In a world where the new often collides with the old, Tradition as Resource or Constraint for Strategic Action examines the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation. Spanning industries from fashion to sports and from gastronomy to design, the researchers present a meticulously curated anthology of research discussing the dual role of tradition—as both a stabilizing anchor, and a springboard for strategic change.

Volume 44 provides insight into the challenges businesses face when trying to innovate without compromising their historical values, emphasizing the importance of balancing the old and the new. Traditional practices can be reimagined to satisfy contemporary needs, ensuring the essence of the past is preserved, whilst still keeping up with the spirit of innovation.

By focusing on this intersection between tradition and invention, this compilation not only marks a resurgence of interest in the interplay between traditional mores and strategic innovation but also serves as crucial reading for strategists and leaders. It equips them with the insights needed to balance a reverence for historical legacies with the imperatives of forward-thinking innovation—charting a course for a future that both honours and renews the past.

Gino Cattani is Professor of Management and Organizations at the New York University, USA, and Series Editor for the Advances in Strategic Management series.

Simone Ferriani is Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Bayes Business School at the City University of London, UK, a lifetime member of Clare-Hall College at the University of Cambridge, UK, and Visiting Fellow of the Center on Organizational Innovation at Columbia University, USA.

Innan Sasaki is Professor of Organisation Studies at Warwick Business School, UK.