JOURNAL ARTICLE

HOW TO AVOID THE AGILITY TRAP.

  • Published In: Harvard Business Review, 2024, v. 102, n. 6. P. 126 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Liao, Jianwen; Zhu, Feng 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the concept of strategic constancy as a more effective approach than agility for achieving sustainable growth in rapidly changing business environments. It argues that firms like Suning, which aggressively pursued agility by continuously adapting to market shifts and diversifying, often face erosion of competitive advantages, strategic myopia, and organizational chaos. In contrast, strategic constancy involves anchoring a company's strategy in a few enduring factors—such as core values, customer relationships, and key competencies—and maintaining a long-term vision while adapting selectively around these constants. Examples include Amazon's focus on consistent customer needs and Costco's supply chain excellence, illustrating how firms can build resilience and sustained competitive advantage by emphasizing depth over breadth. The article outlines a four-step process for implementing strategic constancy: adopting future-back thinking, identifying strategic constants, matching them to capabilities, and adapting within those boundaries.

Additional Information

  • Source:Harvard Business Review. 2024/11, Vol. 102, Issue 6, p126
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Economics
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0017-8012
  • Accession Number:180257761
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