The paper, Towards a Model of Strategic Renewal: How Corporate Purpose Shapes Strategizing Practices, was written together with Nicole Steller (ESCP Business School, Spain) and Albena Björk (ZHAW School of Management and Law, Switzerland).

Purpose as a driver of renewal

The award-winning paper explores how an organisation’s purpose can act as a strategic mechanism for renewal — not merely as rhetoric, but as a tangible force that connects ideals with action. The research shows how purpose bridges the gap between strategizing and organising, symbolism and practice, and vision and measurable outcomes.

Long-term collaboration with industry

The study draws on an exceptional long-term collaboration with a for-profit organisation in a contested industry, offering in-depth insights into how purpose-driven strategy can enable real organisational transformation.

Connecting purpose to change

‘Our motivation remains the same, and our journey continues,’ says Volberda. ‘We want to make this research matter by exploring and connecting purpose, strategy and renewal in ways that shape meaningful change in organisations.’