Strategic thinking has evolved from a concept predominantly based on analysis, closely integrated with strategic planning, to a broader mindset, yet it remains strongly ‘head based’. The aim of this paper is to explore a context where a broader, more holistic perspective exists, focused on the connection of small- and medium-sized environmental organizations with the natural world, why and how this relationship influences strategic thinking and how it enables organizations to leverage limited resources. The research methodology reflects the rationale that a holistic perspective of strategic thinking is best understood by adopting an interpretivist research philosophy, using an inductive, ethnographic approach, focused on interpreting deep, rich layers of meaning within participant data to inform new theory and existing practice. The triangulated multi-method approach, within an embedded case study setting, comprised 38 individual interviews and 4 workshops (group interviews, participant observation) drawn from 29 organizations across the United Kingdom. The findings indicate that the strategic thinking process is emergent, complex, interconnected, informal and is embedded within pivotal places alongside governance, strategic planning and other key processes. Participants are driven by a strong embodied personal connection with nature, extending well beyond the cognitive dimension (mind) to a diverse range of sensibilities (heart, body and spirit) and share an experiential process of connection that binds them together as purpose- and value-driven organizations. The implication is that a connection to nature underpins all aspects of the strategic processes within participant organizations and is fundamentally important to decision-making at all levels, both strategic and implementational.

中文翻译：

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中小型环境组织与自然和可持续性的联系：动态战略思维方法

战略思维已经从一个主要基于分析、与战略规划紧密结合的概念演变为更广泛的思维方式，但它仍然强烈地“以头脑为基础”。本文的目的是探索存在更广泛、更全面的视角的背景，重点关注中小型环境组织与自然世界的联系，这种关系为什么以及如何影响战略思维，以及它如何使组织成为可能以利用有限的资源。研究方法反映了这样一个基本原理，即通过采用解释主义研究哲学，使用归纳的民族志方法，专注于解释参与者数据中深层、丰富的含义，从而为新理论和现有实践提供信息，最好地理解战略思维的整体观点。在嵌入式案例研究环境中，三角化多方法方法包括来自英国 29 个组织的 38 次个人访谈和 4 次研讨会（小组访谈、参与观察）。调查结果表明，战略思维过程是新兴的、复杂的、相互关联的、非正式的，并且与治理、战略规划和其他关键过程一起嵌入关键位置。参与者受到与自然的强烈体现的个人联系的驱动，远远超出认知维度（心智），延伸到各种情感（心、身体和精神），并分享将它们作为目的和价值结合在一起的体验式连接过程驱动的组织。