Holistic Innovation Strategy Mix to Build Strategic Resilience: A Case Study Analysis

Strategic resilience refers to an organization’s capability to prepare for and minimize the impact of critical developments in dynamic environments. The realization of innovation strategies is widely assumed to be important for building this proactive capability. However, research on this relationship remains limited; in particular, there is a lack of empirical insight into which strategies matter most, how they should be combined, and how they can be effectively implemented. To help fill this research gap, we draw on qualitative data from two case study firms in the German energy industry that employ different innovation strategies to enhance their strategic resilience. Our analysis highlights the importance of combining multiple innovation strategies to achieve strategic resilience (e.g., internal and external strategy combinations, cross-border strategy combinations, and a holistic innovation strategy mix). A holistic innovation strategy mix is key to realizing the full resilience potential, as it gives rise to three resilience-enhancing conditions: inter-organizational diversity, intra-organizational participation, and integrative learning processes. This study and the proposed framework illustrate how innovation strategies and strategic resilience are linked and provide a useful foundation for future research. In addition, the findings offer practical insights - particularly for managers in the energy sector - on how to strengthen strategic resilience through the effective implementation of innovation strategies.