• home
  • clients
  • blog
  • contact
Menu

Asking Better Questions Ltd

Street Address
Nottingham NG7 1AA
07989402909
curiosity • clarity • action

Your Custom Text Here

Asking Better Questions Ltd

  • home
  • clients
  • blog
  • contact

How can businesses thrive in VUCA worlds?

March 19, 2024 Steve Hobbs
ABQ_Strategy whiteboard.jpg

VUCA is a leadership development framework that identifies Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity as elements that businesses must engage with and adapt to.

Thanks to a global pandemic reaping devastation and destruction on our health, welfare and economic systems, we are reacting to unprecedented change. However, a nineteenth-century edition of Scientific American gives some clue as to why the times we live in aren’t so unusual:

“We are living in the most complex and rapid-changing of times. The pace of technological innovation, like never before, is challenging the way we operate’’.

So, perhaps, let’s not go overboard in thinking that things are more complex than ever before. 

Our challenge now is getting to grips with practical ways of dealing with this complex and dynamic environment. 

How can we turn VUCA into strategy? 

There is a really straightforward and accessible article that examines how organisations can thrive in VUCA worlds. Written by Paul J. H. Schoemaker, Sohvi Heaton and David Teece and published in the California Management Review 2018 Vol 61 (1) 16-42, it presents practical ideas that can be adopted whatever the size or scope of your business.

There are some key principles it establishes straight away: 

  • Traditional ways of operating will hamper you in your ability to succeed.  

  • On the other hand, organisations that focus on new product and process developments coupled with business model innovation will leverage their dynamic capabilities. 

  • It notes that an essential overlay is entrepreneurial leadership from top management teams because strong dynamic capabilities are impossible without it. 

Sceptics have been known to question whether businesses can really be transformed in this way, particularly those in more traditional industries and sectors. So many businesses operate using a traditional model where the philosophy seems to be:

“We pay you, therefore we own you. We decide when you must arrive in the office, when you can leave and when you can go on holiday. We bill for your work and demand your attention to detail and productivity.”

This is an effective, profitable model, otherwise it wouldn’t dominate our working culture. However, can this continue when new, disruptive models are emerging and showing that they work?

Happiness by design

Consider Keystone Law. A great article published on Clic.co.uk in March 2019 highlights the development of this legal firm:

“No unnecessary meetings. Zero office politics. Is this professional-services nirvana?’ 

A complete restructure of the traditional professional services firm. Everyone has the same job title, everyone is on the same deal.  There are no office politics.

As James Knight, Founder and CEO shares: “We don’t own our people. Everyone could leave tomorrow if they wanted to. But they don’t and we’re growing faster now than ever before. Keystone Law is the happiest law firm in the world.  This is happiness by design.”

A similar story emerges in the accountancy world.  PKF Cooper Parry was named the best company to work for in Europe in January 2019 as reported in an article in Love Business East Midlands.

Ade Cheatham, CEO Copper Party, shares

“We’re tearing up the rulebook when it comes to culture. Our unique culture and philosophy on engaging our teams keep getting us recognised.  And importantly, our growth, client advocacy scores and regular testimonials show it’s working for clients. Doubling in size since 2015, we’re ahead of the curve in our bold ambition to become a ¬£150m+ business..”

Explore your options, stick to your choices

Playing to Win: How strategy really works

Playing to Win: How strategy really works

Both the organisations above have made choices and have stuck with them.  As A. G. Lafley, Roger L Martin in  Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works have pointed out:

“Ultimately, this is a story about choices, including the choice to create a discipline of strategic thinking and strategic practice within an organisation.”


How do you design your happy place? What can you include in your strategic decision making to improve your chances of thriving in a VUCA world?  Why not book a complimentary, one to one session with Steve Hobbs to explore how you can ask better questions, provide clarity and initiate action within your business?

In strategy+leadership Tags VUCA, Leadership, Strategy, SME, Business Planning
← The Business Model Canvas – what is it and why do you need it?Personal and Business Motivations – Who are you and what is your ‘why'? →
 

news + notes + people + places


Featured
How do you complete your Business Canvas Model?
Mar 29, 2024
strategy+leadership
How do you complete your Business Canvas Model?
Mar 29, 2024
strategy+leadership

In this article Executive coach and facilitator Steve Hobbs looks at how to truly get the best out of The Business Model Canvas and implement actions for business success.

Mar 29, 2024
strategy+leadership
What the VUCA?
Mar 29, 2024
strategy+leadership
What the VUCA?
Mar 29, 2024
strategy+leadership

VUCA is a leadership development framework, that identifies Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity as elements that businesses must constantly adapt to. In this blog, Facilitator and Executive Coach, Steve Hobbs looks at what this means for your business strategy.

Mar 29, 2024
strategy+leadership
Screenshot 2020-09-10 at 12.25.32.png
Mar 27, 2024
strategy+leadership
The Business Model Canvas – what is it and why do you need it?
Mar 27, 2024
strategy+leadership

Based on recent workshops delivered by Executive Facilitator and Coach, Steve Hobbs, for East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and the Business Gateway Hub, this article looks at the business model canvas and why it is important for success.

Mar 27, 2024
strategy+leadership
How can businesses thrive in VUCA worlds?
Mar 19, 2024
strategy+leadership
How can businesses thrive in VUCA worlds?
Mar 19, 2024
strategy+leadership

Using leadership development framework VUCA; Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity Facilitator and Executive Coach Steve Hobbs looks at how businesses can thrive in a VUCA environment and embrace the changes presented to achieve success.

Mar 19, 2024
strategy+leadership
Personal and Business Motivations – Who are you and what is your ‘why'?
Mar 11, 2024
strategy+leadership
Personal and Business Motivations – Who are you and what is your ‘why'?
Mar 11, 2024
strategy+leadership

Who are you and what it your why? In this blog executive coach and strategic facilitator Steve Hobbs explores why it is important to understand your personal and business motivations.

Mar 11, 2024
strategy+leadership
Lean or traditional: Which strategic approach is right for your business?
Mar 4, 2024
strategy+leadership
Lean or traditional: Which strategic approach is right for your business?
Mar 4, 2024
strategy+leadership

In his latest article, Steve Hobbs, executive coach and facilitator from Asking Better Questions, looks at which approach to strategy is right for your business - lean or traditional?

Mar 4, 2024
strategy+leadership
How do you continually improve your business strategy?
Feb 27, 2024
strategy+leadership
How do you continually improve your business strategy?
Feb 27, 2024
strategy+leadership

To be successful it is essential to keep reviewing and adapting your strategy. In this blog, Executive Coach Steve Hobbs looks at leadership activities that help you develop a continual improvement approach.

Feb 27, 2024
strategy+leadership
Peer Networks…What's all that about?
Oct 18, 2021
strategy+leadership, support + mentoring
Peer Networks…What's all that about?
Oct 18, 2021
strategy+leadership, support + mentoring

Peer Networks is a peer-to-peer networking programme for SMEs that is delivered locally by the network of Growth Hubs across England

Oct 18, 2021
strategy+leadership, support + mentoring
Teaming up with The Big House to help digital and creative businesses Evolve
Oct 12, 2020
support + mentoring
Teaming up with The Big House to help digital and creative businesses Evolve
Oct 12, 2020
support + mentoring

Asking Better Questions’ executive coach and facilitator, Steve Hobbs has teamed up with The Big House and partners on its Evolve programme to provide workshops and mentoring support for local business and individuals that want to take a new direction or find their feet during these unusual times. Visit https://bighouse.org.uk/evolve for more details on the Evolve programme.

Oct 12, 2020
support + mentoring
Business Contingency Planning: Do you have the tools?
Aug 23, 2020
strategy+leadership
Business Contingency Planning: Do you have the tools?
Aug 23, 2020
strategy+leadership

Business Continuity Planning is essential for all businesses to prepare for unexpected events. In this article Executive Coach and Facilitator Steve Hobbs looks at the tools to help you plan.

Aug 23, 2020
strategy+leadership
How prepared are you to mitigate risk?
Aug 18, 2020
strategy+leadership
How prepared are you to mitigate risk?
Aug 18, 2020
strategy+leadership

How prepared are you for when the unexpected happens? In this article, Executive Coach Steve Hobbs looks at the importance of business continuity planning and how to identify risk, prioritise and develop a proactive plan.

Aug 18, 2020
strategy+leadership
EMC Banner.jpg
Jul 10, 2020
strategy+leadership
The East Midlands Chamber is Asking Better Questions to Help with Strategy
Jul 10, 2020
strategy+leadership
Jul 10, 2020
strategy+leadership
Will your firm still exist - organised as it is now - in 5 years?
Sep 11, 2019
news+notes
Will your firm still exist - organised as it is now - in 5 years?
Sep 11, 2019
news+notes
Sep 11, 2019
news+notes
The Creative Quarter Big House EXPO
Sep 4, 2019
news+notes
The Creative Quarter Big House EXPO
Sep 4, 2019
news+notes
Sep 4, 2019
news+notes
get in touch

Steve Hobbs… asking better questions in Nottingham, the UK and around the world


PRIVACY POLICY | All personal data is handled in accordance with the data policy addendum of Squarespace which can be found here.

Brain slice.png