Strategic Thinking in Jordan: Still Crafting the Architecture?

This is one of the first studies of the practice of strategic thinking skills in an emerging market. The purpose of this study is to investigate the the practice of strategic thinking by Jordanian industrial companies registered on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) and the relationship between the dimensions of strategic thinking and certain organizational characteristics (age, size and type of ownership). A review of the literature relating to strategic thinking and strategic thinking skills in both developed and emerging markets was undertaken. A questionnaire survey of three levels of management in each Jordanian industrial company was undertaken. A 52 per cent response rate was achieved. The main findings of this study are that Jordanian industrial companies engage in strategic thinking by using reflecting, reframing and systems thinking skills. The managers of these companies at three different levels have positive attitudes towards the practice of strategic thinking and believe in the efficacy of most of the strategic thinking skills surveyed. There is a positive significant relationship between the use of systems thinking skills and type of ownership but a less clear relationship with the age and size of the company. The use of reflecting thinking skills has an unclear relationship with the size of company and is not related to age and ownership type. The use of reframing thinking skills has an unclear relationship with age and type of ownership and is not related to the size of company. Future research could be conducted by using in-depth types of study that focus on a smaller number of respondents, as well as a smaller number of these companies. Future research should investigate the relationship between strategic thinking and the culture, structure, performance and decision making of medium and small size industrial companies in Jordan. Keywords: Strategic thinking; Industrial companies; Jordan; Strategic thinking; Organizational characteristics. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-26-08 Publication date:September 30th 201