UC Berkeley

This paper develops a strategic interpretation of the dynamic capabilities framework and connects it with principles found in maneuver warfare. Although these bodies of thought emerged in different settings, they share a common logic that stresses the importance of shaping the environment, creating advantage through speed and adaptability, and influencing the decision cycles of rivals. The paper argues that sensing, seizing, and transforming have close parallels with the way maneuver warfare emphasizes agility, initiative, and psychological disruption. Bringing these ideas together provides a clearer understanding of how organizations can act effectively when technology, competition, and geopolitical conditions are changing rapidly. The analysis highlights the role of information flows, leadership attention, organizational structure, and cognitive processes in enabling coordinated action under uncertainty. The paper concludes by outlining the microfoundations that support environment shaping and by offering guidance for leaders who seek to build capability systems that allow their organizations to adapt and compete over the long term in both stable and fast moving environments.