The Evolution of Strategic Management Theory: A Systematic Literature Review on the Role of Strategic Leadership
Keywords:
Strategic Leadership Capability, Dynamic Capabilities, Digital Ecosystem, Strategic Management, SLDE FrameworkAbstract
The increasing complexity of the global business environment driven by digital disruption, globalization, and economic uncertainty has fundamentally challenged the explanatory capacity of established strategic management theories. Since the 1960s, the field has evolved from corporate planning and industrial organization perspectives toward more dynamic approaches, including the resource-based view (RBV), knowledge-based view (KBV), dynamic capabilities, and digital ecosystem strategies. However, this theoretical progression remains fragmented, particularly in its limited ability to account for the role of leadership as an integrative force in strategy formulation and execution. This study aims to critically examine the evolution of strategic management theory from 1960 to 2025 and to identify its key conceptual limitations in explaining how strategic direction is shaped and coordinated. Using a systematic literature review based on a PRISMA-guided chronological approach, this study synthesizes major theoretical developments and evaluates their underlying assumptions. The findings reveal a persistent bias toward explaining “what firms possess” and “how firms compete,” while neglecting “who directs strategy” and “how strategic integration is achieved.” This gap leads to an incomplete understanding of strategic adaptation in complex environments. As a novel contribution, this study proposes the Strategic Leadership-Based Dynamic Ecosystem (SLDE) framework, which reconceptualizes strategic leadership as the central mechanism that integrates dynamic capabilities, knowledge resources, and digital ecosystems. By explicitly positioning leadership as the core driver of strategic coherence and adaptability, this study offers a more integrative perspective that extends existing theory and provides a clearer foundation for future research in strategic management.
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