Making the role of Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) your own

Scant research has been undertaken into the role of the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), that is, the determination of what a CSO does. As specialists in strategy practice, the Strategic Management Institute (SMI), the research arm of Paul Hunter Strategy and Leadership has evolved a representation of the role. It is based on raw experience in the field, empirical research, and conclusions drawn from corporate strategy specific publications. Our derived description of the role is presented in this video, as is a response to the question: “How does the SMI’s definition of the role of the CSO compare with actual demand? To draw a comparison an analysis of CSO position descriptions drawn from LinkedIn advertisements in Australia, London, New York and San Francisco were reviewed and conclusions drawn. It will be a surprise for many to learn that one critical component of the CSO’s role is missing from formal job descriptions, even though its existence is vital to the long-term survival of many corporations.A written version of this podcast is available to CSOsanbox subscribers. Submissions can be made at our web site website: www.CSOsandbox.com. References applicable to parts of this video are as follows:References1. Hunter, P., Corporate Strategy (Remastered) II: A Fieldbook, Implementing High Performance Strategy and Leadership, Routledge, Oxford, UK, 20202. Hunter, P., Corporate Strategy (Remastered) I: High Performance Strategy and Leadership in a Volatile, Disrupted World, Routledge, Oxford, UK, 20203. Ansoff, H.I. (1965), Corporate Strategy, New York: McGraw-Hill 4. Pfeifer, S., The Financial Times, London, UK 21 May 2023. Accessed 25 may, 2023 https://www.ft.com/content/3436ab7e-728f-4ca0-9cde-d51ab2c4b90e 5. BHP, Our Strategy https://www.bhp.com/about/strategy, Accessed 15 May 20236. Rademakers, M., Corporate Universities as Drivers of Organizational Learning, Routledge, Oxford, UK, 2014.7. Allen, L., “Chocolate Fortunes; the Battle for the Hearts and Minds, and Wallets of China’s Consumers”, AMACOM, 20108. Mars Edge, https://www.mars.com/our-brands/edge, Accessed 25 May 2023From the CSOsandbox Podcast Channel, The CFO Strategy Brief delivers focused, strategy‑led conversations for CFOs, CEOs and senior executives working at the intersection of finance, business strategy and organisational design. Each episode examines how modern CFOs connect capital allocation, digital transformation and risk intelligence to long‑term corporate purpose and enterprise‑wide outcomes.image.jpgWe explore how to design and govern strategy systems that turn complex realities into clear, forward‑looking choices – from funding growth and reshaping operating models to leading transformation in volatile conditions. The podcast sits within a broader strategic intelligence ecosystem that links executive education, research and analytics for CFOs and corporate leaders.Insights are powered by the Stratāgaia Power BI app and informed by the books Corporate Strategy (Remastered) I & II and Corporation of the Future (Routledge). Learn more at www.smiknowledge.com, connect with our strategic intelligence and learning platforms via www.phsandl.com, or explore the full episode library at https://csosandbox.buzzsprout.com.