Leader Readiness in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) Business Environment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Leader Readiness in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) Business Environment Karen Rimita Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Business Commons, and the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Karen N. Rimita has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Stephanie Hoon, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty Dr. Robert Levasseur, Committee Member, Management Faculty Dr. Karla Phlypo, University Reviewer, Management Faculty The Office of the Provost Walden University 2019 Abstract Leader Readiness in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) Business Environment by Karen N. Rimita MPhil, Walden University, USA, 2019 MBA, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, 2003 BSc IBA, United States International University, Kenya, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University October 2019 Abstract Organizational leaders in the 21st century face relentless changes in the business environments in which they operate. The diversity, intensity, and rapidity of these changes create volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), which challenge leaders on ways to lead effectively as existing methods prove inadequate. The problem in this study was that of inadequate leader preparedness to lead and win in VUCA environments. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of 15 Nigerian corporate executives about their VUCA business environment and the strategies they employed for VUCA-readiness and success within the manufacturing sector. The research question guiding the study related to the lived experiences of corporate executives in manufacturing companies in Nigeria regarding VUCA-readiness and succeeding in a VUCA environment. Chaos theory and complexity leadership theory were used to frame the study. Data collection occurred through snowball sampling to interview 15 participants who are senior executives in large manufacturing corporations in Lagos, Nigeria. Data was analyzed through Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation and member checking. As a result, 4 key themes that emerged were business agility, strategic workforce and demand planning, recovery management for organizational resilience, and conscientious and value-based leadership. The study findings may contribute to positive social change in providing strategies for organizational sustainability, business readiness, responsive leadership, and enhanced employee well-being in VUCA. Recommendations include VUCA training for preparedness and organizational resilience. Leader Readiness in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) Business Environment by Karen N. Rimita MPhil, Walden University, USA, 2019 MBA, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, 2003 BSc IBA, United States International University, Kenya, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University October 2019 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my husband Tom and my daughters Nadia and Kanana, whose enduring love, encouragement, and sacrifices sustained me through the arduous dissertation years. To my dad, my true North, whose prayers never cease and whose mentorship allowed perspective when I needed that extra push. I promised you the first PhD in the family, here you go dad! Acknowledgments First, I want to acknowledge my husband and daughters who experienced front and center the joys and struggles that came with attaining this immense, yet extremely satisfying achievement. Thank you for the undying love and kind words, for urging me on and believing in me, and for attending all my residences around the world. Thank you for the sacrifices made. Second, I want to acknowledge my very able committee. Dr. Stephanie Hoon, I am incredibly fortunate to have you as my chair. Your wisdom, mentorship, positivity, and kindness have been a great source of inspiration to me that led to this success, for that, I thank you with all my heart. Dr. Robert Levasseur, I wish to thank you most sincerely for your passion, dedication, and timeliness in ensuring my work met the highest levels of quality and transcended any inherent weaknesses. Dr. Karla Phylpo, your reviews made so much sense as they complimented the other committee members’ feedback to elevate this dissertation. Thank you for being a solid URR. Third, I wish to thank Dr. Mike Vandermark, for seeing the potential in this topic and gently guiding me to develop it from kernel to full blossom. I appreciate the “gaggles” and the “gifts” they made all the difference. It is mentors like you that make Walden one of the best universities in the world. Last, it is difficult to name my entire support system, but I have the best friends in the world. Everyone did their personal best to ensure I had sufficient study time and a fabulous social scene to take the stress away. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................9 Research Questions ........................................................................................................9 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................10 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................11 Definitions....................................................................................................................13 Assumptions .................................................................................................................14 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................15 Limitations ...................................................................................................................16 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................17 Significance to Practice......................................................................................... 18 Significance to Theory .......................................................................................... 19 Significance to Social Change .............................................................................. 20 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................21 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................23 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................24 i Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................24 Literature Review.........................................................................................................29 Understanding VUCA ..................................................................................................30 Military Beginnings .............................................................................................. 30 VUCA in Organizations ........................................................................................ 32 Volatility Aspect of VUCA .................................................................................. 36 Uncertainty Aspect of VUCA ............................................................................... 38 Complexity Aspect of VUCA ............................................................................... 39 Ambiguity Aspect of VUCA ................................................................................ 41 Nigeria as a VUCA Environment ................................................................................44 Organizational