The Ability to Think Strategically: Can it be Developed via Academic Education?

Abstract: Purpose - Due to a need of the ability to think strategically in today’s business world, the purpose of this study is to examine on the question whether strategic thinking can be developed via academic education. Methodology - Two samples of the program Industriell Ekonomi, fifth-year students and first-year students, were tested regarding their ability to think strategically. The test was conducted using a tool called Cognitive Process Profile (CPP), which measures a person’s intellectual functioning and cognitive preferences. The results were compared to the contents of the academic program to infer whether the differences arise from the impact of the academic program. Findings - The results showed a higher ability to think strategically in the fifth-year students compared to the first-year students of the program. Significant differences have been found regarding their Potential Levels of Work as well as in the Information Processing Competencies said to facilitate strategic thinking. Conclusion - The higher ability to think strategically of the fifth-year students can be a result of the impact of the program, since the structure of the program is designed in a way, that can be said to facilitate strategic thinking. Contribution - This study contributes to new insights on the topic of strategic thinking in general, and particularly in connection to the development of strategic thinking via academic education.