STRATEGY IN COMPLEXITY

Complex adaptive societal issues and wicked problems in general can be overwhelming and disheartening, and reductionist policies or strategies can lead organizations to collapse in VUCA-BANI situations. By understanding and embracing complexity, uncertainty, emergence and chaos, an organization can purposefully shape its destiny despite the unknown unknowns. But our future is what we can make of it today; it is linked to our current state-of-affairs, our creative imaginations, and the journey we undertake to go there. In today's world, an organization must be able to concurrently address its persistent, recurring, adaptive, entangled and/or multi-layered complex issues and its systemic weaknesses. It must also be able to anticipate and tackle risks and other looming dangers, while journeying to the future it seeks, that is, one in which it will thrive. Any strategy falling short of these broad imperatives would be incomplete and vain. Accordingly, the approach to 'Strategy in Complexity' has been designed as a three-tier construct to continually manage the present/short-term, address the medium term, and shape the long-term (the organization's future) in a continuum. With an Applied Systems Thinking methodology, such a strategy can address the known unknowns as well as the unknown unknowns.
'Strategy in Complexity' is suitable for any organization or institution confronted with complex, disruptive, entangled, or emergent challenges, and looking for an appropriate strategy, ways, and means to navigate the chaos toward a safer tomorrow. In VUCA-BANI, strategy is not about long-term planning and executing deterministic plans with pre-set goals, but rather about leading with purpose, learning with intent, adjusting with resolve, and creating adaptive ways forward while journeying to a desired future. To maneuver along these lines, a S-A-F-E (Systemic, Adaptive, Foresightful, Endogenous) and Purposeful Strategy is called for. The book thus redefines strategy and competition, shows how to articulate the future one seeks, with strategic and critical thinking guidelines, and explains how to shape it.
'Strategy in Complexity' focuses on the approach and its underlying principles. Procedures to create and trek Pathways, which are better suited than Roadmaps, are developed. The KYO (Know Your Organization) exercise, which provides more context-related insights that a SWOT-Analysis, is illustrated. The concept of 'Strategic Opportunities', which reframes the notion of future-competition, is introduced. The need for Systemic Leadership is explained. In effect, the book is a pragmatic guide to leading and future-proofing organizations, and shaping one's desired future, in VUCA-BANI. It provides sense-making and actionable insights to business owners, strategists, leaders, managers, and thinkers. It is intended for private, public, and plural organizations alike, and is expected to resonate well with an audience seeking forthright implementation. Also, academics in the Management and Strategy fields can benefit from its underpinnings and context-related approach.