Power of the Vague

This paper investigates the role of strategic artifacts in realizing change in two Swedish cities. Drawing from qualitative studies of city development projects we illustrate how ambiguous formulations in vision statements constitute a powerful basis for legitimizing actions. As part of establishing linkages between future-oriented vision statements and concrete actions here and now, we highlight the role of materialization. We provide three examples of how the vision statements studied materialized—into organizational structures, management control systems, and communication efforts—and discuss how such materialization implies that only some parts of broad vision statements are translated into practice

Business · Control (management · Economics · Epistemology · Knowledge management · Management science · Political science · Power (physics · Process management · Sociology · Artificial Intelligence · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Computer Science · Management and Organizational Studies · Public Policy and Administration Research

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