An Analysis of Deliberate and Emergent Strategies Relative to Porter's Generic Differentiator and Cost Leader: A Bias and Variance Modeling Approach

Abstract

This study is a response to a scholarly debate that took place in the Strategic Management Journal between Henry Mintzberg (1990, 1991) and Igor Ansoff (1991) concerning their theories of emergent versus deliberate strategies. Prior to the debate, Mintzberg and Waters (1985) indicated an interest in knowing whether "... cost leadership strategies might prove more deliberate (specifically, more often planned) .." or "... differentiation strategies more emergent." Therefore this study considers how deliberate and emergent strategies relate to Porter's (1985) generic differentiator and cost leader.