What is Logical Incrementalism with definition to strategic management?

Quinn, James Brian (1978) studied the process of strategic management of different companies. He found that the strategies of most of the companies do not come into existence by following any long term plan or merely positioning an approach or following just the environment led or resource-based approach. Thus, Quinn, James Brian (1978) coined the term ‘Logical Incrementalism’ to explain how the strategies of different companies come into existence in the real world.

This approach focuses on the strategic management process that the strategies are not formed, but they come into existence as some long term plans which are made once in a while. It tells us about the strategies that incrementally emerge over time. However, this incremental way is not random but logical as some of the top managers make changes and take different strategic decisions as they learn by implementing small steps. There is a constant evaluation done on all the decisions that are taken to a realized strategy for businesses.

Strategies are generally made over a long period of time, and strategists formulate such strategies by researching, learning, experimenting and not being tied to any one course of action. The strategic management process comes out to be scattered, and more focused towards small steps and unstructured approach. According to Quinn, James Brian (1978), the realized strategies of different companies are partly logical and partly random.

This approach is said to help the companies in a manner that reduced the risk in strategic decisions. Though, some of its managers might still focus more on taking short-term decisions. Companies make several investment decisions more prudently for a strategic decision as they usually learn things from their past decisions. Managers, on the other hand, are expected to take their decisions proactively as they come in terms with results of internal decisions and change according to the environment. The approach towards developing strategies involves the managers that are continuously negotiating with stakeholders to make a valuable consensus for their strategic decisions.