What combines both intended and emergent strategies?

The concept that combines both intended and emergent strategies is known as the realized strategy. This term refers to the actual strategy that an organization follows, which incorporates both the original plans laid out (intended strategy) and the adaptations or changes that arise in response to evolving circumstances and new information (emergent strategy).

Intended strategies are the plans that are formally articulated by management, reflecting what the organization aims to achieve. However, due to unpredictable factors such as market dynamics, competition, and internal challenges, an organization may find that its actual actions differ from what was initially intended.

Emergent strategies arise from the spontaneous decisions made by employees at various levels of the organization as they respond to real-time situations. This adaptive approach allows organizations to be flexible and responsive, thus often leading to successful outcomes that were not part of the original plan.

The realized strategy, therefore, serves as a blending of these two elements—bringing together the structured aspects of intended strategies with the adaptive qualities of emergent strategies, thereby offering a comprehensive view of how an organization navigates its environment and achieves its goals.