Strategy Development
We help organisations develop strategy that is coherent, identity-aligned, context-sensitive, and collectively owned
Why strategy implementation often fails
Too often, strategy is developed in isolation from the people who are expected to deliver it. It becomes a set of glossy slides rather than a shared commitment. Even the most technically brilliant strategy can fail if it doesn’t make sense to those who have to make it work.
At Synact, we approach strategy through the lens of the Social Identity Model of High-Reliability Organisations (SIM-HRO) (Haslam et al., 2022). This model draws on decades of research to highlight what distinguishes organisations that consistently deliver under pressure: they build and sustain a shared sense of identity (what Weick & Roberts, 1993 call “collective mind”).
Grounded in the SIM-HRO and enabled through an adapted version of the 5R Leadership Framework, our approach recognises that strategy succeeds when it is:
Coherent: Internally consistent and logically structured
Identity-aligned: Built around a clear sense of who “we” want to become
Context-sensitive: Adapted to structural realities and frontline insight
Resourced: Supported by people, systems, and structures that enable implementation
Collectively owned: Shaped with, not just for, the people who will deliver it
Strategy that works isn’t just strategic. It’s identity-aligned.
Our approach
We believe strategy must be primarily developed ‘bottom-up’. While executive alignment is essential, real traction comes when those closest to the work help shape the direction (see Peters et al., 2013). That’s why we work alongside executive leaders, strategy teams, and whole-of-organisation working groups to:
Clarify the organisation’s identity and strategic aspirations
Surface and address barriers to alignment and action
Facilitate strategic conversations that promote ownership and insight
Align leadership behaviour with strategic direction
Our approach combines the best of strategy design, implementation science, and the social identity approach.
FAQs
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We work with organisations across sectors: government, higher education, healthcare, utilities, and the private sector. What they have in common is complexity, and a commitment to building strategy that is lived, not just written.
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We don’t recommend one-off strategy workshops. Strategy alignment takes time and requires meaningful engagement across the organisation. Our preference is to work with leadership to create a structured process where teams have a voice in shaping the direction. We help facilitate that process, provide guidance grounded in the social identity approach, and support internal capability building, so the organisation owns both the strategy and the pathway to implementation.
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Absolutely. Our work is designed to complement and strengthen existing frameworks by focusing on the people who bring strategy to life. We build alignment around what matters most: identity, clarity, and commitment.
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Yes. We support organisations across the full strategy lifecycle, from initial design through capability building and review. While we advise on implementation, we intentionally taper our involvement during execution. We believe our role is to help build your internal capability, not create dependency on external consultants.