Strategy: science or art?

Shahab Sabahi
Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group


This piece is a part of my discussion on "Creating  body of knowledge for strategy" in Society of Strategic Planning. It just reflects a pure view through the lens of Philosophy of Science. It should not be regarded as an educational expert view. (part of critical thinking development discourse)

To me (perhaps like you Peter) strategy falls in the realm of axiomatic concept albeit as a case specific truth. Strategy as an axiomatic proposition is one (an epistemology perspective) that being known to be true only by understanding its meaning without proof.  No proof or possible proof in distance future makes strategy difficult to perfectly fit in the scientific sphere. We have to also keep in our minds that certain forms of argument from axiom are considered fallacious or abusive in scientific debate and different contexts.

However analytic propositions have been well established in strategic planning and strategic management and such (strategy with suffix), ultimately contains of strategy itself are only verbal truths and valid in specific context. Furthermore strategy may be regarded as the secret of success for a firm who does not have any intention to share it with others.

The value of strategists’ contribution is as important as scientists and artisans. Although strategists may not be scientists, strategists are talented in bringing ideas from conception to reality. They expect perfection from themselves as well as other intellectuals so long as they are competent to see the whole picture. Strategists may prefer to stay in the background while leading strategies, knowledge and adaptation (for better observations).

My position:

1-     There is room to articulate and elaborate “a body of knowledge” for strategic management, strategic planning, strategic international relations, strategic sustainable development (all with suffix), though strategy by itself is an art which is crafted by decisive, open-minded, self-confident, attentive, theoretical and pragmatic persons (strategists)  

2-     If one wish to outline a “body of knowledge” for strategy (without any suffix), s/he must initially formulate strategy as abstract concept of evident truths through which reveals connections between the meanings of ideas. (Enormous case specific data in place and it makes it a hard task)

Reason

Shahab Sabahi

Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

Humans have long been curious to understand the principles which govern planets, ecosystem, society and individual interactions. Knowing the governing laws gives humans to foresee their future development. The enlightenment, intellectual movement marked the rise of the modern life in Europe of the 17th and 18th centuries, was the crucial era for evolving this human’s desire. It furnished appropriate ground on which ideas about individual capability, nature, and human rights were shaped in adherence to ideology of liberalism. Reason was used to explain phenomena and link between human and its environment. The enlightenment is credited for supporting revolutionary developments in art, religion, philosophy and politics. However, it would be safe to say that central to the enlightenment was the deification of reason.

Indeed, the enlightenment had its origin backed to the ancient Greeks. The ancient Greek philosophers embodied the idea of reason in their philosophies and promoted its application in their speculations. For them philosophy was the mother of sciences engulfing the essence of all human achievements. It is therefore natural to associate philosophy with elements of universal scientific developments.(G. Saridis) It is true that human, since then, with the use of philosophy and reasoning, has described phenomena, in form of speculations, divine laws or explaining empirical experiences.

Today, this trend still follows. We keep attempting to conceptualize better frameworks to explain phenomena and the governing laws with the help of both philosophy and scientific facts.