Strategi i praksis: En kvalitativ undersøgelse af danske SMV'ers arbejde med strategi

Hansen, Patrick Harpøth ; Hansen, Anders Aaen

4. semester

Erhvervsøkonomi (Organisation, Strategi og Ledelse) (cand.merc.), Kandidat

2025

2025-06-01

92 pages

This thesis explores the challenges small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Denmark face when attempting to implement strategy, and examines how pragmatic approaches may help address these difficulties. Drawing on a critical realist approach, the study combines a systematic literature review with four qualitative case studies of Danish SMEs. The cases are based on semi-structured interviews with strategically responsible leaders and analyzed abductively through themes of structure, flexibility, and strategic adaptation. Theoretically, the thesis integrates Mintzberg’s configuration theory alongside Curado et al.’s perspective on management control systems, Sarasvathy’s effectuation theory, and Teece’s dynamic capabilities framework in combination with Quansah et al.’s notion of adaptive practices to explore how Danish SMEs balance structure and adaptability in strategy execution. The findings show that SMEs face significant challenges, including limited resources, weak formal structures, and growing complexity due to digital and regulatory demands. However, many SMEs seem to respond by engaging in pragmatic forms of strategy execution, characterized by experiential learning, ongoing adaptation, and informal coordination. Rather than relying on formal systems, they employ small-scale experiments, contextual improvisation, and digital or network-based tools to ensure strategic initiatives are actionable and aligned with everyday practices. The thesis offers a practice-oriented contribution to the literature by illustrating how Danish SMEs navigate between structure and flexibility in specific contexts, and how leaders enact strategy within complex, resource-constrained environments. These insights provide valuable input for both researchers and practitioners seeking to support strategic development in SMEs.

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