. (2012),
Learning, Boston, MA. pp 61–78. ‘Entrepreneurship and strategic thinking
Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D., Camp, S.M., and Sarasvathy, S.D. (2001), ‘Causation and in business ecosystems’, Business
Sexton, D.L. (2001), ‘Strategic entrepre- effectuation: toward a theoretical shift Horizons, Vol 55, No 1, pp 219–229.

68 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Vol 17, No 1


Case Study: Strategic thinking

TEACHING NOTE1 (d) The case allows students to engage Once the introduction is complete, the
in a broader theoretical discussion lecturer might want to break the class up
about entrepreneurial approaches to into teams of three to five students,
strategy development. depending on numbers. The teams should
1. Summary of the case
discuss and summarize their answers to
Strategic Engineering Services Ltd is a 3. Teaching approach and each of the questions presented in the
holding company for a number of case study and choose one representative
strategy
subsidiary trading companies engaged in to present a summary of the team’s
a range of commercial activities in the This case study can be used as the answers to the class. The lecturer should
engineering sector, including equipment starting point for students to discuss work to move the discussion past a
hire, recruitment, and calibration and different approaches to opportunity listing of challenges to an identification
testing of equipment and project recognition and strategy development. It of the potential outcomes of the available
management. This case study focuses on allows the application of class-based choices. To conclude the session, the
strategic thinking and the opportunistic theory to a real-life situation and lecturer might consider asking students
approach to business growth. In recent encourages active participation in the to report back – either in small groups
years, the company has moved away learning process. The main theoretical (4–5 students) or individually – to
from heavy engineering into engineering points to highlight when using the case summarize what they consider to be the
services. However, it recently purchased relate to the concept of strategic main learning outcomes of the session.
‘Quickcover’, a unique remote-control- thinking. The case gives students the Alternatively, the lecturer could ask them
led sports pitch covering system, and is opportunity to gain insights into how to take a few minutes to summarize their
now considering whether to continue to entrepreneurs identify, evaluate and own thoughts about the main points
develop this product or sell it and pursue new opportunities – that is, the raised. It is also important to ask students
concentrate on its existing engineering concept of effectuation. It links effectua- to evaluate the usefulness of the case in
services business. tion to another theory, ‘intelligent their studies to help them to evaluate
opportunism’, and allows students to their own learning, as well as to help the
consider the validity of these concepts in lecturer evaluate the usefulness of the
2. Teaching objectives and the decision-making processes of case and make amendments where
target audience entrepreneurs. It provides an opportunity necessary.
for students to compare and contrast
The key issue in this case study is
these related concepts and how they fit
whether the company should continue to 4. Analysis
with the concept of emergent strategy
develop the ‘Quickcover’ product or sell
often adopted by entrepreneurs. There are no right or wrong answers;
it and concentrate on its core engineering
Wherever possible, the classroom rather, the case study provides a spring-
services business. This case study will
should be arranged with desks in a board for students to discuss the main
enable students to consider the nature of
semicircle or similar layout, which issues raised. However, students are
intelligent opportunism and examine
allows students to face each other and challenged to think about a real-life
emergent views of strategy that are often
work together in small groups. This will scenario in which the process of opportu-
adopted by entrepreneurs. It is aimed at
help facilitate a direct exchange of views nity recognition by the main protagonist
both undergraduate and postgraduate
between them. Teaching this case begins (Robert Stewart) can be analysed in
students studying strategy and related
by asking students to read and think detail. More specifically, students should
modules in the area of enterprise,
about it – either at the start of or prior to consider the following points in their
entrepreneurship and innovation. The
the class – depending on the length of the answers to the questions posed.
case gives students the opportunity to
seminar or tutorial. A 5–10-minute To what extent can Robert’s decision
gain insights into how entrepreneurs
introduction by the lecturer might then to purchase Quickcover, and the subse-
identify, evaluate and pursue new
be useful before beginning any discus- quent introduction of Stadiumcover, be
opportunities. There are four learning
sion. The introduction should explain viewed as intelligent opportunism?
objectives:
Robert’s predicament: that he needs to Students should recognize that intelligent
(a) The case study gives students the persuade his fellow directors to continue opportunism is about adopting a flexible
opportunity to gain insights into with the ‘Quickcover’ product that he approach to decision making in order to
how entrepreneurs identify, evaluate recently purchased. The lecturer might develop and take advantage of emerging
and pursue new opportunities. want to present the potential alternatives strategies and new opportunities as they
(b) The case enables students to for the new product and the challenges arise. Robert has clearly adopted a
consider the validity of the concept associated with each option – selling the flexible approach to his strategy develop-
of ‘intelligent opportunism’. product or continuing its development. ment to take advantage of a new
(c) The case provides an opportunity for The goal of the case is not to select the opportunity. By being ‘intelligently
students to examine how the concept correct choice for SES, but rather to opportunistic’, he is open to new
of ‘intelligent opportunism’ fits with understand the challenges inherent in experiences that allow him to take
the emergent view of strategy often strategic decision making and how they advantage of potential business opportu-
adopted by entrepreneurs. can mitigate any associated risks. nities and develop emergent strategies

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Vol 17, No 1 69


Case Study: Strategic thinking

that are important in a rapidly changing hear from many individuals and explore References (including
business environment. Robert’s behav- multiple perspectives. By adopting this additional suggested reading)
iour can be considered a form of approach, students should be aware that
Chandler, A.D. (1963), Strategy and Struct-
opportunistic strategy development and entrepreneurs are better able to gather ure: Chapters in the History of American
is clearly an example of intelligent new ideas and knowledge that are Enterprise, MIT Press, Boston, MA.
opportunism. potentially valuable wherever they Golich, V., Boyer, M., Franko, P., and
How does Robert’s proposed approach exist. Students should be able to Lamy, S. (2000), ‘The ABCs of case
teaching’, Pew Case Studies in
to diversification fit with the notion of identify that entrepreneurs are strategic International Affairs, Institute for the
emergent strategy? Students should be thinkers. They are individuals who are Study of Diplomacy, Edmund A. Walsh
able to distinguish between the tradi- able to identify and react to great new School of Foreign Service, Georgetown
tional view of strategy as a consciously opportunities as they arise. They should University, website: www.guisd.org.
Graetz, F. (2002), ‘Strategic thinking versus
planned activity and the emergent view understand that the world is dynamic
strategic planning: towards understand-
of strategy as an approach that is often and that entrepreneurs need to be open ing the complementarities’, Manage-
developed intuitively by entrepreneurs, to change in order to achieve their ment Decision, Vol 40, No 5, pp 456–462.
rather than as the result of rational vision. Grant, R.M. (2007), Contemporary
planning. They should be able to link Strategy Analysis, Blackwell, Oxford.
Hamel, G., and Prahalad, C.K. (1989),
emergent strategy with the concept of ‘Strategic intent’, Harvard Business
effectuation: that is, that entrepreneur- 5. Feedback Review, Vol 70, No 3, pp 63–78.
ship is a way of thinking, reasoning and Hendry, J. (2000), ‘Strategic decision
acting that focuses on the identification Please take time to reflect and consider making, discourse, and strategy as
social practice’, Journal of Management
and exploitation of business opportuni- how the case worked in different
Studies, Vol 37, No 2, pp 955–978.
ties, and that this is an essential situations: for example, with different Heracleous, L. (1998), ‘Strategic thinking
ingredient of successful entrepreneur- student groups, or on different modules. or strategic planning?’ Long Range
ship. Students should be able to identify The case has been tested and has been Planning, Vol 31, No 3, pp 481–487.
that Robert’s approach to diversification an effective part of teaching entrepre- Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D., Camp, S.M., and
Sexton, D.L. (2001), ‘Strategic entrepre-
is a good example of an entrepreneur neurship to a range of undergraduate neurship: entrepreneurial strategies for
adopting an emergent approach to and postgraduate programmes, including wealth creation’, Strategic Management
strategy development. Business Management, International Journal, Vol 22, No 1, pp 479–491.
What risks might this new opportunity Business Management, Marketing, and Liedtka, J.M. (1998), ‘Strategic thinking:
can it be taught?’ Long Range Plan-
present for the long-term strategic Accounting and Finance. More specifi-
ning, Vol 31, No 1, pp 120–129.
success of Strategic Engineering cally, it has been used to support the Mintzberg, H., and Waters, J. (1985), ‘Of
Services? The company has a record of teaching of small seminar groups on strategies deliberate and emergent’, in
diversification in its traditional area of modules such as ‘Entrepreneurship: an De Wit, B., and Meyer, R., eds,
expertise, engineering, but Quickcover international perspective’, ‘Enterprise’ Strategy: Process, Content, Context: An
International Perspective, West
and its associated product represent a and ‘Strategy’. The case is particularly Publishing, St Paul, MN, pp 12–21.
move into a new and unknown market. useful for those students who already Porter, M.E. (1996), ‘What is strategy?’
The level of risk presented by the understand the need for alternative Harvard Business Review, Vol 74, No 6,
purchase of these new products is not approaches to strategic thinking, but pp 61–78.
Porter, M. (2004), Competitive Strategy:
explicitly discussed in the case study. who may not understand the uncertain-
Techniques for Analysing Industries and
However, students should be able to ties associated with entrepreneurial Competitors, Free Press, London.
deduce that the case study implies a approaches to opportunity recognition Sarasvathy, S.D. (2001), ‘Causation and
potential conflict between Robert and his and strategy development. This case effectuation: toward a theoretical shift
fellow directors. Robert clearly views could also be used on other programmes from economic inevitability to entrepre-
neurial contingency’, Academy of
diversification as essential to the long- of study such as Master’s degrees in Management Review, Vol 26, No 2, pp
term success of the company. However, enterprise, entrepreneurship and/or 243–263.
the views of the rest of the board innovation, MBA courses, or with Sarasvathy, S.D. (2004), ‘Making it
members are not known. Robert’s ability doctoral students. Potentially, the case happen: beyond theories of the firm to
theories of firm design’, Entrepreneur-
to influence the rest of the board will is suitable for use as a written assess-
ship Theory and Practice, Vol 28, No 6,
play a key role in the success, or ment or for an examination, pp 519–531.
otherwise, of his plan. role-playing or other forms of Shane, S., and Venkataraman, S. (2000),
In addition to identifying new use. ‘The promise of entrepreneurship as a
opportunities, how else might intelligent field of research’, Academy of Manage-
ment Review, Vol 25, No 1, pp 217–226.
opportunism support strategic and/or Thompson, J.L., Scott, J.M., and Martin, F.
entrepreneurial thinking? As well as Note (2014), Strategic Management:
helping to identify new opportunities, Awareness and Change, 7 ed,
1
students should recognize that the Structure based on The Case Teach- Cengage Learning, Boston, MA.
ing Note J Heath (John Heath Associ- Zahra, S.A., and Nambisan, S. (2012),
concept of intelligent opportunism also
ates), website: http://www.ecch.com/ ‘Entrepreneurship and strategic thinking
indicates that entrepreneurs need to ‘dig files/downloads/casewriting/teachingnote. in business ecosystems’, Business
deep’ into their organizations in order to pdf. Horizons, Vol 55, No 1, pp 219–229.

70 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Vol 17, No 1

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