Strategy for Complex Systems
For many years, Prof. Dr. Christoph Ph. Schließmann has been exploring how companies can be strategically managed within increasingly complex and dynamic systems.
His work brings people together:
- strategic management
- Systems Theory
- Complexity Research
- Practical Business Analysis
The goal is to develop strategies that not only describe short-term competitive positions but also ensure the long-term viability of companies.
Research Focus
At the heart of his work lies the question:
How can companies remain viable in the long term within complex systems?
This question gave rise to a number of concepts and methods, including:
- the strategically relevant market (SRM) model
- The Schließmann Strategy Cube
- Methods for Analyzing Systemic Interdependencies
- Approaches to Assessing Organizational Viability
These concepts combine traditional strategic analysis with a systemic approach to complexity.
Strategic Thinking in Complex Systems
A key finding of this research is the realization that many traditional strategic models are now only of limited use in today's markets.
Today's markets are characterized by:
- high levels of interdependence
- technological dynamics
- global value chains
- social and regulatory changes
Under these conditions, strategy can no longer be understood solely as a planning process.
Instead, it becomes a leadership task within complex systems.
Viability as a Strategic Framework
In his work, Schließmann describes a company’s viability as a key strategic objective.
Viability refers to an organization's ability to
- Recognizing changes early on
- to adapt structurally
- to weather crises
- Seizing opportunities
Strategic leadership, therefore, is not only about securing competitive advantages, but above all about shaping the company’s long-term structural viability.
Combining theory and practice
The models developed are used for both scientific and practical purposes.
They are used in:
- Strategy Workshops
- Company analyses
- transformation processes
- Governance and Leadership Structures
The goal is always to conduct a realistic strategic assessment and develop viable courses of action.
Partnership with Ontonix
As part of his work, he began collaborating with Dr. Jacek Marczyk, the founder of Ontonix.
Ontonix has developed methods for the quantitative measurement of complexity in technical and industrial systems.
By combining this technology with strategic business analysis, a set of tools was developed for examining:
- Interdependencies
- structural complexity
- systemic resilience of organizations
These methods are now an important part of strategic AI analysis.
Publications and Works
The concepts were developed, among other things, as part of research and publications on the topic of
Strategy and Viability in Complex Systems
developed and discussed.
>> PUBLICATIONS
Purpose of the study
Christoph Schließmann's work has a clear goal:
To provide companies with the tools they need to understand and shape their strategic reality in complex markets.
The strategic concept behind StrategyAI
StrategyAI emerged from this work.
The platform connects:
- strategic market analysis
- Systemic Business Analysis
- Complexity Assessment
toward an integrated method for assessing the viability of businesses.
Next step
If you are interested in conducting a strategic assessment of your company, you can start with an initial workshop or a strategic status analysis.
Request a strategy workshop