Open Strategy

Open Strategy

Launching Open Strategy Finland community

OpenStrategy.fi is a new national community focused on the intersection of strategy research and strategic practice. Originating from a research initiative at Aalto University, the community brings together scholars and practitioners interested in how strategy is actually made—through everyday practices, interactions, and decisions—and how more open and

Contributions to the 2nd Open Strategy Workshop at Oxford

Our research team participated in the 2nd Open Strategy Workshop, held at the University of Oxford on 25–26 June 2025. The workshop brought together scholars to present and discuss current research on the practices, challenges, and future trajectories of open strategy. First things first, we wish to express a

Exploring Open Strategy: Read Our Talouselämä Article [English translation]

Published 18.5.2025 in Talouselämä (original article here) Even Leaders Are Tired of the Current Way of Doing Strategy Participatory strategy may be the key to organizational renewal. Strategy work is undergoing a transformation. Openness, participation, and trust are replacing the closed planning processes of the old world, which

Reflections from Our Open Strategy Science-Practice Seminar

Our recent seminar on Open Strategy was a powerful gathering of researchers, practitioners, and innovators exploring how participatory approaches are reshaping strategic decision-making. Hosted with the support of the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the Foundation of Economic Education, the event brought together experts from academia and industry to discuss the

Exploring Open Strategy: Research Posters from Our Team

We’ve compiled a series of research posters that highlight recent key findings from our cases.

Sign-up for the Open Strategy Seminar in Aalto University

REGISTER HERE Open Strategy Seminar is a unique opportunity to explore the latest insights and practices in participatory strategy-making. Our engaging event will take place on March 13, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at Aalto University’s Marsio Hall (Otakaari 2A, Espoo). Why Should You Attend?

Insights from Open Strategy Workshop in Zurich

Our team recently participated in the anticipated workshop Oxford & Zurich Open Strategy Workshop: Taking Stock and Moving Forward. This esteemed event was aimed for scholars and practitioners to engage in meaningful dialogue about the current state and future direction of open strategy research. Our project delivered two research posters,

Insights from our strategy workshop at the leadership Summit

At the Burning Man European Leadership Summit (ELS) 2024, our team from the Open Strategy research project had the opportunity to conduct a dynamic strategy workshop with summit participants. The workshop aimed to delve into the intricacies of open strategizing, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of futures ahead. It

Exploring Open Strategy at the Burning Man European Leadership Summit 2024

This April, from the 5th to the 7th, the Burning Man European Leadership Summit (ELS) 2024 welcomed 250 Regional Contacts community builders and 40 Burning Man Project staff members from San Francisco to gather in Tallinn, Estonia. This summit was intended to be a collaborative learning environment where participants shared

Press release: Open Strategy - Why doing strategy in a participatory way is key to success and engagement?

How to get all employees on board when making the organization’s strategy? The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Aalto University, in collaboration with University of Oxford, is conducting a research project titled 'Open Strategy: Dynamics and Success Factors.' Funded by the Wallenberg foundation until 2026,

Meet the team

This team of curious scholars focuses on three core areas. Firstly, project PI Frank Martela specializes in meaningfulness, human motivation, and empowering organizations through decentralization. He holds two Ph.D.'s and his work has been published in prestigious journals and featured in various media outlets. Secondly, Eero Vaara,

Some of our favorite readings

While we engage with the project´s data collection and analysis, we would like to share insights gleaned from our recent publications and favored readings, enjoy! Vaara, E. & Rantakari, A. How orchestration both generates and reduces polyphony in narrative strategy-making. Organization Studies, forthcoming. Kohtamaki, M., Whittington, R., Vaara, E.

Project introduction

This project builds upon the research on open strategy by exploring the challenges of participation and self-management in strategy processes. The proponents of open and participatory approaches argue that involving organization's participants in setting organizational direction and strategy increases motivation, commitment, and goal alignment. Participation leads to commitment,

Check out the exciting cases

The organisations we study come from radically different backgrounds, and that is why we see this is so exciting, for both science and practice. The cases (not in order of importance) are following. Reaktor - https://www.reaktor.com/ Reaktor Innovations Oy, also known as Reaktor, is a Finnish company