Abstract/Summary

International contracting remains of critical importance to the developing markets of the global economy. Contractors have long since had a strategic interest in establishing a presence in emerging international markets characterized by high levels of economic and political uncertainty. Such inherent uncertainties render established ideas of competitive positioning problematic. An alternative perspective is developed which focuses on the day-to-day enactment of strategy through the medium of narrative. Narrative interviews with senior managers from Turkish international contracting firms provide insights into the contested storylines of strategy making. The plot structures mobilized are seen to comprise strategy making “in flight”. Senior managers are seen continuously to test emergent narratives against different audiences for the purposes of enhancing their persuasiveness. The aim is to instill an overall sense of coherence and direction among those with whom they interact. The temporal narratives mobilize