Influence of military experience, strategic management behavior, and inspirational leadership behavior in strategy execution

As more veterans leave or retire from the military, the question remains as to whether having military experience will be enough to help them make a successful transition into the civilian job sector. Military veterans seeking work in managerial positions would be better served if they had a roadmap to learn which military-learned skills can lead to a successful second career as a business manager. Many of these U.S. veterans will have to adapt to a new workplace culture and different management practices. This research paper will be used to analyze and define the science of strategic management and explore the ability for certain managers to perform as strategic managers and inspirational leaders to become executive strategists. This research will use a triangulation method--using quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the possible relationship between a senior manager's inspirational leadership behavior and strategic management behavior. The study will examine if military experience plays a role in performing as an executive strategist. The research will also explore if U.S. firms have a statistically significant higher rate of financial performance when they are led by chief executive officers (CEOs) with prior military experience.