The adoption of sustainable strategic management practices in the international volatile business environment within the Zimbabwean food industry

Orientation: The Zimbabwean food industry faces challenges in adopting sustainable strategic management practices (SSMPs) because of the volatile global business environment. These practices are crucial for maintaining competitive advantage and ensuring long-term sustainability, but not following the right formulation, implementation, and evaluation can lead to initiatives failing to address the issues. Research purpose: This study investigates the adoption and implementation of SSMPs in Zimbabwe’s food industry, identifying drivers and obstacles, analysing the impact of global business landscape, and suggesting strategies for improving sustainable practices. Motivation for the study: Driven by the urgent need for sustainable development and strategic resilience in fluctuating markets, this study seeks to provide insights that can enhance the adaptive capacity of Zimbabwean food businesses. Research design, approach and method: Employing a qualitative methodology, the research utilised stratified and purposive sampling to conduct interviews with 23 participants from five key gatekeeper entities within the Zimbabwean food sector. Main findings: The findings indicate that while SSMP adoption is recognised as beneficial, its implementation is hampered by resource constraints, regulatory challenges, and a lack of strategic alignment with international best practices. Practical/managerial implications: To foster effective SSMP adoption, managers should focus on enhancing resource allocation, aligning practices with global standards, and fostering a culture of sustainability within their organisations. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the literature on strategic management by providing context-specific insights into SSMPs in Zimbabwe, offering practical recommendations for improving sustainable practices in volatile environments.