Presenting a Conceptual Model of the Effectiveness of Storytelling at Different Stages of Strategic Management in Organizations

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31181/msa21202510

Keywords:

Organizational Storytelling, Strategic Management, Common Sense, Organizational Strategies, Story

Abstract

In the two decades since storytelling has been called "spreading the common sense of organizations". Research and study in the field of storytelling in management has devoted a wide range of research. Organizational storytelling is a new and modern management technique that has led to the success of many executive projects in large and famous organizations. Therefore, the necessity and importance of familiarizing Iranian organizations with this new management technique is evident. Organizational strategies, like old stories, are long-term processes. Strategies and strategic plans focus on the long-term goals and processes of the organization. Strategies are a tool for achieving long-term goals. Considering these cases, this article presents a conceptual model of the effectiveness of storytelling in various strategic management processes in organizations. A conceptual model with 20 storytelling applications has been presented. Experts in this study have also approved this model, and different statistical tests, including the binomial test and Friedman, have also been used for its validity, reliability, and performance. For the case study, Madiran Industrial Group, one of the leading companies in the information technology field, is selected. The results indicate that only nine out of 20 suggested uses of organizational storytelling are used in this organization. It should be noted that this research is one of the first studies to examine and create a conceptual framework for using organizational storytelling in strategic management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Vivek, R., & Nanthagopan, Y. (2023). Storytelling as a Qualitative Approach for Organizational Management. European Journal of Management Issues, 31(2), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.15421/192310.

Daradkeh, M.K. (2021). An empirical examination of the relationship between data storytelling competency and business performance: the mediating role of decision-making quality. Journal of Organizational and End User Computing (JOEUC), 33(5), 42-73. https://doi.org/10.4018/JOEUC.20210901.oa3.

Farzaneh, M., Wilden, R., Afshari, L., & Mehralian, G. (2022). Dynamic capabilities and innovation ambidexterity: The roles of intellectual capital and innovation orientation. Journal of Business Research, 148, 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.04.030.

Vila-Henninger, L., Dupuy, C., Van Ingelgom, V., Caprioli, M., Teuber, F., Pennetreau, D., et al. (2024). Abductive coding: Theory building and qualitative (re) analysis. Sociological Methods & Research, 53(2), 968-1001. https://doi.org/10.1177/00491241211067508.

AlTaweel, I.R., & Al-Hawary, S.I. (2021). The mediating role of innovation capability on the relationship between strategic agility and organizational performance. Sustainability, 13(14), 7564. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147564.

Mäkelä, M., & Meretoja, H. (2022). Critical approaches to the storytelling boom. Poetics Today, 43(2), 191-218. https://doi.org/10.1215/03335372-9642567.

Kemp, A., Gravois, R., Syrdal, H., & McDougal, E. (2023). Storytelling is not just for marketing: Cultivating a storytelling culture throughout the organization. Business Horizons, 66(3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.01.008.

Al Harazi, Y.K., Tian, G., Shah, S.A.A., Al Harazi, A.K., Alwan, S.Y., & Amer, A.M.A. (2023). Unlocking the potential of e-commerce in Yemen: Identifying key impacting factors and exploring strategic solutions. Sustainability, 15(18), 13712. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813712.

Osei-Tutu, A.A. (2023). Developing African oral traditional storytelling as a framework for studying with African peoples. Qualitative Research, 23(6), 1497-1514. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941221082263.

Nee, R.C., & Santana, A.D. (2022). Podcasting the pandemic: exploring storytelling formats and shifting journalistic norms in news podcasts related to the coronavirus. Journalism Practice, 16(8), 1559-1577. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1882874.

Mills, A.J., & John, J. (2025). Brand stories: bringing narrative theory to brand management. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 33(1), 35-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2020.1853201.

Myers, C.G. (2022). Storytelling as a tool for vicarious learning among air medical transport crews. Administrative Science Quarterly, 67(2), 378-422. https://doi.org/10.1177/00018392211058426.

Kemp, A., Gravois, R., Syrdal, H., & McDougal, E. (2023). Storytelling is not just for marketing: Cultivating a storytelling culture throughout the organization. Business Horizons, 66(3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.01.008.

Osburn, L.D. (2025). Telling stories about vendors: narrative practices to negotiate risk and establish an organizational cybersecurity culture. Journal of Cybersecurity, 11(1), tyae030. https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyae030.

Marshall, H., Wilkins, K., & Bennett, L. (2023). Story thinking for technology foresight. Futures, 146, 103098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2023.103098.

Kluger, A.N., & Itzchakov, G. (2022). The power of listening at work. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 9(1), 121-146. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012420-091013.

Kemp, A., Gravois, R., Syrdal, H., & McDougal, E. (2023). Storytelling is not just for marketing: Cultivating a storytelling culture throughout the organization. Business Horizons, 66(3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.01.008.

Palioura, M., & Dimoulas, C. (2022). Digital storytelling in education: A transmedia integration approach for the non-developers. Education Sciences, 12(8), 559. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12080559.

Chang, J. (2025). The mediating role of brand image in the relationship between storytelling marketing and purchase intention: case study of PX mart. Future Business Journal, 11(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-025-00447-4.

Kemp, A., Gravois, R., Syrdal, H., & McDougal, E. (2023). Storytelling is not just for marketing: Cultivating a storytelling culture throughout the organization. Business Horizons, 66(3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.01.008.

Sung, E., Han, D.I.D., Choi, Y.K., Gillespie, B., Couperus, A., & Koppert, M. (2023). Augmented digital human vs. human agents in storytelling marketing: Exploratory electroencephalography and experimental studies. Psychology & Marketing, 40(11), 2428-2446. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21898.

Júnior, J.R.D.O., Limongi, R., Lim, W.M., Eastman, J.K., & Kumar, S. (2023). A story to sell: The influence of storytelling on consumers' purchasing behavior. Psychology & Marketing, 40(2), 239-261. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21758.

Mavilinda, H. F., Putri, Y. H., & Nazaruddin, A. (2023). Is Storytelling Marketing Effective in Building Customer Engagement and Driving Purchase Decisions?. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 14(2), 274-296. https://doi.org/10.18196/mb.v14i2.17830.

Cordeil, M., Servais, A., Truong, G., Dwyer, T., Vyas, D., & Hurter, C. (2025). The Presenter in the Browser: Design and Evaluation of Human Interactive Overlays with Web Content. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 9(2), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/mti9020010.

Dessart, L., & Standaert, W. (2023). Strategic storytelling in the age of sustainability. Business Horizons, 66(3), 371-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2023.01.005.

Kemp, A., Gravois, R., Syrdal, H., & McDougal, E. (2023). Storytelling is not just for marketing: Cultivating a storytelling culture throughout the organization. Business Horizons, 66(3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2023.01.008.

McDowell, K. (2021). Storytelling wisdom: Story, information, and DIKW. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 72(10), 1223-1233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.01.008.

Brown, A.D., Gabriel, Y., & Gherardi, S. (2009). Storytelling and change: An unfolding story. Organization, 16(3), 323-333. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508409102298.

Mitchell, S.L., & Clark, M. (2021). Telling a different story: How nonprofit organizations reveal strategic purpose through storytelling. Psychology & Marketing, 38(1), 142-158. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21429.

Rideout, J.C. (2008). Storytelling, narrative rationality, and legal persuasion. Legal Writing: Journal of Legal Writing Instute, 14, 53.

Küpers, W., Mantere, S., & Statler, M. (2013). Strategy as storytelling: A phenomenological collaboration. Journal of Management Inquiry, 22(1), 83-100. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492612439089.

Snowden, D. (1999). Story telling: an old skill in a new context. Business Information Review, 16(1), 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266382994237045.

Block, E., & Lovegrove, R. (2021). Discordant storytelling,‘honest fakery’, identity peddling: How uncanny CGI characters are jamming public relations and influencer practices. Public Relations Inquiry, 10(3), 265-293. https://doi.org/10.1177/2046147X211026936.

Deacon, B., & Murphey, T. (2001). Deep impact storytelling. English Teaching Forum, 39(4), 10-15.

Meidlinger, K.B. (1994). We come to tell our story; we come to break the bread. The organizational stories of a parish staff. San Jose State University.

Tyler, J.A. (2007). Incorporating storytelling into practice: How HRD practitioners foster strategic storytelling. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 18(4), 559-587. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.1219.

Perret, R., Borges, M.R., & Santoro, F.M. (2004). Applying group storytelling in knowledge management. In: International Conference on Collaboration and Technology (pp. 34-41). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30112-7_4.

Zhang, X., & Ramayah, T. (2024). Solving the mystery of storytelling in destination marketing: A systematic review. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 59, 222-237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2024.04.013.

Van Assche, K., Verschraegen, G., & Gruezmacher, M. (2021). Strategy for collectives and common goods: Coordinating strategy, long-term perspectives and policy domains in governance. Futures, 128, 102716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102716.

Hansen, J.R., Pop, M., Skov, M.B., & George, B. (2024). A review of open strategy: bridging strategy and public management research. Public Management Review, 26(3), 678-700. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2022.2116091.

Gorzelany, J., Gorzelany–Dziadkowiec, M., Luty, L., Firlej, K., Gaisch, M., Dudziak, O., & Scott, C. (2021). Finding links between organisation’s culture and innovation. The impact of organisational culture on university innovativeness. Plos one, 16(10), e0257962. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257962.

Prince, M., & Forr, J. (2021). Metaphor elicitation: A new way to assess organizational culture. The Psychologist-Manager Journal, 24(4), 199. https://doi.org/10.1037/mgr0000118.

Nordensvard, J., & Ketola, M. (2022). Populism as an act of storytelling: analyzing the climate change narratives of Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg as populist truth-tellers. Environmental Politics, 31(5), 861-882. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2021.1996818.

Lane, A. (2023). Towards a theory of organizational storytelling for public relations: An engagement perspective. Public Relations Review, 49(1), 102297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2023.102297.

Published

2025-03-24

How to Cite

Hajiakhondi, A. ., Sadeghi, A., & Karbbasi Yazdi, A. (2025). Presenting a Conceptual Model of the Effectiveness of Storytelling at Different Stages of Strategic Management in Organizations. Management Science Advances, 2(1), 91-106. https://doi.org/10.31181/msa21202510