Strategizing through playful design

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize strategizing as a playful design practice; illustrate this view by describing a process for fostering effective strategic play; outline the benefits of the process and discuss how executives can play effectively. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a concept development with a case illustration. Findings – The paper finds that strategizing through playful design offers both an alternative conceptual lens as well as a novel practice of strategizing. Originality/value – Strategizing through playful design is a useful complement to dry, conventional strategic planning processes and helps to open up and orient fruitful debate about an organization ' s particular strategic challenges.